CHAPTER III
METHOD OF RESEARCH
3.1. Research Design
Qualitative research is in accordance with this study due to several reasons. First, the aim of this study is focused on the ‘‘qualities’’ of Dickinson’s idea about death. Second, the object of analysis is poem and literature which is related to her work, therefore the data is formed in text and not numbers. Third, this study tries to explore what is Dickinson’s idea as reflected in her poems and thereby expose the shortcomings of everyday understandings as qualitative research which explores complexities.
The main source of this analysis is taken from the poems. The data are in form of quotations which are selected from Dickinson’s poems. The selection is oriented on the text which has connection with death context as reflected in poem.
The quotations has been analyzed through textual analysis. The writer used content analysis which is the branch of textual analysis. Content Analysis is used to identify, enumerate, and analyze occurrences of specific messages and message characteristics embedded in texts.
3.2. Data Collecting
carefully to take down notes and to compose it properly. The poem had been studied carefully, line by line, to find out the relation with the analysis.
3.3. Data Analysis
Poem is written in several stanzas, in general, poem is written in three, four, six, eight or nine stanzas. In case of Dickinson’s poem, it can be written in unpredictable number since she does not follow the traditional order in writing poems. In this analysis, the writer had examined each stanza from the selected poems and had interpreted the content based on Dickinson’s background of life.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
4. Emily Dickinson’s Idea about Death
4.1. The Idea of Death is Gift in Poem J160 – Just lost, when I was saved!
Have you ever experienced the dying moment? For some people it may be so frightening to talk about, but for Emily Dickinson it is the moment that should be expected in lifetime and be shared to everyone if they have a chance. In this poem, Dickinson portrays death as a gift that is too worth to be missed. Death is a savage from the chaos. She rather chooses death even she would lost all her senses, because she believes death will bring her to eternity and peace.
CLX
Just lost, when I was saved! Just felt the world go by!
Just girt me for the onset with Eternity, When breath blew back,
And on the other side
I heard recede the disappointed tide!
Therefore, as One returned, I feel Odd secrets of the line to tell! Some Sailor, skirting foreign shores— Some pale Reporter, from the awful doors
Before the Seal!
Next time, to stay! Next time, the things to see
By Ear unheard,
her lungs, she can hear the disappointment. In the second stanza, the speaker
returned and though that she has revealed a secret. She needs to tell the odd secrets of the line to everyone. She feels like a sailor that has avoided the foreign shores and like a reporter who get back from covering an awful news. Nevertheless, next time
when she has another chance to get lost, she really wants to stay. She wants to feel something that unheard by ears and unscrutinized by eyes. She really wants to tarry,
which also means stay, if she has a chance to be lost again someday. As she is waiting for the lost to come again, she will live the centuries and enjoy the cycle.
In this poem, Emily talks about death that almost come to her. She feels disappointed because her breath brings her back to life. Death is something that is worth to wait, it is like a gift that is given by chance. Even she wants to die but she still encourage herself to live her life to the fullest while waiting the death to come again.
Just lost, when I was saved! Just felt the world go by!
Just girt me for the onset with Eternity, When breath blew back,
And on the other side
I heard recede the disappointed tide!
said that life is a chaos that make people need to die to be saved from life. It is the reason of her disappointment when she knows that life is saving her from death.
Therefore, as One returned, I feel Odd secrets of the line to tell! Some Sailor, skirting foreign shores— Some pale Reporter, from the awful doors
Before the Seal!
The second stanza above explains the moment when Dickinson is pulled back to life andsuddenly feeling so strange. She feels like she has an odd secret that needs to be told to everyone. She considers herself as a sailor who has avoided the foreign shores therefor she needs to tell everyone about the shores, and also as a reporter that has got back from covering an awful case and she needs to report the news. She feels like she has missed something big and scary; however she believes it was the gate for better beginning of something.
Next time, to stay! Next time, the things to see
By Ear unheard, Unscrutinized by Eye—
Dickinson wonders to stay when the death makes another visit in the future in the stanza above. She promises herself to stay with death even she may lose her senses. She believes her sight and hearing are not everything she needs, she is rather losing the senses than the chance to be with death. She believes that her soul can hear the unheard voice and see the unscrutinized sight.
By Ear unheard, Unscrutinized by Eye—
The last stanza above asserts Dickinson’s desire to stay by meaning’s repetition in tarry, which still has same meaning with stay. During her waiting for the death to come back, she will keep living her life. The word’s repetition of ‘next time’ and meaning’s repetition on ‘stay’ and ‘tarry’ is the key that conveys her desire to be with death. Death is something that she expects to come since life is already unwanted to be fought for. Death is the reward, the escape from the chaos.
