Emily Dickinson Poet of Solitude - Essay Example

Emily Dickinson – Poet of Solitude Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. She was the daughter of EdwardDickinson, a successful lawyer and politician” In her youth, she was popular and socially active. In her twenties and middle age, she isolated herself in her house and garden. Two men played important roles in her early life. First was a law student, Benjamin Newton. She never really got over his death. The second was a married Philadelphia minister, Rev. Charles Wadsworth. Dickinson longed for the things she knew she would never have (Cahill: 21). Most probably Benjamin Newton who was a friendly critic during the initial stages of her career was one, and Rev. Charles Wadsworth was the other. Benjamin died an early death while Rev. Wadsworth who migrated to another country was the other. “It is paradoxical that a woman who led such a circumscribed and apparently uneventful life managed ot acquire the rich perceptions that enabled her to write 1775 poems unlike any others in the English Language” (Forman: para 2). Dickinson often expounded on the glory of nature. Writing was her way of expressing her deep feelings of solitude. Critics of her works have noted that her poetry incorporate one or more of the following themes aside from nature, namely death, love, religion and eternity – mostly death. It is astonishing how she could use such a variety of unconventional metaphor to picture herself as a nobody, a mouse, a loaded gun, a seething volcano, all within the compass of several hundred poems. Most 19th century verse written by women were conservative in both form and theme. In the case of Dickinson, her style never changed. There is an absence of end line punctuation which may be attributed to an eccentricity on her part. Some other critics noting the configuration of dashes, compare her poetry to the lyric measures of nursery lyrics or the hymns and melodies sung in Trinitarian churches (Forman). The critics claim that the dashes and irregular rhythms actually improve the poetry. An analysis of two of Dickinson’s most famous of eternity poems follows, namely “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and “I Heard A Fly Buzz – When I Died.” What exactly is death? It is defined as “the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an animal or plant” (The American Encyclopedic Dictionary: 311). The person in the poem progresses from childhood to maturity (the “gazing grain is ripe) and the (setting sun) dying to her grave. The children are shown to be active (strove) at recess. Grain and children are symbols of the future. Their energetic activity contrasts with her passivity within the confines of her carriage. The carriage and its occupants pass out of time into eternity. It becomes dark with the setting of the sun and the air turns cold and moist (the dews grow quivering and chill). Her body reacts to the cold and attributes this to the thin and sheer clothing that covers her (gossamer gown and a cape made of tulle). The journey comes to an end when the carriage halts at the gravesite (a swelling of the ground). Her persona has moved into death. She has gone through life but does not know about death as she can only guess (surmise) that they are headed for eternity. As for the poet’s referring to it as a “house” , the effect on the reader is that of familiarity, comfort, rest at the end of a journey. The traveler is assured of all these except companionship perhaps. However, her travel companions are still with her – death and immortality. Why has not Death informed her about being dead? Sooner or later she would know anyway. Besides, if Death is robbed of its mystery, then it would hardly be called death. And if eternity is their goal, can immortality be a passenger? Of course! Immortality and eternity are tied up. Since the travel began, Death and the horses know their ultimate destination. Any human being who rides in Death’s chariot has immortality as a fellow passenger. Immortality is closer, depending on the accomplishments of the individual during his /her lifetime. Since eternity has no end, the connection between persona and immortality is forever. And now for a deeper analysis of the poem. There were three who rode the carriage: Death (the driver) and his two passengers, the persona and immortality. The speaker notices that the driver was in no hurry (One does not hasten the act of dying). On her part, she was determined to relish the ride for she has put away permanently all activity she was pursuing before Death came to fetch her. One who has enjoyed a happy childhood would look forward to seeing again “the old familiar faces”. She was grateful Death could read her mind so she proceeded to show her appreciation by just relaxing and concentrating on what he had to offer (his civility). The party passed the school (most probably the same one where she learned her ABC’s and was reminded of how she as a young girl exerted effort (strove) during recess time. What do children do during the 10-minute mid-morning break? Of course they play games. The sturdier ones indulge in sports. Here they really practice and strive for excellence in the game. Both children and grain have a future. They also depict the progress of human life. There is irony in the contrast between her inactivity within the confines of her carriage and the childhood energy expended in the playground, especially as she was in her younger day, just as energetic as they. The child she was has been reduced to pitiable passivity. It is said that in the short space of time before one breathes his last, his past flashes back before him and he lives his past all over again. Those who have also undergone a near-death experience claim that dying is like passing through a dark tunnel at the end of which is a bright light which turns out to be Christ. Non-believers (non-Christians) would debunk these tales but who are they to say? How does one prepare for Death? Well, there’s not much one can do. In the first place, it is not known when it comes. In Dickinson’s other poem, “I heard a fly buzz, when I died”, tells the reader that she would “will my keepsakes, signed away, what portion of me be assignable”. One bids a fond farewell to loved ones to be left behind and make peace with one’s enemies. One thanks the Creator for life itself and whatever gifts have been received. One continues whatever projects have been started to try one’s best to tie loose ends and finish the work in imitation of cowboys who “die with their boots on”. Towards the end of he poem the persona feels chilly since all she is wearing is a “gossamer gown” and a “tippet of tulle”. This get-up is suggestive of the trappings of a bride, which role Ms. Dickinson never filled, since the two men who figured most in her life went away. If she prepared clothes for a wedding and never got to wear them, she might as well wear them to her funeral which probably she did. One might add that although the early death of a loved one saddened her almost beyond endurance, she could still look forward to death as being a happy event because then she would at last be united with him for eternity. This researcher remains puzzled by the phrase “fields of gazing grain”, but dares to explain it anyway. Perhaps the poet would like to think that with her passing, the world would become a better place to live in – that her poetry would inspire others to give life to their labors in the same way that a farmer gives life to his fields by tending his crops well. She expresses this idea by the use of personification. The fields per se are inanimate, but come alive by means of the grain planted in them – so alive that they are imbued with the power to act like human beings – to gaze, to stare and regard her accomplishments (her poetry) with awe and admiration. The images of children and grain suggest futurity and change for the better. In closing, the researcher may point to the title of the paper for a thesis which argue that Death is a kindly coachman. He can be considered a coachman if only for the simple reason that he drives the carriage in which the occupant rides during her last journey. He is “kind” in that he “stops” for her. He sees to it that she is comfortable by not driving too fast and treats her with respect (civility). He assumes that she enjoys the scenery through which they pass (the school and the fields of ripening grain). Though she knows not where they are bound, she knows no fear. Death is trustworthy enough to deliver her safely to their final destination. On the practical side, Death is merciful in the sense that he has the ability to stop prolonged suffering and see to it that the bereaved family is not reduced to bankruptcy due to the expense incurred in the treatment of disease. Death is a friend, not an enemy. He is not to be feared, not to be hated. It will help to realize that death is a transition from life as we know it here on earth to a better life in the hereafter. Next comes “I Heard A Fly Buzz – When I Died”. This poem is in contrast with “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” where Death in the preceding poem is portrayed as kindly and considerate. In the second poem, the spectacle of death is gruesome and horrifying. Although death in this next poem does not involve any physical pain, the presentation of fly at the poem’s climax, surprises and bothers the reader. When the poem ends, the fly becomes a terrible presence. The buzzing of this common, insignificant creature breaks the silence in the room. The fly is the central image and appears in three of the four stanzas. The buzzing sound is what the speaker hears during the act of dying. Except for this buzzing, the room is deathly silent. The upheaval in the poem suggests the lull – the “calm before the storm” and predicts that more upheavals will ensue. It is a moment of fearful expectation and those who witness the dying are waiting silently, despite the droning sound that persists. The poet mentions “eyes that cried” which could mean, not only those who witness the dying person die – it could also mean the dying person herself who is now beyond life, although she has already willed her “keepsakes”. The fly then interposes itself between the dying person and the light. The moment of death is not pinpointed – only the failure of the organ of sight to admit the light since human light does not allow human understanding. It is clear that the poet identifies the “eye” with the “I”. When the eye could no longer see to see, then the I ceases to be. This is another version of death according to the Poet of Solitude – Emily Dickinson. Works Cited Cahill, B., “Emily Dickinson: Lonesome Beauty”, Read, Vol. 58, No. 15, 2009. Forman, R.J., Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition, 2007. Kennedy, X.J. & Gioia, D., Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing, 3rd Ed. 2010 The American Encyclopedic Dictionary, Vol I., Random House Inc., 1938. Read More

