BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH

(Emily Dickinson)

CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE POEM

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Emily Dickinson conceives death as a journey to eternity. Do you agree?

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Emily Dickinson’s views death as a gentle and comfortable companion to man. Do you agree?

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The journey of the poetess in the coach of Death is actually the journey of a funeral procession to the graveyard. Do you agree to this view?

          The poetess discusses the reality of death in the religious light. Her poetry deals with the theme of morality and immortality. Death was a central problem of her life. She lived at the place which fell on the way to cemetery. She saw death all around herself; in her family; friends and relatives. She was moved by death of babies and women. In this poem she deals death as a gentle friend and soothing companion. Her views on death are quite different from other poets. It is called a mighty leveler by the poetess. It strikes its icy blow on the rich and poor equally. It is thought something horrible and painful. People are afraid of it.

           But the poetess has presented death as a kind and gentle companion. As such it transports man to its final goal in a pleasurable manner. Moreover, the poetess has pointed out that death does not put an end to life. It is the beginning of a new life. It is an essential part of human life on earth. Man performs his journey of life from childhood to old age in the carriage of death. Death is very kind on man. Man forgets death in the pursuits of his daily life. But death does not forget him. It calls on him. According to the poetess death brings with it a wonderful sense of peace and religious serenity. The poetess conceives death not an end to human life but a beginning to immortality. In her view, we must face death with calm and serenity.

EXERCISE

Is there any thing in the poem to suggest that it is written by a woman?

          The poem contains many references which suggest that it is written by a woman, death in the poem has been presented as a suitor and lover. It was the tradition in London and America in the past years that the suitor would go a journey on a long ride with his beloved. Death has been personified as a lover and it transports the poetess to her eternal home.

          The gown and the tippet are worn by ladies. We can conclude in the light of above discussion that the poem has been written by a woman.

Do you think that there is an element of fear in the poem?

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Does the poem inspire fear in us?

          This is a thought provoking and beautiful poem on death. Death has been considered as a painful and horrible thing on earth.

          But the poetess has presented death as a kind and gentle companion. As such it transports man to its final goal in a pleasurable manner. Moreover, the poetess has pointed out that death does not put an end to life. It is the beginning of a new life. It is an essential part of human life on earth. Man performs his journey of life from childhood to old age in the carriage of death. Death is very kind on man. Man forgets death in the pursuits of his daily life. But death does not forget him. It calls on him. According to the poetess death brings with it a wonderful sense of peace and religious serenity. The poetess conceives death not an end to human life but a beginning to immortality. In her view, we must face death with calm and serenity.

Write a note on the symbolical significance of the poem.

          Emily Dickinson has used symbols in this poem. School children, gazing fields, and setting sun represent childhood, youth and old age respectively. As the poetess believes in life after death, she points out to her inadequate gown, not strong enough to protect her body. In fact she is pointing to the inadequate good deeds which could not protect her soul in the next world. The gown is, thus symbol of deeds which protect her from wrath of God in the next world. The image of the ride in the carriage has a dual significance. It is a journey from life to death, from the physical to the spiritual, from time to timelessness. In this way it is the journey of life from cradle to grave. ‘The swelling of the ground’ is the symbol of grave.

CREATIVE EXERCISES

1. 1.       When death becomes easy and peaceful?
2. 2.       What makes death a cruel reality?

Quotations and references for this poem

1)   We die as soon as we are born; it is only after death that we begin to live again.

2)   Cowards die many times before their death.

3)   Life is short; therefore, let us make good use of it.

4)   One may live as a king, a conqueror or a magistrate, but he must die as a man.