4.2. The Idea of Death is Personal Enemy in Poem J278 – A Clock Stopped-
Time is the beginning and the end for everything. Time may heal or even break things in our life, but when the time is over, there will be nothing to expect. In poem 278, Dickinson applies metaphor by comparing death to a broken clock to show how dreadful the death can be. As the clock stop working, the time also stop ticking. There is no more possibility that can be given by time.
CCLXXVIII
A Clock stopped – Not the Mantel's – Geneva's farthest skill Can't put the puppet bowing –
That just now dangled still –
Then quivered out of Decimals – Into Degreeless Noon –
It will not stir for Doctors – This Pendulum of snow – This Shopman importunes it – While cool – concernless No –
Nods from the Gilded pointers – Nods from the Seconds slim – Decades of Arrogance between
The Dial life – And Him –
(Dickinson,1861)
In this poem Dickinson describes how her subject suffers from the dying moment. Death is something powerful that can torture someone with no mercy. She shows her pessimistic idea about death with casual diction. She wants to describe what death can do to ruin someone’s life.
A Clock stopped – Not the Mantel's – Geneva's farthest skill Can't put the puppet bowing –
That just now dangled still –
skill, Geneva refers to Switzerland which is well known as the best producer of high quality clocks and watches. The clock that she mentions is made by the best creator. This line teaches us that even the best person we know will die too. Everyone will die no matter how good they are. In the next line she writes, Can’t put the puppy bowing, the puppet represents the dead people. Dead people are like the puppet of the broken clock, they need alive person to move. The last line pictures how the puppet is hanging with no ability to move, she says, That just now dangled still.
An awe came on the Trinket! The Figures hunched, with pain –
Then quivered out of Decimals – Into Degreeless Noon –
In the second stanza, Dickinson shows how death tortures dead people.
As written in the first line above, An awe came on the trinket!, death makes people valueless. Awe is the feeling of dread, wondering something frightening. She wonders what will happen to the trinket. Trinket is a valueless gift or souvenir, it represents dead people’s value. They lost their value as they already dead. The figures, the dead body, were tortured and hunched with the pain. In the next line, she denotes the impossibility which is caused by death. She says now the quivered is out of decimals into degreeless noon, decimals refer to the possibilitiesand when the hands of the clock already stop at degreeless noon, it means there is no more possibilities for the dead body.
The stanza above asserts that death can not be controlled. Even doctors will not able to stir the clock. The word ‘doctors’ helps us to understand that she is actually not talking about real clock. Doctor is not qualified in repairing clock, he is responsible in taking care people. In this case we can clearly understands that she is comparing the dead people to the broken clock. In the next line she pictures that the pendulum is already freeze; not moving anymore, The shopman try to importunes, but he still can not fix the clock. When the shop-man realizes the clock is already stop working, he doesn’t want to concern about it anymore. The doctors also do not want to stir anything to help dead people. It is not because they do not want to, but because they know there is nothing to do with the dead body or with the broken clock. Death is unchangeable, no matter how hard they try to fix it.
Nods from the Gilded pointers – Nods from the Seconds slim – Decades of Arrogance between
The Dial life – And Him –
In the first line Dickinson writes Nods from the Gilded pointers, we can learn it explains the move from the first hand of clock, the short one. She also writes, Nods from the second slim, it explains the move from the second hand, the long one. Nod
there will be more time to fix the mistake they have ever done. At last, all the moment, dial by dial, is only the limitation between life and death. The dial can be taken from us at anytime without considering what we still have to do in life. Him in the last line means God, the creator. It indicates that all the moment we have in life will be ended by death and will bring us back to the creator. Death is a powerful thing that can make people lose their control to themselves and can put people in pain during the dying moment. No one can beat the death. Death is like personal enemy.
4.3. The Idea of Death is Personal Enemy in Poem J1716 – Death is like the insect
Death turns the muscular body into rotten flesh, everything that matters when the body was alive turns into dirt that means nothing to anybody. Death defeats all the power of living creature. There is no power on earth can stop death in doing its desk job. Like a killer with no mercy, death takes everything and leave nothing on the dead.
MDCCXVI
Death is like the insect Menacing the tree, Competent to kill it, But decoyed may be.
Bait it with the balsam, Seek it with the saw,
Baffle, if it cost you Everything you are.
Wring the tree and leave it, 'Tis the vermin's will.
(Dickinson:1862)
In this poem, Dickinson symbolizes death as an insect and life as a tree. The insect represents the idea that death always causes damage and does menacing to people. This poem shows the terrific idea of death, but we can learn how precious the life is by seeing how death turn everything into nothing.