It becomes dark with the setting of the sun and the air turns cold and moist (the dews grow quivering and chill). Her body reacts to the cold and attributes this to the thin and sheer clothing that covers her (gossamer gown and a cape made of tulle). The journey comes to an end when the carriage halts at the gravesite (a swelling of the ground). Her persona has moved into death. She has gone through life but does not know about death as she can only guess (surmise) that they are headed for eternity.

As for the poet’s referring to it as a “house” , the effect on the reader is that of familiarity, comfort, rest at the end of a journey. The traveler is assured of all these except companionship perhaps. However, her travel companions are still with her – death and immortality. Why has not Death informed her about being dead? Sooner or later she would know anyway. Besides, if Death is robbed of its mystery, then it would hardly be called death. And if eternity is their goal, can immortality be a passenger?

Of course! Immortality and eternity are tied up. Since the travel began, Death and the horses know their ultimate destination. Any human being who rides in Death’s chariot has immortality as a fellow passenger. Immortality is closer, depending on the accomplishments of the individual during his /her lifetime. Since eternity has no end, the connection between persona and immortality is forever. And now for a deeper analysis of the poem. There were three who rode the carriage: Death (the driver) and his two passengers, the persona and immortality.

The speaker notices that the driver was in no hurry (One does not hasten the act of dying). On her part, she was determined to relish the ride for she has put away permanently all activity she was pursuing before Death came to fetch her. One who has enjoyed a happy childhood would look forward to seeing again “the old familiar faces”. She was grateful Death could read her mind so she proceeded to show her appreciation by just relaxing and concentrating on what he had to offer (his civility).

The party passed the school (most probably the same one where she learned her ABC’s and was reminded of how she as a young girl exerted effort (strove) during recess time. What do children do during the 10-minute mid-morning break? Of course they play games. The sturdier ones indulge in sports. Here they really practice and strive for excellence in the game. Both children and grain have a future. They also depict the progress of human life. There is irony in the contrast between her inactivity within the confines of her carriage and the childhood energy expended in the playground, especially as she was in her younger day, just as energetic as they.

The child she was has been reduced to pitiable passivity. It is said that in the short space of time before one breathes his last, his past flashes back before him and he lives his past all over again. Those who have also undergone a near-death experience claim that dying is like passing through a dark tunnel at the end of which is a bright light which turns out to be Christ. Non-believers (non-Christians) would debunk these tales but who are they to say? How does one prepare for Death? Well, there’s not much one can do.

In the first place, it is not known when it comes. In Dickinson’s other poem, “I heard a fly buzz, when I died”, tells the reader that she would “will my keepsakes, signed away, what portion of me be assignable”. One bids a fond farewell to loved ones to be left behind and make peace with one’s enemies. One thanks the Creator for life itself and whatever gifts have been received. One continues whatever projects have been started to try one’s best to tie loose ends and finish the work in imitation of cowboys who “die with their boots on”.

Towards the end of he poem the persona feels chilly since all she is wearing is a “gossamer gown” and a “tippet of tulle”.

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