Emily Dickinsons Portrayal of Death - Research Paper Example

Emily Dickinson’s Portrayal of Death through Her Works Introduction Death is an inevitable part of humanity. There are a number of poets emphasizingthe idea of death in their poems although they illustrate different interpretations and images of the said concept. Accordingly, this paper focuses on two of Emily Dickinson’s poems about death: “Because I Could Not Stop for Death (BICNSFD)” and “Death Sets a Thing of Significant (DSTS).” With the two poems, it is noticeable that Dickinson illustrates death as an opportunity to explore the metaphysical aspects of life, such as spirituality, nature and existence. In addition, Dickinson also portrays death as nothing but a transitional phase of existence as it allows people to explore other aspects of their being aside from their physical existence. The abstract concept of death drives different interpretations of its true nature. Relatively, this paper also explores other poets that tackle the concept of death differently such as Edgar Allan Poe, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Kahlil Gibran. Death in Dickinson’s Poems In the words of Tian, Dickinson portrays death as life’s alter ego that allows people to contemplate on their lives (16). Tian added that Dickinson’s poems about death may awaken a person’s desire for personal consciousness, particularly in relation to mortality, immortality and personal limitations. This includes the desire to understand the nature of things on Earth including the true value of nature, relationships, faith, and one’s personal existence. Specifically, this idea resides in the poems “DSTS” and “BICNSFD.” The two poems portray death as the medium in which humanity may understand fully the nature of existence, particularly of his own spirituality, relationships, and the environment. In the words of Aiello, Dickinson illustrates the complexity and recollective nature of death through the mixture of complex, aesthetic, and sensory-related words (140). In addition, Aiello added that death, in Dickinson’s poems, attains a human-like personality wherein the speaker of her poems was able to see death as a possessive companion. For instance, in BICNSFD, Dickinson wrote, “Because I could not stop for Death/ he kindly stopped for me” (1.1-2.456). Although such words imply death as a person, it is necessary to note that throughout the poem, Dickinson also implies the inevitability and possessiveness of Death; it may give a little time, but it cannot tarry. In considering that words of Dickinson, it is also interesting to note the subtle portrayal of death as a fuel wherein the narrator realized what pleases him/her during her time on Earth. Conclusively, through flashbacking the events, places, and people in the speaker’s life, death allows the speaker to realize something significant in the end: “Since then--’tis Centuries--and yet feels shorter than the Day” (6.1-2.456). With this line, Dickinson illustrates the swift passing of years. Aside from highlighting the human qualities of death, Dickinson portrays death as a totally abstract idea in “DSTS.” Dickinson does not give death any human characteristics; instead, she shows death as a force that transforms the perception of people about the things around them, particularly concerning the aspects of life that people commonly overlook. For instance, Dickinson wrote, “To ponder little Workmanships/ In Crayon, or in Wool/ With ‘This was last Her fingers did” (2.1-3.287). Taking the poem holistically, it is likely that Death allows people to remember both happy and sad memories without tainting the image of Death as threatening. In the poem, Death is portrayed as an inevitable, but gentle force that brings forth another form of existence, which is metaphysical. Dickinson’s two poems show death as both physical and abstract, which furthers the confusion on the real nature of death. However, in the two poems, it is evident that Dickinson shows the recollective nature of Death wherein people have the chance to ponder on the nature of their existence. Yadav suggests that the two poems illustrate Death as a personal companion that takes the speaker to another journey of living, which is immortality (48). Dickinson’s poems do not bring us to understanding concerning the actual effects of Death on human lives, nor its true nature as people understand it to be. Death in Other Poetic Works While Dickinson illustrates Death as a personal companion, other poets illustrate death in relation to its effects in the lives of people, as well as how people understand the nature of death. For instance, Edgar Allan Poe, Kahlil Gibran, Billy Collins and Alfred Lord Tennyson have other portrayals of Death. Their poems highlight some of the common portrayals of death; this includes death as a source of sadness, destruction, hope, spiritual awareness, and self-introspection. Accordingly, analyzing a selection of poems other than the ones written by Dickinson may help shed light concerning the different interpretations of Death in relation to self, spirituality, and life. What Happens When We Die In “Annabel Lee,” Poe tackles the literal interpretation of Death as an event that takes lives, regardless of whether desperation comes to those who are left behind. One can also say that Poe illustrates Death as an envious force that intends to disrupt happy memories. This idea is shown in the line “And this was the reason that, long ago, /In this kingdom by the sea, /A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling, /My beautiful Annabel Lee.” The line highlights Death’s antagonism for whatever that is good and beautiful, which implies the destructive force of Death. According to Swarnakar, Poe’s “Annabel Lee” presents the melancholy, decay, and grief that come along with Death (37). In this case, Poe’s poem mirrors the actual reaction of human beings in relation to Death; this also leads to the terrifying portrayal of death. Relatively, one can say that the said poem mirrors the actual society, although Poe uses the sea world as the setting, wherein people see Death as the exact of Life. Billy Collins makes another interesting portrayal of death in his “The Dead,” and in his poem, he seems to agree with Poe on the concept of death as a phenomenon. Collins projects the concept of death through illustrating the life of dead people. For instance, Collins wrote, “The dead are always looking down on us, they say/ while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich” (1.1-2). In this case, death only sets the limits between the living and the dead. It is also noteworthy to emphasize that Collins portrays the dead as part of the physical world still without highlighting the