Death is like the insect Menacing the tree, Competent to kill it, But decoyed may be.
Dickinson uses simile in tree and insect. Tree conveys the idea that people cannot avoid death, just like the tree that can not move or run away from insects. The insect is able to kill the tree right away but sometimes the insect put the tree in pain before killing it. Death can come right away to someone, while to others death come slowly and make people trap in death.
Bait it with the balsam, Seek it with the saw,
Baffle, if it cost you Everything you are.
In this stanza, Dickinson pictures how the insect tortures the tree. She says the insect baitthe tree with the balsam. Death may come in pleasant way, but still
make people baffle or confused. Death can be seen as a pleasant thing at first, but in the end we all know that death will torture. It will destroy everything on the people.
Then, if it have burrowed Out of reach of skill - Wring the tree and leave it,
'Tis the vermin's will.
The first line shows that small insect is able to make hole on the tree so it can take all the goodness from inside the tree and live there as long as they want. It represents death that can kill people from the inside. Some dying people are seems healthy outside but suddenly they will find out that there is illness that kill them softly from the inside. Torturing and killing the tree are the best skill of an insect. Insect will take everything from the tree and will leave it when there is nothing left for them. Death’s skill or capability is only to take everything from the people. When the people already dead and have nothing left inside the body, death’s duty is done. Death will wring everything from the human. To let the tree die is the only will of the vermin. Just like the insect, the death only wants to make people useless. Death takes everything from people. People can not avoid death. People are just like the tree that naturally attract death to come. No matter how good we take care of a tree, one day the vermin will come and wring it to death. Once again, Dickinson portrays death as an unbeatable enemy.
Our fate and destiny are already set by God. Our birth and death are in God’s hand. In this poem, Emily wants to show that death is the willing of God. Since only God that can control it, whenever He wants us to die then it will be our time.
DXLVIII
Death is potential to that Man Who dies—and to his friend— Beyond that—unconspicuous
To Anyone but God—
Of these Two—God remembers The longest—for the friend—
Is integral—and therefore Itself dissolved—of God—
(Dickinson: 1862)
The poems is about two friends and their relation in death. The one who die first is related to his friend that is still alive because one day his friend will also die. The time of death for both of them has been set by God’s willing. Whenever God wants them to die, they will die. Death happens because God want it. This poem encourage us to be thankful for still having the chance to live, because when God wants us to die, nothing in this world can escape us from His willing.
Death is potential to that Man Who dies—and to his friend— Beyond that—unconspicuous
To Anyone but God—
second line, Who dies – and to his friend –, she indicates that everyone deserve to die, not only the dead one, but the friend that left behind is also belong to death. Moreover, death is not obvious. Death is unconspicuous for men, only God can understand it. It means that no one knows when death is approaching. No one knows when or how death will come to anyone. Only God knows about death.
Of these Two—God remembers The longest—for the friend—
Is integral—and therefore Itself dissolved—of God—
These two friends, who dies and his friend, God remember how they will die. His friend got the longer time to live but God knows the longest time he will have. God already plan the death for both of them, and for all human being. Death is only about time, it is like an integral that connected everybody in same possibility to die but in different range of time. ‘Who dies’ and ‘His friend’ are connected by death. His friend’s death is about to come, his friend will also die in time and God is also the one who will manage the death.
From this poem Dickinson want to point out the relation of two friends and God. The both of them are just like everyone else, we are all connected by death that already set by God. Everyone but God is potential to death. God is not potential because He is the only one who controls death. Death is something we can not avoid because God want it happens to us.
Human are created with beautiful mind. Human can create something new with what they have in nature. Everything can be changed, can be adjusted as we want, but death is beyond that.
DCCXLIX
All but Death, can be Adjusted— Dynasties repaired— Systems—settled in their Sockets—
Citadels—dissolved—
Wastes of Lives—resown with Colors By Succeeding Springs— Death—unto itself—Exception—
Is exempt from Change—
(Dickinson: 1863)
The first line of the first stanza has been clearly summarizing the whole poem. Dickinson wants to point out that death cannot be changed. Death is something that cannot be controlled by human being. Death is a destiny that has been created for us. It is the fate that should be taken.
All but Death, can be Adjusted— Dynasties repaired— Systems—settled in their Sockets—
Citadels—dissolved—
The first stanza shows thing that can be changed, repaired or fixed. The dynasties that already fell down can be revived and regain its own prosperity. The system that contain of many thing can be united to work together in a socket.
not be useful anymore. Everything is changing; time will heal or break things eventually.
