‘Because I Could Not Stop for Death’ Analysis
‘Because I could not stop for Death’ is a lyrical poem written by Emily Dickinson first published posthumously in Poems: Series 1 in 1890. She gives us a unique interpretation of Death—as someone kind and courteous, compassionately taking us to ‘the other side’.
Dickinson’s use of capitalization and dashes in this poem is highly effective--her dashes guiding us along to the next line—therefore slowing the poem dramatically, henceforth placing a much heavier emphasis on the words following them. As Death is personified as going out of his way to collect our speaker, she speaks fondly of him—perhaps in the same manner one may regard a gentleman caller. After she climbs into his carriage, she introduces Immortality in a somewhat off-hand manner, as seen: “The Carriage held but just Ourselves – / And Immortality.” This
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This is a direct metaphor of the physical changes that undergo as a person passes away. As Death brings her to her new ‘house’, her grave, she describes it as a swelling in the ground. Dickinson rides the line between the reality of the situation, and the description of the metaphorical house. She describes the roof as barely visible—this is the top of her coffin, still undergoing burial. It is made clear that this part of death—the coldness, and burial—may not be ideal, but it does guide her to Immortality. Additionally, the use of alliteration in this stanza that emphasizes the material trappings—“gossamer” “gown” and “tippet” “tulle”—makes the stanza much less sinister.
The speaker reminisces on this day she died: “Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet / Feels shorter than the Day”. We’re given insight that the speaker has been dead throughout the poem, and has been telling the story of the day she died--she always knew the horse’s leading the carriage were always leading her on to the