introspective situation that Death brings to the dead. Consequently, in this poem, death is neither a constructive, nor a destructive force; instead, it comes naturally to set order and balance of the lives of people, and it also sets the mythical belief of life after death. Should We Be Afraid of Death? Khalil Gibran seems to have an answer to such a question. In his “The Beauty of Death (TBD),” Gibran portrays death as humanity’s end wherein people may find solace in the eternal peace that dying offers. For instance, the line “Let me sleep, for my soul is intoxicated with love and/ Let me rest, for my spirit has had its bounty of days and nights” shows lighter side of death (Gibran 1.1-2.). Gibran’s poem is also characterized with sentimentality wherein he shows the sensitive aspects of life including death, prayer, relationships, and self-knowledge (qtd. in Imangulieva 76). Gibran also projects the hopeful aspects of death, considering that it relieves people from their burdens. Another aspect of Gibran’s concept of death is the journey that comes along with it. For instance, the line “I have passed a mountain peak and my soul is souring in the/ Firmament of complete and unbound freedom” (2.1.1-2). In this case, one can say that Gibran agrees with Dickinson’s portrayal of Death as a transitional phase of human existence; it allows people to travel from their physical world to immortality. In relation to Gibran’s poem, Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar” has the same religious and spiritual concept of Death. Specifically, Tennyson portrays Death is an event that gives human beings the opportunity to meet their Creator. In the words of Fleissner, “Crossing the Bar” sustains the idea that there is an Ultimate Creator, who sustains the lives of human beings by directing the course of life (29). In addition, Fleissner relates the said concept with the beliefs of the Christian faith wherein the head of the Church, at the same time, the Creator is Jesus Christ. Relatively, in Tennyson’s poem, one can say that Death brings human beings closer to their Creator, which may also be considered a lighter and hopeful portrayal of Death. In this case, Death is a positive force as it terminates physical suffering and advances human existence toward immortality with the Creator. Conclusively, Tennyson’s portrayal of Death in the poem agrees with the Dickinson’s concept of Death as a mediating force that brings humanity closer toward spirituality and metaphysical introspection. The Nature of Death Considering the different portrayals of death, one cannot arrive at a single conclusion about the nature of death. Specifically, the selected poems by Dickinson, Poe, Collins, Gibran, and Tennyson present Death as either abstract, or tangible, or event. Those poems also project Death as either destructive, or constructive, or both. However, throughout this research, one can say that Death brings out the value of physical existence, self-knowledge, and spirituality. For instance, the poems by Gibran, Tennyson, and Dickinson highlight the recollective effect of Death on both the person who is dying and the person who is left behind. Further, the portrayal of Poe shows that literal and common way of understanding Death while Collins presents the disengaging effect of Death on the both the living and the dead. Conclusion Taken together, Emily Dickinson portrays the concept of death through highlighting its metaphysical effects on humanity. For instance, with the two poems, one can say that Dickinson illustrates the importance of death in holistic understanding of the world, particularly concerning contemplation of one’s values, principles, and relationships. This is shown in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” wherein the speaker of the poem, assumably Dickinson herself, takes the opportunity of seeing life in a different perspective. Dickinson seems to view the world objectively, with its mountains and material structure before going on to another phase of her life, which she identifies as life after death. “Death Sets a Thing of Significant” also portrays the same idea of death as a driver of introspection wherein the coming of death allows human beings to consider value of their existence through the relationships that they established with their fellows. Aside from Dickinson’s poems, this research also discussed selected poems by Gibran, Poe, and Tennyson. Accordingly, this research found out that the three poets have different portrayals about death. For instance, Poe illustrates death as an antagonist that disrupts the beauty of life. On one hand, Gibran’s poem gives the idea of death as the ultimate solution and end to humanity’s problems wherein the speaker finds solace in death. Lastly, Tennyson sees death as having religious roots by giving the idea that it allows people to come face-to-face with the Creator. Conclusively, in analyzing the concept death in the poems, one can say that death is, basically, metaphysical. By the way, the poets illustrate death in their poems, it is likely that death is a more than just a physical decay; instead, it brings humanity to another aspect of their existence, which is, assumedly, life after death. Works Cited Aiello, Lucia. Of Death I Try to Think like This: Emily Dickinson’s ‘Play’ with Death. Ed. Kate Woodthorpe. Oxford: Mansfield College, 2006. 139-148. Print. Collins, Billy. “The Dead.” Age of Jahiliyah. Wordpress, 5 Oct. 2006. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. . Dickinson, Emily. The Poems of Emily Dickinson. 8 vols. Ed. Thomas H. Johnson. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1998. Print. Fleissner, Robert F. “Grace Note: The Manuscript Evidence for Christological ‘Crossing the Bar’.” Connotations 5.1 (1995): 23-33. Print. Gibran, Kahlil. “The Beauty of Death XIV.” Famous Poets and Poems. Famous Poets and Poems, n.d. Web. 29, Nov. 2012. . Imangulieva, Aida. Gibran, Rihani & Naimy: East-West Interactions in Early Twentieth-Century Arab Literature. Oxford: Inner Farne Press, 2009. Print. Poe, Edgar Allan. The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe: Poems and Tales. Google Books. Google, 1857. Web. 29. Nov. 2012. . Swarnakar, Sudha. “Representation of Death in Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson.” ACor Das Letras 8 (2007): 29-42. Print. Tennyson, Lord Alfred. “Crossing the Bar.” PoemHunter. PoemHunter, 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. . Tian, Yun-Ran. Emily Dickinson: Death and Immortality. Master Thesis. U. of Kang Ning, 2008. Print. Yadav, Savita. “Concept of Death in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson.” International Indexed & Referred Journal 4.40 (2012): 47-49. Print. Read More