Dickinson on Death An analysis of the perspective on death and the afterlife presented in the poem “Because I could not stop for Death”. Death, and what happens to us afterwards has always been a much debated, highly controversial topic. Every era has its own take on it. This view on death is often reflected in the art and literature of that particular era. However, Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death” presents a more undecided perspective on death, and the afterlife, which differs from the grim, Christian perspective in the nineteenth century. Firstly, the final destination is pictured as neither heaven nor hell, but rather as an everlasting journey. In the nineteenth century people believed that after death a person would end up in heaven or hell. Of course there was also purgatory where people would suffer, but after that even those people would go to heaven (Casey 226). Therefore, in Christianity a person’s journey ends at their death. They end up in the afterlife and stay there for all eternity. However, in Dickinson’s poem the speaker …show more content…
Her different way of thinking when it comes to mortality and the afterlife, really adds to this poem when realising Dickinson did not live in a time or culture which allowed for much open-mindedness. Expressing these thoughts through this poem shows her courageous and unique character. It also makes the reader think about their own perspective on death and the afterlife. It is way too easy to just accept the common ideas without giving it any proper thought. The reader is urged to be as brave as Dickinson and dared to think individually, however scary the subject might