'Heart! We will forget him!' by Emily Dickinson

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Heart! We will forget him!
You and I—tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave—
I will forget the light!

When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I remember him!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Heart! We will forget him! by Emily Dickinson

Have you ever been heartbroken? Have you ever loved someone who didn't love you back? Have you ever tried to forget someone who had a special place in your heart? If so, then you will relate to Emily Dickinson's poem, "Heart! We will forget him!"

Written in the form of a conversation between the heart and the mind, this poem explores the pain of unrequited love and the struggle to move on. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in this classic poem.

Background

Before we dive into the analysis, let's first discuss the context in which this poem was written. Emily Dickinson, a reclusive poet from Amherst, Massachusetts, was known for her unconventional style of writing. She was not widely recognized during her lifetime, and it wasn't until after her death that her poetry gained popularity.

"Heart! We will forget him!" was written in the mid-1860s, during a time when Dickinson was experiencing a period of emotional turmoil. It is believed that this poem was inspired by her unrequited love for a man named Charles Wadsworth, a married minister whom she met in 1855. Although the nature of their relationship is unclear, it is clear that Dickinson had deep feelings for him.

Analysis

Now that we have some background information, let's analyze the poem stanza by stanza.

Heart! We will forget him!
You and I--tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave--
I will forget the light.

The opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The heart and the mind are having a conversation, and the heart is the one who is hurting. The heart wants to forget the person who has caused it pain, but the mind is more practical and logical. The heart and the mind have different ways of processing emotions, and this is evident in their differing approaches to forgetting the person.

The heart acknowledges that it will be difficult to forget the warmth that the person gave, but it is willing to try. The mind, on the other hand, is more dismissive and suggests that the heart will forget the light that the person brought into their life.

When you have done, pray tell me
That I my thoughts may dim;
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I may remember him!

In the second stanza, the heart is impatient and wants the mind to hurry up and forget the person. The heart is afraid that if the mind takes too long, it will remember the person again. The heart is desperate to move on and wants the mind to help it do so.

He went--perhaps it was cowardice
Of his--or his regard
Was growing into something else,
As sometimes happens, hard--

The third stanza provides some context about the person the heart is trying to forget. It is suggested that the person left, perhaps due to cowardice or because his feelings for the heart were changing. This stanza shows that the heart is trying to come to terms with the fact that the person is no longer in their life.

But all's fair, I doubt not--
Heaven is far away--
Doubtless they can mean me somewhat
Now--or just "Your name"--

In the fourth stanza, the heart tries to rationalize the situation. It suggests that the person may not have had the same feelings for the heart in the first place and that they were never meant to be together. The heart acknowledges that the person may still think of them in some way, but it is resigned to the fact that they will never be together.

There's even a chance that we two shall meet--
That is, supposing we shall--
And talk about the weather
And also "How do you do?"

The fifth stanza is bittersweet. The heart acknowledges that there is a chance that they may meet the person again, but it is clear that the relationship will never be the same. The heart suggests that they will talk about mundane things like the weather and how they are doing, but it is clear that they will never be able to recapture what they once had.

Further than this--is none--

The final stanza is short and simple. The heart has come to accept that it must move on and forget the person. There is nothing more to say about the situation.

Themes

The main theme of this poem is unrequited love and the pain that comes with it. The heart is trying to forget someone who does not feel the same way about them, and this causes them great pain. The heart and the mind have different ways of dealing with this pain, but ultimately they both want to forget the person and move on.

Another theme in this poem is the struggle to let go of the past. The heart is holding onto memories of the person, and it is difficult for them to let go. The mind is trying to help the heart move on, but it is a difficult process.

Symbols

One symbol in this poem is the light that the person brought into the heart's life. The heart acknowledges that it will be difficult to forget the warmth that the person gave, but it is willing to try. The light represents the positive memories and feelings that the heart had for the person, and the heart is trying to forget these memories in order to move on.

Another symbol in this poem is the chance meeting between the heart and the person. The heart acknowledges that there is a chance that they may meet the person again, but it is clear that the relationship will never be the same. This symbolizes the idea that even if the heart and the person cross paths again, they will never be able to recapture what they once had.

Literary Devices

One literary device used in this poem is personification. The heart and the mind are given human characteristics and are portrayed as having a conversation with each other. This device helps to illustrate the conflict between the heart and the mind and the different ways they process emotions.

Another literary device used in this poem is repetition. The phrase "Heart! We will forget him!" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the heart's desire to move on and forget the person.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Heart! We will forget him!" is a poignant poem that explores the pain of unrequited love and the struggle to move on. Emily Dickinson's use of personification, repetition, and symbolism helps to illustrate the conflict between the heart and the mind and the difficulty of letting go of the past.

This poem is a timeless classic that has resonated with readers for generations. It is a reminder that even though love can be painful, it is possible to move on and find happiness again.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Heart! We will forget him! is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned American poets of the 19th century. This poem is a beautiful and poignant expression of the pain and struggle of letting go of someone we love. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with a powerful statement, "Heart! We will forget him!" This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a conversation between the speaker and her heart. The speaker is trying to convince her heart to forget the person she loves, but her heart is reluctant to do so. This conflict between the speaker and her heart is the central theme of the poem.

The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's desire to forget the person she loves. She says that she will "forget him" by "putting him away." This line suggests that the speaker is trying to bury her feelings for this person and move on with her life. However, her heart is not ready to let go, and it "beats on" despite her efforts to forget.

The second stanza of the poem is a conversation between the speaker and her heart. The speaker asks her heart why it "does not break" and why it continues to beat even though she is trying to forget the person she loves. Her heart responds by saying that it is "made of stone" and that it cannot be broken. This line suggests that the heart is resilient and that it can withstand the pain of loss.

The third stanza of the poem is a continuation of the conversation between the speaker and her heart. The speaker asks her heart why it "does not love" the person she loves. Her heart responds by saying that it does love this person, but it is "silent" because the speaker has asked it to be. This line suggests that the heart is obedient to the speaker's wishes, even though it is painful for it to be silent.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's feelings. She says that she is "done with him" and that she will "love no more." This line suggests that the speaker has given up on the person she loves and that she is ready to move on with her life. However, her heart is still beating, and it is a reminder that she cannot simply forget her feelings.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a conclusion to the conversation between the speaker and her heart. The speaker tells her heart to "let go" of the person she loves and to "forget him." However, her heart is still beating, and it is a reminder that letting go is not easy.

The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABCB, which means that the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme. This rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember.

The poem uses several literary devices to convey its message. One of the most prominent devices is personification. The speaker personifies her heart and has a conversation with it, which gives the poem a sense of intimacy and emotional depth. Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "Heart! We will forget him!" is repeated at the beginning and end of the poem, which emphasizes the central theme of the poem.

The poem also uses imagery to convey its message. The image of the heart beating despite the speaker's efforts to forget is a powerful image that conveys the pain and struggle of letting go. The image of the heart being made of stone is also a powerful image that suggests the heart is resilient and can withstand the pain of loss.

In conclusion, Heart! We will forget him! is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the pain and struggle of letting go of someone we love. The poem uses simple language, a musical rhyme scheme, and powerful imagery to convey its message. The conversation between the speaker and her heart gives the poem a sense of intimacy and emotional depth. This poem is a timeless expression of the human experience of love and loss, and it will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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