Emily Dickinson's View On Death

Regardless of race, caste, religion, or age, every human has wondered about the one fact of life that unifies us all: What is death? Both poems, “Death of a Young Son by Drowning” by Margaret Atwood and “Because I could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson share a common subject of death. Using figurative language, both poems illustrate distinct takes on a similar topic.

Many authors are afraid to express their personal feelings on such a topic as death. Being a touchy subject, the fear of losing an audience comes into question. Such a theme isn’t an issue for Emily Dickinson however, writing meaningful poems and does it in an extraordinary way with describing the sensitive matter of death while still being able to control the reader’s emotions such as that in "Because I could not stop for death" and” I heard a fly buzz- when I died". Sharing the common rhythm about death, but differ in tone and mood towards the subject. Her use of metaphors and setting descriptions are expressively throughout these poems, giving the audience a more emotional toile from each of these.

The subject of death, including her own was a very prevalent theme in Emily Dickinson’s poems and letters. Some may find her preoccupation with death morbid, but this was not unusual for her time period. The mindset during Ms. Dickinson’s time was that of being prepared to die, in the 19th century people died of illness and accidents at an alarming rate, not to mention the Civil War had a high number of casualties, she also lived 15 years of her youth next to a cemetery. Dickinson’s view on death was never one of something to be feared she almost romanized death, in her poem “Because I Could not Stop for Death”, she actually personifies death while narrating from beyond the grave. In the first stanza she states “I could not stop for

In the article “Death and Dying in Literature,” John Skelton stated, “One of the central tasks of literature is to impose a structure on life and death, giving meaning to both” (n.p.). Many literary works, including poems, focus on death in one way or another. This is true for “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold and “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson. “Dover Beach” and “Because I could not stop for Death” provide varying perspectives on the topic of death. In “Dover Beach,” Arnold attempts to portray how death, sadness, and suffering have resulted due to the world’s loss of faith (Shmoop Editorial Team). In “Because I could not stop for Death,” Dickinson views death as an event that everyone must face (Shmoop Editorial Team). Throughout their respective poems, Arnold and Dickinson use elements such as rhythm, symbols, and tone and style. These elements all work together to establish each poem’s perspective on death.

Recognizing her inability to "stop for Death" because of life's frantic pace, Dickinson implies that though she may yearn for his touch, Death routinely escapes her. Starstruck, she disregards Death's inevitability in favor of remarking that "he kindly stopped for [her]," as if he had chosen her especially. She takes up the role of a damsel in distress and suggests that Death had finally rescued her from the frenzied torment. The poet continues to describe her relationship with Death so that the audience associates it with an infatuated girl and oblivious crush, proclaiming proudly that she and Death had been left alone with nothing but time.

When comparing Emily Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” and Alan Seeger’s “I Have a Rendezvous with Death,” there is an obvious similarity in the theme: the end of life. Although the perspectives are different and the tones don’t quite mirror one another, there are many similarities between two poems. “I Have a Rendezvous With Death” shares the experience of a young soldier who undoubtedly fears his demise, but because of the belief in the work that he is doing, has conditionally accepted, or at least come to terms with, the fact that it is more likely than not that he will not be returning home from the war. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” does not give quite as clear a backstory on the protagonist, but a similar acceptance of Death, personified, is evident also. Both protagonists envision their demise and are able to stoically march on into the great unknown.

Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman and Edgar Allen Poe all succeed in utilizing death to convey emotion through their poetry. While they all focus on the similar subject, they each use death in a very different way in order to evoke different emotions and responses. Emily Dickinson uses death in her poetry in a very subtle yet captivating way. Dickinson juxtaposed death to normal, everyday things. When dickinson writes: “I heard a Fly buzz - when I died”, she does so in order to convey the commonality and unimportance of death.

