ipl-logo

Emily Dickinson's Because I Cannot Dance Upon My Toes

684 Words3 Pages

Emily Dickinson, who was a poet from the 19th century, was not discovered until the 20th century. Her phenomenal way with words informs the reader through her manipulation of grammar the rather stark approach to understanding consciousness. Many claims have been made of Dickinson’s reclusive nature, her withdrawal from social interaction. But her poems speak differently, with great intellect and insight Dickinson perceives life’s mysteries and comprises them in poetic form for everyone that reads them an opportunity to decipher her concepts of death, nature, and love. Dr. Weinstein’s perception of Emily Dickinson’s poems gives great understanding to the layman reader that the poems are written as an aftermath of what was or is experienced. The poem “Because I could not stop for Death” is described by Dr. …show more content…

Her poems reveal her love and compassion for others and nature. As seen through several of her poems. “If I could stop one Heart from Breaking . . . I shall not live in Vain,” provides insight into Dickinson’s heart. Her understanding that life’s purpose is to help others. This poem and many others contradict the idea that she was reclusive and unsociable. “Love – is anterior to Life” reveals she understood the concept of what true love is and how much it is part of her world. The poem “I cannot dance upon my Toes” opens the window of possibility that at some point in her life she witnessed ballet, which is a very social interaction. Furthermore the intelligence and comprehension of Dickinson is revealed in the following poems: “The brain is wider than the sky,” “’Nature’ is what we see-,” “Pink small and punctual,” “I tend my flowers for thee” all reveal her understanding of the mysteries of nature and relationship to human beings. “So impotent Our Wisdom is To her Simplicity” reflects that Dickinson’s education and wisdom was nothing in comparison to that what nature

Open Document