Wastes of Lives—resown with Colors By Succeeding Springs— Death—unto itself—Exception—
Is exempt from Change—
Waste of lives in the first line of stanza above, conveys the dark time in life, the struggling and problem that always happen in life can make someone feel wasted or down. As long as there is a life, it can be overcome and be replaced with joy. ‘Spring’ symbolizes the condition that gradually get better after a big damaged. The flower blossom in spring after a long cold winter, brings back the warm and the joy to the life. It means even after a great damaged, everything can be turn into something good as long as there is life. Death is different thing, death has exception. Everything, except death, can be changed. Death is not required to change like any other things.
The idea is related to her belief to God. She believes that God had managed death to everyone, so no one can change it. According to Christianity, death is a fate that cannot be changed or adapted. Every life is assigned its destiny at birth and God is the one who manage this process for everyone.
4.6. The Idea of Death is Destiny in Poem J712 – Because I could not stop for Death –
from mortal life into eternity. Death is the destiny, even there is the afterlife, our journey in life will end on death.
DCCXII
Because I could not stop for Death- He kindly stopped for me- The Carriage held but just Ourselves-
And Immortality.
We slowly drove- He knew no haste And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility-
We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess- in the Ring-
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain- We passed the Setting Sun-
Or rather- He passed us- The Dews drew quivering and chill-
For only Gossamer, my Gown- My Tippet- only Tulle-
We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground- The Roof was scarcely visible-
The Cornice- in the Ground-
Since then- 'tis Centuries- and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward
Eternity-(Dickinson: 1863)
gentleman that kindly take a lady into the carriage. Even we never invited death, death will kindly stop and take us within. There are only the lady, the gentlemen and the immortality that being in the carriage. People and death are related because there is mortality. Every people are mortal, we cannot live forever, that is why death comes and takes us in the carriage.
Because I could not stop for Death- He kindly stopped for me-
The Carriage held but just Ourselves- And Immortality.
The second stanza below ironically explains that our life time is prepared to welcome the death. The gentleman drives slowly because he does not want to be hurry. The lady has devoted all her lifetime, her labor and her free time, to be in the journey with the gentleman and to show her respect to him. Death approaches people in the slow and steady way, it does not come in hurry because the time is already set for everyone.
We slowly drove- He knew no haste And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility-
gentleman, the death, is already with us since the very first day of our life, from our childhood to the last time of our life. Death has been watching for us since we were created.
We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess- in the Ring-
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain- We passed the Setting Sun-
Dickinson shows how it feels when death is coming in the fourth stanza below. Death has passed us; she and all her lifetime. The dews make her trembling and cold. She only wears gossamer, a thin gown that cannot bare the cold from the dew. As we know, dead body is cold for there is no more blood pressure that brings heat over the body. In other word, when the death is approaching, it feels like she only wear a thin gown that let the cold of death freeze her body.
Or rather- He passed us- The Dews drew quivering and chill-
For only Gossamer, my Gown- My Tippet- only Tulle-
In the next stanza below, Dickinson describes a tomb by using capital on word GROUND to emphasize the idea of tomb. A house which is placed under the ground with no visible roof and is decorated by cornice on the surface, is portraying a tomb. After the death coming, the dead body will be buried in the tomb, but it is not the end yet. As written on the Bible, all the dead people will wait the judgment day for receiving the eternal life in heaven or eternal flame in hell. It can be said that according to her, tomb is like a waiting room for dead people to be judged.
The Roof was scarcely visible- The Cornice- in the Ground-
As written on the last stanza below, Since then- 'tis Centuries- and yet/Feels shorter than the Day, we can see that time is no longer being a concern when we are dead. Even the century feels like shorter than a DAY when we are dead. Time is no more being a limitation. Then Dickinson finally realize where the horse are heading, into eternity. This implies that even our body is already dead but our soul are still alive forever. She admit the existence of life after death.
Since then- 'tis Centuries- and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward
Eternity-The ride with the gentleman may pass many roads and may take the lady to many places. One thing for sure, the journey will end in eternity. We can plan our life very carefully but death is our destiny. We can get through or experience many things in life but all of us will end in death.
4.7. The Idea of Death is Transition in Poem J949 – Under the Light, yet under
Christian, they believe in afterlife. The dead people’s spirit will live eternally. In poem J949, Dickinson brings this idea by picturing the transition process.
CMXLIX
Under the Light, yet under, Under the Grass and the Dirt,
Under the Beetle's Cellar Under the Clover's Root,
Further than Arm could stretch Were it Giant long, Further than Sunshine could
Were the Day Year long,
Over the Light, yet over, Over the Arc of the Bird— Over the Comet's chimney—
Over the Cubit's Head,
Further than Guess can gallop Further than Riddle ride— Oh for a Disc to the Distance Between Ourselves and the Dead!