Death is a subject many famous poets write about. Often we see writers express the fear of not knowing what happens after you pass, and fear of death in general. In Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death”, she has a different approach. She combines the christian view of eternal life with dark but peaceful imagery of riding with the character, Death. She writes as if she is communicating from the afterlife; and she is describing the memory of her journey with Death.

Two of Emily Dickinson’s poems, “I heard a Fly buzz-when I died” and “Because I could not stop for Death” are both written about life’s stopping point, death. Although the poems are written by the same poet, both poems view death in a different manner. Between the two poems, one views death as having an everlasting life while the other anticipates everlasting life, only to realize it does not exist. While both poems are about death, both poems also illustrate that the outcome of death is a mysterious experience that can only be speculated upon with the anticipation of everlasting life.

Firstly, The plot of Dickinson’s poem is persuades and takes the reader imagery through different settings and times. In her first poem, “Because I could Not Stop For Death” Emily talks about death and how she experienced it on her own. The second poem was also written about the author’s death and its title “I heard a fly buzz— when I died” leaves a gray area for discussion. The third poem “I felt Funeral In my Brain” Emily Dickinson describing what it would be like to experience her own funeral in consciousness, while her body was dead. Each stanzas of these poems takes reader to a new part of the poet’s journey with death. In the title of three poems, Dickinson states her subject capturing the reader on an adventure. The first poem uses the elements of nature represent a cycle of life.The weather is used to represent various life stages in “Because I could not stop for Death”. These poems describe the process of dying right up to and past the moment of death, in the first person. The speaker, walking along the road of life is picked up and given a carriage ride out of town to her destination, the graveyard and death. In the first poem the death takes the shape of a gentleman, a grim reaper, his paying a visit is normally never welcome by the normal human who finds him at the door. In the poem the woman welcomes him and is going on a date with death.

Emily Dickinson wrote numerous poems about death. Two of these include “Because I could not Stop for Death written in 1863 and “I Heard a Fly Buzz – When I Died“ written in 1862. While both poems focus on the idea of death, they have different outlooks and portrayals of death. “Because I Could not Stop for Death” focuses primarily on events occurring after death including eternity and the afterlife while “I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I Died” accounts for the moments leading up to death and the one’s last moments.

The aim of this article is to analyze Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death” stylistically. This analysis is made on different stylistic levels; graphological level, phonological level, morphological level and lexico-syntactic level. All these aspects are helpful to understand the literal and hidden meanings that were used by the poetess to explain her viewpoints regarding the natural phenomenon of death in a very polite manner.

Emily Dickinson once said, “Dying is a wild night and a new road.” Some people welcome death with open arms while others cower in fear when confronted in the arms of death. Through the use of ambiguity, metaphors, personification and paradoxes Emily Dickinson still gives readers a sense of vagueness on how she feels about dying. Emily Dickinson inventively expresses the nature of death in the poems, “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain (280)”, “I Heard a fly Buzz—When I Died—(465)“ and “Because I could not stop for Death—(712)”.

Written word is perhaps the most powerful medium that humans have created to express their thoughts. A person can express a myriad of emotions through pen and paper, ranging from hope and happiness to morbid obsessions and anxiety. Written words, unlike spoken words, are for eternity. Once a thought is written down, anyone can read it, interpret it, ponder it, or question it, until it is destroyed. On the other hand, if a thought is spoken, it exists only for a second and then exists only in the minds of the one who uttered it and those who heard it. Only those who were present can interpret, question, or ponder that thought. If the paper or whatever material a thought

Death is inevitable. Everyone dies, yet it is a tragedy many have trouble enduring. A reality difficult to accept, death cannot be escaped. Known for her unabashed obsession with the end of life, Emily Dickinson’s poetry included items entitled “I heard a Fly buzz — when I died” and “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain.” Death is a prevailing theme recognized in her poetry. Emily Dickinson’s acceptance of death is unmistakeable in her poem “Because I could not stop for Death” through the use of diction, personification, and metaphors.