'Estranged from Beauty—none can be—' by Emily Dickinson
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Estranged from Beauty—none can be—
For Beauty is Infinity—
And power to be finite ceased
Before Identity was leased.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Estranged from Beauty—none can be: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her poems are known for their vivid imagery, unconventional syntax and themes that often revolve around death, nature, love and spirituality. "Estranged from Beauty—none can be" is a poem that showcases Dickinson's unique style and her ability to capture the complexities of human emotions.
The Poem
"Estranged from Beauty—none can be As naught but Beauty—can enchant— Not a feature—of the Earthly— Not a creature—but comports— Himself as though that distant isle Were nothing—but a more misgiving Gulf— To venture some conjecture means Surmise rewards the rash. Quiet—secluded—as an oyster cell Our pearl beyond the price— How far from any mother's care— How dear unto our eyes! How far the little village lies Whose vassals are the happy skies, Whose wayfarers—a few For whom no other village do. Yet not too far to alienate The little hermit from its sight. How gracious of a day gone by To interpose a fly! Merely to entertain some thought But thoughts were soon begun, Perchance to recollect the way The footpaths of the sun— Chiefs of the East—they are Who leave—disturbless—the Dead— And small—without a sense of size Change—quality—with these— Zealot of the Lady's slipper Would not stir abroad for bliss Deeming that by sight endangered But the blossom—not to his. Emily Dickinson"
Analysis
The poem begins with the statement "Estranged from Beauty—none can be," highlighting the idea that human beings are inseparable from beauty. The second line reinforces this by stating that "naught but Beauty can enchant." The poem then moves on to describe how nothing on Earth, no creature or feature, can compare to the enchantment of beauty.
The third and fourth lines, "Not a feature of the Earthly—/Not a creature but comports" suggest that even though everything on Earth may seem mundane, they all have a way of behaving that is in accordance with the beauty that surrounds them.
The fifth and sixth lines, "Himself as though that distant isle/Were nothing but a more misgiving Gulf" use a simile to describe how the beauty is so far from us that it seems like a distant isle across a misgiving gulf. The use of the words "misgiving gulf" suggests that there is a sense of danger or risk in attempting to bridge the gap between us and beauty.
The seventh and eighth lines, "To venture some conjecture means/Surmise rewards the rash" suggest that attempting to understand or conjecture about the beauty may be risky, even reckless. The use of the word "rash" implies that trying to understand beauty may lead to negative consequences.
The next stanza presents a contrast to the previous one, describing a quiet and secluded oyster cell. The pearl inside is beyond price and dear to our eyes. The description of the pearl as being beyond price suggests that it is priceless, and therefore, perhaps not something that can be comprehended or understood through material means. The description of the pearl as being dear to our eyes suggests that it is something that we hold close to our hearts.
The next few lines describe a faraway village whose inhabitants are few and whose wayfarers have no other village to go to. The description of the village is used as a contrast to the oyster cell and the pearl, highlighting the idea that even though there may be beauty in faraway places, it is not as valuable as the beauty that is close to us.
The next stanza describes a hermit who resides near the village but is still alienated from it. The use of the word "gracious" to describe a day gone by is ironic, as the hermit's life appears to be far from gracious. The interposition of a fly is used to suggest that even though the hermit may be living an isolated life, he is still able to find some form of entertainment.
The next few lines are difficult to interpret, but they seem to suggest that thinking about the beauty of the world can lead to a recollection of the way the sun moves across the sky. The reference to the "Chiefs of the East" suggests that the poem is perhaps referring to the way the sun moves across the sky in the East.
The final stanza describes a zealot of the Lady's slipper, a type of orchid, who would not stir abroad for bliss, out of fear that the blossom might be endangered. The description of the orchid as a zealot suggests that it is fanatically devoted to its beauty, and the fear of endangerment suggests that beauty is fragile and therefore, must be protected.