(Dickinson: 1864)
From this poem, we can say Dickinson assumes death as a transition. The soul or spirit of the dead will be separated from the body. Life is transited to another place above everything in this world; to heaven, to the Kingdom of God, and no one can avoid it. In an ABAB stanza scheme, Dickinson reiterates the distance between the dead and the living. She uses repetition of under and over to emphasize the distance.
the ground. Beetle’s Cellar is the place for beetle, kind of insects, to store their food and it is usually built under the ground.Clover’s Root is also placed on the ground. When we pay attention on Grass and Dirt; Beetle’s Cellar; and Clover’s Root, we can see that those places are also the repetition of meaning. Dickinson wants to describe a place under the ground. As we all know, dead body are usually buried under the ground, some may be cremated, but in this case she uses ground to portray how far the dead bodies will be placed.
Under the Light, yet under, Under the Grass and the Dirt,
Under the Beetle's Cellar Under the Clover's Root,
The second stanza below is emphasizing the distance. Repetition of further
indicates that the distance is beyond our expectations. Even our Arm can be stretched as big as the giant’s arm, we are still not able to reach the dead. Even the sunshine’s ability to hold the day is not long enough to find the dead.
Further than Arm could stretch Were it Giant long, Further than Sunshine could
Were the Day Year long,
In the third stanza below, Dickinson twists the plot by changing ‘under’ with
Over the Light, yet over, Over the Arc of the Bird— Over the Comet's chimney—
Over the Cubit's Head,
The souls of the dead are so far away from us, no Guess or Riddle can find them. The distance of life and death is like two things on the different side of the rim that will never reach each other. When people die, they like across to another side of the rim so they can not meet the living anymore. There is no turning back in death. The last line on this stanza below is the keyword that shows the main idea of the poem. Dickinson is describing the distance of the living and the dead, because death is transiting the dead people to far away beyond everyone’s expectations.
Further than Guess can gallop Further than Riddle ride— Oh for a Disc to the Distance Between Ourselves and the Dead!
Dickinson is describing the distance between the living and the dead, because death is transiting the dead people to far away place that is beyond everyone’s expectations.
4.8. The Idea of Death is Transition in Poem J539 – I heard, as if I had no Ear
MXXXIX
I heard, as if I had no Ear Until a Vital Word
Came all the way from Life to me And then I knew I heard.
I saw, as if my Eye were on Another, till a Thing
And now I know 'twas Light, because It fitted them, came In.
I dwelt, as if Myself were out, My Body but within Until a Might detected me
And set my kernel in.
And Spirit turned unto the Dust "Old Friend, thou knowest me," And Time went out to tell the News
And met Eternity
(Dickinson: 1865)
In this poem Dickinson shows the moment of her soul separate from her body. Dickinson use to explain the transition process and this helps the reader understand the subject’s true feeling. She also wants to point out that afterlife is also controlled by God. The afterlife that the speaker got consider death as the reward.
I heard, as if I had no Ear Until a Vital Word
Came all the way from Life to me And then I knew I heard.
listens a Vital Word that tell about the Life after death. She finally realizes she is still alive by hearing the voice.
I saw, as if my Eye were on Another, till a Thing
And now I know 'twas Light, because It fitted them, came In.
The speaker is also describing the lost of her sight when her body is already dead in the next stanza above. She can’t see anything but still can feel a Light. She portrays her dead body by mentioning her ears and eyes that can’t work properly, but she is still able to feel the surrounding.
Life and Light picture the life after death that already waits for her to come. When she is start hearing and seeing again, it becomes the signal of her soul’s transition from her dead body. It is like a rebirth into the new life after her death.
I dwelt, as if Myself were out, My Body but within
Until a Might detected me And set my kernel in.
In the stanza above, the speaker pictures the transition from death to the new life. She portrays the moment when her body turns into dust and her soul goes out from her dead body to enter the new beginning of life. Her soul enters a kernel, until the Might detected her coming. Might symbolizes God, it indicates God as the only one who control all this transition. God is the only one who can set human soul to enter a new life.
And Spirit turned unto the Dust "Old Friend, thou knowest me," And Time went out to tell the News
The last stanza above portrays the moment when the Spirit say goodbye to the dead body that will turn into Dust. The spirit was friend with the body until the death come and kills the body. The dead body had known the spirit so well. By the time, the spirit hears the good News and then leave the dead body to meet Eternity.
