Monogamous Eternity

Nora Mohtadi

Steven Wexler

English 495ESM

20 September 2012

Monogamous Eternity

Mortality is one of life’s most difficult and feared journeys. With every breath of life there will always be a time where that breath will expire. Death is incorporated with the chilly eerie feeling of darkness and nothingness. Therefore as humans, death is excessively feared. In Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Because I could not stop for Death”, her perception is the antonym of death. In the poem, Dickinson uses the literary elements of personification and symbolism to convey the theme of her poem: that death is part of the endless cycle of life; death should not be feared but invited with calm regard.

The poem begins with the author clearly admitting that she did not stop for “Death, /He kindly stopped…” (l.1-2) for her. In the beginning, Dickinson personifies “Death” (l.1) as a masculine, referring to death as a “He” (1. 2). In Babette Deutsch’s book Poetry Handbook: A Dictionary of Terms, personification is defined under an “extensive metaphor” or an allegory (Deutsch 88). Deutsch also defines personification as “prosopopeia” or “abstract vices and virtues represented as person” (Deutsch 88). Dickinson uses personification by attaching attributes of kindness in the man that stops for her; the same man she couldn’t stop for. Dickinson describes Death as being chivalrous and romantic to have stopped for her and pick her up. The author is now riding with her romantic lover, Death, but is soon accompanied by another person, “Immortality” (l. 4). Dickinson also personifies “Immortality” (l. 4) as another traveler in their journey to eternal life. As the carriage is moving Death “…knew no haste” (l. 5). Death seems to be calm and unhurried to reach their destination, as if “He” is enjoying “his” time strolling along the road. The author also feels that Death has been so kind to that she has sacrificed her “…labor and my leisure too, /For His Civility” (ll. 7-8). The author lets go of her worldly pleasures for Death, because of his initial kind gesture. Dickinson personifies Death as not only kind but polite and courteous. Dickinson does not only personify Death and Immortality, but also personifies the Sun. As the author and her lover, Death, pass by the key stages of her life they come to the end of her stage, “…the Setting Sun-/Or rather-He passed Us-” (l. 12-13). Dickinson personifies the Sun, as the Sun passing them by, which signifies that the Sun is traveling the opposite direction from where they are heading. Near the end of the poem, Dickinson describes what the author is dressed in, a wedding dress. Dressed as a bride, Death can only be her kind chivalrous groom accompanying her to their eternal abode. 

Dickinson also uses the literary element of symbolism. In Deutsch’s book a symbol is defined as a:

…word or image that signifies something other than what is represents and that even when denoting a physical, limited thing carries enlarging connotations, so that it has the reality, vivid yet ambiguous, the emotional power, and the suggestiveness of a compelling dream or an archetypal myth.”

Dickinson is the best example in the usage of symbolism in regards to the theme of the poem: serenely accepting death. Death peacefully and calmly accompanies the author on a journey to and immortal destination. Towards their calm and easeful journey, the author is feels a breeze as “The Dews drew quivering and chill/For only Gossamer, my Gown/My Tippet-only Tulle-” (l. 14-16). The author is adorned in a wedding dress. The wedding dress symbolizes that her journey is a journey to a new beginning, like being married is the mark of a new beginning in life. The author’s attire represents her acceptance to the hand of Death and her joyful everlasting journey to an immortal life.  During their journey, Death and the author “…passed the School, where Children strove/At Recess-in the Ring-” (l. 9-10). The author and Death pass by a school and children playing at their recess time. This scene symbolizes the authors childhood and school years. As Death and the author pass the school the come upon “…the Fields of Grazing Grain-” (l. 11). The author again comes across another key stage in her life, her midlife and working life as an adult. Death presses on forward and the author comes to pass by “…the Setting Sun-” (1. 12). Death travels by the last stage of the author’s life, the stage of old age and death, which is being symbolized by the beautiful and romantic sunset. Death presses onward and they “…paused before a House that seemed/A Swelling of the Ground-/The Roof was scarcely visible-/The Cornice-in the Ground-” (l. 17-20). Death gently pauses in front of the author’s abode, which is described as her grave, her eternal resting place. Dickinson uses the house as a symbol of comfort and ease rather than a place of morbid attributes. Dickinson describes the house as spacious and wide, where the roof can barely be seen in height. Hand in hand with the author’s eternal companion they travel, “Were toward Eternity-” (l. 24), toward a new eternal blissful life.

Dickinson’s poem brings about the peaceful and serene notion that death is part of life’s most wonderful stages. Through her personified character, Death, the author eases her way onward toward a heavenly eternity. Dickinson uses many symbols to help create a tranquil and calmly passage. As the author leaves behind her worldly life, she enters her new beginning to life, her eternal calmly home where time stands still.

Work Cited

Deutsch, Babette. Poetry Handbook: A Dictionary of Terms. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1974. Print.

Dickinson, Emily. "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." 100 Best-Loved Poems. Ed. Philip Smith. New York: Dover Publications, 1995. 70. Print.