Interpretation
The poem is a meditation on the nature of beauty and its relationship to human beings. The opening lines suggest that beauty is an intrinsic part of human existence and that we are all "estranged" from it. The poem then goes on to describe how beauty is something that is beyond price and that we hold dear to our hearts.
The juxtaposition of the oyster cell, the faraway village, and the hermit highlight the idea that even though beauty may be found in faraway places, it is not as valuable as the beauty that is close to us. The description of the hermit's life as being isolated and alienating suggests that even though we may be surrounded by beauty, we may still feel estranged from it.
The final stanza describes a zealot of the Lady's slipper, who is fanatically devoted to beauty and fears endangerment. This suggests that beauty is fragile and must be protected, and that perhaps, in our quest to understand it, we risk destroying it.
Overall, the poem is a beautifully crafted meditation on the nature of beauty and its relationship to human beings. It is a reminder that even though we may be estranged from beauty, it is still an essential part of our existence, and we must cherish and protect it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Estranged from Beauty—none can be— is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century. The poem is a reflection on the human condition and our relationship with beauty. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem.
The poem begins with the line, "Estranged from Beauty—none can be—." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of estrangement. The word "estranged" means to be separated or alienated from something, and in this case, it is beauty. The use of the word "none" emphasizes that this estrangement is universal and affects everyone.
The next line reads, "For Beauty is Infinity's friend—" Here, Dickinson personifies beauty as a friend of infinity. Infinity is a concept that is infinite and boundless, and by associating beauty with it, Dickinson suggests that beauty is also infinite and boundless. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is beyond our grasp and understanding.
The third line reads, "And when the universe is through—" Here, Dickinson suggests that the universe has a purpose or a plan, and when it is done, beauty will still be there. This line also suggests that beauty is eternal and will outlast the universe.
The fourth line reads, "With thee, O Beauty, barred no door—" Here, Dickinson addresses beauty directly and suggests that beauty has the power to open any door. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is accessible to everyone and can be found in any situation.
The fifth line reads, "And through no wonder we implore—" Here, Dickinson suggests that we are in awe of beauty and that we seek it out. This line also suggests that beauty is something that we cannot explain or understand, but we are drawn to it nonetheless.
The sixth line reads, "Ah, friend, nor smile nor sun could aid—" Here, Dickinson suggests that even the most beautiful things in the world, such as a smile or the sun, cannot compare to the beauty that we are estranged from. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is beyond our comprehension.
The seventh line reads, "Thou, too, thyself—thyself alone— Isolation's figure here—" Here, Dickinson suggests that beauty is isolated and alone. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is separate from us and that we cannot fully understand or grasp.
The eighth line reads, "And e'en thy habitation, shown—" Here, Dickinson suggests that even the place where beauty resides is something that is beyond our understanding. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is not tied to a specific place or location.
The ninth line reads, "As of some monastery—." Here, Dickinson compares the habitation of beauty to a monastery. This line suggests that beauty is something that is sacred and holy, and that it is something that we should approach with reverence and respect.
The final line reads, "Robed men enforce—Thy tardy fame—" Here, Dickinson suggests that beauty is something that is not recognized or appreciated by everyone. This line also suggests that beauty is something that is often overlooked or ignored.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in a single stanza with ten lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs. An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. The use of iambic tetrameter gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices, including personification, metaphor, and allusion. Personification is used to give beauty human-like qualities, such as being a friend of infinity. Metaphor is used to compare the habitation of beauty to a monastery, which suggests that beauty is something that is sacred and holy. Allusion is used to reference the idea of isolation, which is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry.
In conclusion, Estranged from Beauty—none can be— is a classic poem that explores the theme of estrangement and our relationship with beauty. The poem suggests that beauty is something that is beyond our understanding and that we are drawn to it despite our inability to fully comprehend it. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter and makes use of several literary devices, including personification, metaphor, and allusion. Overall, the poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture complex ideas in a few short lines.
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