In this poem, Dickinson describes death in positive image. Death is not really the end of everything; moreover it is a new beginning to eternal life. It may feel terrible to our body, but our soul will get a chance to live forever.
4.9. The Idea of Death is Natural Thing in Poem J1147 – After a hundred years
People die every day. Everyone will die eventually, it is only about time. This phenomenon makes all people equal. In this poem, Dickinson shows that death is not as dramatic as people usually think.
MCXLVII
After a hundred years Nobody knows the Place Agony that enacted there
Motionless as Peace
Weeds triumphant ranged Strangers strolled and spelled
At the lone Orthography Of the Elder Dead
Winds of Summer Fields Recollect the way -- Instinct picking up the Key
Dropped by memory --
In this poem, Dickinson considered death as the natural thing that do not need to be dramatized.
After a long time, no one will know the place. As written in the first stanza below, the place refers to the tomb as agony had been there before. Time after time, the agony will be replaced by peace. Tomb is where all the agony lied at the time the dead were buried, all the sadness, tear and grieves were buried together with the dead body.
After a hundred years Nobody knows the Place Agony that enacted there
Motionless as Peace
We usually find ‘Rest In Peace’ in a tomb. Peace, in the last line on stanza above, emphasizes that the place refers to a tomb. As the time goes by, all the agony will be away and all the mourners will find the soul of the dead is already rest in peace.
Weeds triumphant ranged Strangers strolled and spelled
At the lone Orthography Of the Elder Dead
Winds of Summer Fields Recollect the way -- Instinct picking up the Key
Dropped by memory
--In the last stanza above, Dickinson shows her positive attitude towards death. At least, the summer winds visit the grave. Summer winds will be the only one who remember the way there by instinct, when memory has lost the Key.
Dickinson points out the human’s nature in death. Everyone will die; the one that we cry on today could be us at any time. Other people will also cry on our dead body. Everyone will cry on the dead agony and by the time no one will remember it anymore. Death is only the end of life, it’s not something that we should be afraid for, because every thing will be better in time. The living will move on and die in the right time. What matter the most is how we live our life as long as we have the chance.
4.10. The Idea of Death is Gift in Poem J1272 – So proud she was to die
Life is a gift, and death is a curse. It is a stereotype that has been built in our society. In poem J1272, Dickinson is against that though. She wants to show that sometimes, death can cause a jealousy when the dead people seems so ready to die. Sometimes, death can be a gift that you really want to get.
MCCLXXII
So proud she was to die It made us all ashamed That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed -
Immediately - that Anguish stooped Almost to Jealousy -
(Dickinson: 1873)
This poem is about a dying woman who seems so proud and satisfied to die. Her pride makes the mourners ashamed and almost jealous. Death is taken as a reward in this poem, since the mourners envy the way she die.
So proud she was to die It made us all ashamed That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed -
In the first line of the stanza above, Dickinson points out the feeling that the dying woman has shown to the mourners, they can see how proud she is to die. To
die is like an achievement that needs to be proud of. She describes death with positive tone. It made all the mourners ashamed, it refers to the pride on her dead face. They will cherish if she could live longer, but actually to die is assumed as the dead woman’s desire.
So satisfied to go Where none of us should be Immediately - that Anguish stooped
Almost to Jealousy -
She is so ready to die, while all of the mourners are so eager to go on living. Instead of feeling grief at her death, the mourners almost envy her.
4.11. The Idea of Death is Natural Thing in Poem J1256 – Not any higher stands the Grave
Everyone is considered to be equal, but in fact the social status in society is the proof that we are not actually equal to each other. In death, thing is different. Everyone is truly equal because death is the nature of human which should happen to anyone with no exception.
MCCLVI
Not any higher stands the Grave For Heroes than for Men -
Not any nearer for the
Child Than numb Three score and Ten -
This latest Leisure equal lulls The Beggar and his Queen
Propitiate this Democrat A Summer's Afternoon -
(Dickinson: 1873)
Not any higher stands the Grave For Heroes than for Men -
Not any nearer for the
Child Than numb Three score and Ten
-The first stanza above portrays the equality in the eyes of death. -The grave for the hero and usual man will stand on the same height. There is no difference on the grave, both of them will be buried under the same ground. The grave for the child
would not be nearer than the grave for the seventieth people. Grave symbolizes death, it will be the same for everyone. Experiences and ages will not change how death treat people. High position in social status will not avoid death to come. The young age will not keep someone from death. Death is equal for everyone; it will come in anytime, anyplace and to anyone.
