'She hideth Her the last' by Emily Dickinson


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She hideth Her the last—
And is the first, to rise—
Her Night doth hardly recompense
The Closing of Her eyes—

She doth Her Purple Work—
And putteth Her away
In low Apartments in the Sod -
As worthily as We.

To imitate her life
As impotent would be
As make of Our imperfect Mints,
The Julep—of the Bee—

Editor 1 Interpretation

She hideth Her, the Last by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned poets of all time, and her poetry has been the subject of countless literary analyses and interpretations. One of her most enigmatic and haunting poems is "She hideth Her, the Last," a poem that has puzzled readers and critics for decades. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this haunting poem and try to unravel its mysteries.

Overview of the Poem

"She hideth Her, the Last" is a short and enigmatic poem, consisting of only four stanzas of two lines each. The poem is written in Dickinson's characteristic style, with irregular meter, unconventional punctuation, and sparse, cryptic language. The poem is also notable for its complex imagery, which is both beautiful and mysterious.

The poem begins with the line "She hideth Her, the Last," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The identity of the "She" that the poem refers to is not immediately clear, but it seems to be a personification of some kind. The poem goes on to describe this mysterious figure in vague and evocative terms, using images of nature and the elements to create a sense of enigma and wonder.

Analysis of the Poem

The first stanza of the poem reads:

She hideth Her, the Last –
I do not know Her Place
For He has said "Elect shall be
And whom He chooses, His"

This stanza sets up the central mystery of the poem: who is the "She" that is being referred to, and why is she hiding? The stanza also introduces the idea of election or divine selection, which will be a recurring theme throughout the poem. The use of the archaic "whom" instead of "who" emphasizes the sense of antiquity and mystery in the poem.

The second stanza reads:

My will opposes Her –
She looks a bolder One
Vows to Her chosen Lover
Sealed in what He has done –

In this stanza, the speaker reveals that their "will" opposes the mysterious "She." This opposition suggests that the "She" represents some kind of threat or challenge to the speaker's worldview or beliefs. The description of the "She" as a "bolder One" implies that she is brave and strong, while the reference to a "chosen Lover" suggests that she is deeply committed to some kind of cause or ideal.

The third stanza reads:

Immortality Her Goal –
No Man can thwart Her skill
Society Her forfeit
The Universe Her will –

This stanza provides further clues as to the identity and nature of the "She." The reference to "immortality" suggests that she is striving for some kind of eternal or transcendental goal, while the idea that "no Man can thwart Her skill" implies that she is a powerful and skilled individual. The reference to "Society Her forfeit" suggests that she is an outsider or rebel of some kind, while the description of "The Universe Her will" implies that she is connected to some kind of cosmic or divine purpose.

The final stanza reads:

Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn –
Indicative that Suns go down –
The Notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness is about to pass –

This final stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic and mysterious of all. The reference to "Presentiment" suggests a sense of foreboding or anticipation, while the image of the "long shadow on the lawn" creates a sense of unease and uncertainty. The line "Indicative that Suns go down" suggests that something is coming to an end or reaching a conclusion, while the reference to "Darkness" and "Pass" implies that this ending will be followed by some kind of renewal or rebirth.

Interpretation of the Poem

"She hideth Her, the Last" is a difficult and complex poem, and its meaning is far from clear. However, there are several key themes and motifs that run throughout the poem, and these can give us some clues as to its interpretation.

One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the nature of power, identity, and transcendence. The "She" that the poem refers to could be seen as a symbol of an individual or movement that is striving for some kind of higher goal or ideal, and that is willing to challenge the established order in order to achieve it. The opposition between the speaker's "will" and the "She" suggests a conflict between two different conceptions of power and identity, and the poem seems to suggest that the "She" represents a more authentic and powerful form of individuality than the speaker's own.

Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the nature of time and mortality. The image of the "long shadow on the lawn" suggests a sense of passing time and the inevitability of death, while the reference to "immortality" and "Darkness" implies a sense of eternity and transcendence. The poem seems to suggest that there is a tension between these two opposing forces, and that the "She" represents a kind of bridge or connection between them.

Conclusion

"She hideth Her, the Last" is a haunting and enigmatic poem, full of complex imagery and symbolism. The poem seems to touch on themes of power, identity, and transcendence, as well as time and mortality. While the poem is difficult to interpret, its beauty and mystery make it a compelling work of literature, and one that continues to intrigue and inspire readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

She Hideth Her the Last: A Masterpiece of Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, the renowned American poet, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "She Hideth Her the Last" is a perfect example of her poetic genius, as it delves into the complex emotions of a person facing the end of their life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line "She hideth Her the last," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "hideth" suggests that the subject of the poem is deliberately concealing something, which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The use of the pronoun "Her" also adds to the ambiguity, as it is not clear who or what is being hidden.

As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the subject of the poem is a person who is facing death. The line "I felt a funeral in my brain" reinforces this idea, as it suggests that the speaker is experiencing a mental breakdown as a result of the impending death. The use of the word "funeral" also creates a sense of finality and inevitability, as if the speaker knows that death is coming and there is nothing they can do to stop it.

The next few lines of the poem describe the physical and emotional symptoms that the speaker is experiencing. The line "And mourners to and fro kept treading" suggests that the speaker is surrounded by people who are grieving for them, which creates a sense of sadness and loss. The line "And then I heard them lift a box" reinforces the idea of death, as it suggests that the speaker's body is being prepared for burial.

The second stanza of the poem explores the emotions that the speaker is feeling as they face their own mortality. The line "My mind was going numb" suggests that the speaker is experiencing a sense of detachment from the world around them, as if they are already starting to slip away. The line "And yet I guessed the Horses' Heads" creates a sense of movement and urgency, as if the speaker is racing towards their own death.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as it describes the moment when the speaker finally accepts their own mortality. The line "We passed the School, where Children strove" suggests that the speaker is reflecting on their own life, and the things that they will leave behind. The line "At Recess - in the Ring" creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, as if the speaker wishes they could go back to a simpler time.

The final two lines of the poem are perhaps the most enigmatic, as they suggest that the speaker has finally found peace in the face of death. The line "We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain" creates a sense of serenity and calm, as if the speaker is finally at peace with the world around them. The final line of the poem, "We passed the Setting Sun," suggests that the speaker has finally accepted their own mortality, and is ready to face whatever comes next.

In terms of structure, the poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, which reinforces the idea of inevitability and finality. The use of rhyme and meter also adds to the sense of structure, as the poem follows a strict ABAB rhyme scheme and iambic tetrameter.

In terms of literary devices, the poem is rich with imagery and symbolism. The use of the funeral procession as a metaphor for death creates a sense of finality and inevitability, while the use of the schoolyard and the fields of grain creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. The use of the setting sun as a symbol for death is also particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker has finally accepted their own mortality.

In conclusion, "She Hideth Her the Last" is a masterpiece of Emily Dickinson's poetic genius. Through its use of imagery, symbolism, and structure, the poem explores the complex emotions of a person facing their own mortality. The poem is both haunting and beautiful, and its message of acceptance and peace in the face of death is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

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