A video for "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" (Link if video doesn't load https://youtu.be/6U-CRhnDyK8)
Analysis
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 – |
Emily Dickinson uses symbolism throughout her poem “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” in order to show that death is a journey that one must take. Dickinson starts out her poem by stating how the speaker was so busy and unprepared for death that the speaker “could not stop for Death” (1). The speaker was obviously not prepared for death and felt that she was too busy to die. Even though the speaker was not prepared for death they still end up taking a ride with him, the speaker describes how “The carriage held but just Ourselves” (3). The carriage is a symbol for the journey to the afterlife. The fact that the speaker still rode in this carriage and took the journey even though they felt that they weren’t ready to go just yet shows Dickinson’s theme. The speaker continues to describe her journey to death as they “passed the setting sun” (12). The sun setting and going down symbolically represents her death. Her life ends with the day. Showing how the setting has changed, Dickinson again shows that death is a journey that may take time. Finally, the speakers journey ends “before a house that seemed/A swelling of the Ground -” (17-18). This house, which is the speaker’s final destination, is a symbol for their grave. The journey of the speaker to death ends in one’s coffin. By using a house to symbolize the speaker’s grave and final stop, Dickinson shows that death is journey because it has a final destination, one's coffin. One may stop places and see things in the carriage with death yet inevitably everyone ends in the same place, at their own coffin. Dickinson uses various symbols throughout this poem in order to show that death is a journey that one cannot avoid.
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