This latest Leisure equal lulls The Beggar and his Queen
Propitiate this Democrat A Summer's Afternoon -
The latest leisure on the first line of the stanza above, refers to the grave. The grave is considered as a lull place, there are peace, satisfaction and safety that wait for them. This last leisure offers relaxation and satisfaction. the beggar and the queen
will be both get that lulls. To know this, they may fear the death, but both of them try to appease with this democrat since they know what is waiting for them in the grave. They can see the lulls as the gracious mien of the summer that offers joy, warmness and sincerity when they are in the grave.
4.12. The Idea of Death is Transition in Poem J1399 – Perhaps they do not go so far
As the writer said before, human live in two dimensions. When someone is dead, their body may gone forever but no one knows what will happen to the spirit. In poem J1399, Dickinson expresses her thought about the possibility that can happen to the spirit.
MCCCXCIX
Perhaps they do not go so far As we who stay, suppose - Perhaps come closer, for the flight
Of their corporeal clothes -
It may be, know so certainly How short we have to fear That comprehension fluctuates And There - commences - Here -
(Dickinson: 1877)
Dickinson sent the first stanza of this poem in a letter (L517) to Thomas Higginson on his wife’s death in September 1877. The letter begins, ‘Dear Friend. If I could help you?’ Then comes the poem. Finally she ends the letter by saying, ‘Did she know she was leaving you? The Wilderness is new – to you. Master, let me lead you.’ She also sent the whole poem in a letter (L518) to the sisters of her uncle, William Dickinson, to console them for the death of their father.
dead, final state, no passing on, no afterlife, just dead. The ‘gone’ conveys the idea that the person will go somewhere else, to the life after death. In this poem, Emily is against this idea. She said that the dead people were actually just transform into spirit and never go anywhere. It is not really a big deal since death is only the transition from dust into spirit.
Perhaps they do not go so far As we who stay, suppose - Perhaps come closer, for the flight
Of their corporeal clothes -
In the first stanza above, Dickinson offers a possibility by using perhaps. She is not certainly sure about it but she wants to show that it is possible. They, represents dead people, do not go so far. The living may feel it’s too far from the dead but it is actually because they don’t go anywhere either. The living was left by the dead, but the truth is dead people cannot go anywhere. They will only lay in their grave, but they have been closer to the lapse, transformation process that was managed by God. Dickinson believed the dead people only leave their corporal clothes which is referring to the dead body. Dead people only turn into spirit, they don’t go anywhere further.
It may be, know so certainly How short we have to fear That comprehension fluctuates And There - commences - Here -
In this poem Dickinson portray death as the transition that was managed by God. Dead people never go anywhere, they just turn into spirit. The transition time is randomly set by God to any one, no one can expect but one thing for sure everyone will be turned into spirit.
4.13. The Idea of Death is Gift in Poem J976 – Death is a Dialogue between Physically, human are alive if their body work properly and still show the sign of living like breathing, eating and responsive. Spiritually, the soul will never die. People believe that spirit only stay at the body for a while. When the body die, the spirit will still have chance to live in another life. Death is the reward for giving another chance to live in different life.
XCLXXVI
Death is a Dialogue between The Spirit and the Dust.
"Dissolve" says Death, The Spirit "Sir I have another Trust" -
Death doubts it - Argues from the Ground -
The Spirit turns away Just laying off for evidence
An Overcoat of Clay.
Poem J976 points out the idea of people live in two dimensions by personifying the dead body and the spirit as two friends that argue each other. The dead body believes that they are already done, but the spirit declines it because the spirit believe that there is a life after death.
Death is a Dialogue between The Spirit and the Dust.
"Dissolve" says Death, The Spirit "Sir I have another Trust" -
The first stanza above shows the argument between The spirit and the Dust, they have different faith after the death come. The Dust which represents the dead body, tells that everything has gone. The dust says Dissolve! as the body has stop working and no longer has sign of living. In other hand, the spirit says that it has
another trust! as a defends. The spirit believes that there is another stage of life that can be entered after the death.
The second stanza below emphasizes the idea by portraying how death argues from the ground. As we know, dead people are buried in the ground, this line wants to show that the dead body has already buried for being dead, so there is no more hope for the body. In other hand, the spirit was laying off from the dead body. The spirit decides to leave the body to prove that there still another chance of life that wait for the spirit.
Death doubts it - Argues from the Ground -
The Spirit turns away Just laying off for evidence
As Dickinson live in Puritan Era, it is undeniable that she is influenced by Christianity. In Christianity, dead body will be buried in the ground but their spirit and soul will go to heaven or hell, depends on how they live before. In other word, this poem is talking about what will happen after the death. It is not only the argument among dust and spirit, it also reveals her belief the existence of afterlife.
4.14. The Idea of Death is Fatal Ending in Poem J1551 – Those - - dying then Death is the end of every living creatures. Despite of what every religion has told about what happen after we die, no one really knows the truth. No one ever evidence what will happen when they die. Even the idea of heaven or hell makes people live better, Dickinson questions the continuity of life after death.
MDLI
Those – – dying then, Knew where they went – – They went to God's Right Hand -
That Hand is amputated now And God cannot be found
-The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small -
Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all -
(Dickinson: 1882)
fatalism, it becomes the destiny of everyone. She questions God’s reason for creating death since death is a cruel thing for her.
Those – – dying then, Knew where they went – – They went to God's Right Hand -
That Hand is amputated now And God cannot be found
-As written on first stanza above, Those – dying then, / Knew where they went,
Dickinson states that all the people know where they go after they die. During her life time, she lives in puritan era when everyone are influenced by Christianity. In Christianity, dead people are believed to go to the right hand of God, they believe in heaven and the idea that God who live in heaven already prepare the place for the dead. She clearly shows her doubt on that idea by stating The Hand is amputated now on the fourth line. She sceptically questions the existence of that Hand since no one really knows where the Hand is. By stating And God cannot be found – in the next line, she wants to points out that actually no one knows where they will go when they die. She wants everyone to realize the possibility that God is never really existed; and the dead people will only end on the grave.
The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small -
Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all -
better. Having hope by believing something uncertain is better than have nothing at all.
In this poem, Dickinson employs death as something that can not be changed, this idea is similar to the fatalism. The thought that death will bring people to afterlife is considered as a pathetic thought as God is can not be seen. She wants to explains that death will end everything even the religion gives people hope for the things that will come after they die.
4.15. The Idea of Death is Fatal Ending in Poem J1605 – Each that we lose takes part of us;
Death takes many things from the dead and also from people they leave behind. It causes deep suffer and pain to people that are left behind. People never really forget the dead people, they will always remember them as the memories. In poem J1605, Dickinson wants to show how strong the faith can make people survive from their grief. The faith that we will be gathered again with the dead, give us strength to go and move on for our life.
MDCV
Each that we lose takes part of us; A crescent still abides,
Which like the moon, some turbid night, Is summoned by the tides.
(Dickinson: 1884)
words, ‘Thank you, dears, for the sympathy. I hardly dare to know that I have lost another friend, but anguish finds it out (L891). The poem then follows.
In the first line it is written Each that we lose takes part of us, we can seeDickinson describes the connection between the dead and the living. She points out that loosing someone is not only about not having someone around anymore, but also loosing something from ourselves. Every person in our life become the part of us, so when they gone, they also took some part of us.
The dead and the living are portrayed as the crescent. In some turbid night, the moon will only show the half part of it, but someday the faith will summon the moon to the full part. When someone is death, it is like a turbid night that takes the crescent of us. However, one day the faith will summon us back to them. We will be full again when the faith tides us.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION & SUGGESTION
5.1. Conclusion
After analyzing each poem, the writer finds seven ideas that has shown in each poem. First idea that I found is death is a gift, she describes death as an escape from the chaos life. This idea can be seen on CLX-Just lost, when I was saved!; MCCLXXII-So proud she was to die; and XCLXXVI-Death is a dialogue between. The second idea is death is a personal enemy that can beat someone with no mercy. This idea can be seen on CCLXXVIII-A clock stopped- and
the only one who is able control it. This idea can be seen on DXLVIII-Death is potential to that Man. The fourth idea is death is the fate or destiny that has been created to all human being, it is undeniable and unavoidable. This can be seen on DCCXLIX-All but Death, can be Adjusted; and DCCXII-Because I could not stop for Death. The fifth idea is death is the transition from dust into spirit. This idea can be seen on CMXLIX-Under the Light, yet under; MXXXIX-I heard, as if I had no Ear; and MCCCXCIX-Perhaps they do not go so far. The sixth idea is death is natural thing that happens to all human being, so it does not need to be dramatized. This idea can be seen on MCXLVII-After a thousand years and MCCLVI-Not any higher stand the Grave. The last idea is death is the fatal ending that will bring nothing but lost to someone. This idea can be seen on MDLI-Those – dying then and MDCV-Each thath we lose takes part of us.
5.2. Suggestion
1. Emily Dickinson writes thousand poems with various topics, the writer suggests the reader to analyze her idea towards another topic in her poems.
2. The book of Emily Dickinson is quite hard to find since her works are published after she died. The writer suggests the reader to find out and analysis more literary works dealing with Dickinson’s work more accurately.
