'Now I lay thee down to Sleep—' by Emily Dickinson
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Now I lay thee down to Sleep—
I pray the Lord thy Dust to keep—
And if thou live before thou wake—
I pray the Lord thy Soul to make—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Now I lay thee down to Sleep by Emily Dickinson
Have you ever read a poem that leaves you with a feeling of both comfort and discomfort at the same time? That's how I feel after reading Emily Dickinson's Now I lay thee down to Sleep. It's a poem that seems to be about something as ordinary as putting a child to bed, but as you read on, you realize that there's more to it than meets the eye. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll explore the different interpretations of this classic poem and how it relates to Dickinson's other works.
Background and Context
Before diving into the poem itself, it's important to understand the context in which Dickinson was writing. She lived in the 19th century, a time when women's roles were limited and their voices often silenced. Dickinson herself was a recluse who rarely left her home, and most of her poems were not published until after her death. Her poetry is known for its unconventional style, use of dashes and slant rhyme, and its exploration of themes such as death, nature, and spirituality.
Analysis
Now I lay thee down to Sleep is a short and simple poem, yet it manages to pack a lot of meaning into its six lines. On the surface, it seems to be about a mother putting her child to bed:
Now I lay thee down to Sleep,
I pray the Lord thy soul to keep,
If thou shouldst die before thou wake,
I pray the Lord thy soul to take.
These lines are reminiscent of the childhood prayer that many of us are familiar with. The mother is asking the Lord to watch over her child and keep him safe, even in the event of his death. But as we delve deeper into the poem, we begin to see that there's more to it than just a simple bedtime prayer.
The second stanza adds a layer of complexity to the poem:
Lord, how quickly dost thou sleep!
Surely thou hast forgotten me;
I have been praying all the day,
And in the night I cannot sleep.
Here, the speaker is addressing the Lord directly, expressing her frustration that he seems to have forgotten her. She has been praying all day and night, yet she still cannot sleep. This suggests that the speaker is not just a mother putting her child to bed, but someone who is dealing with their own personal struggles.
The final stanza provides a resolution to this conflict:
But I am sure thou wilt remember
When I shall be no more;
And I will trust thee in the dark,
And thy goodness will adore.
The speaker acknowledges that the Lord will remember her when she is gone, and she will trust him even in the dark. This suggests that the speaker has faith in the Lord, despite her current struggles.
Interpretations
The beauty of poetry is that it can be interpreted in many different ways, and Now I lay thee down to Sleep is no exception. Here are just a few of the different interpretations that have been proposed:
A mother's prayer
One of the most obvious interpretations of the poem is that it's a mother's prayer for her child. The poem is written in the second person, suggesting that the speaker is addressing someone directly. The use of the word "thee" also suggests that the speaker is addressing someone familiar, perhaps a child.
A prayer for the dying
Another interpretation is that the poem is a prayer for the dying. The line "If thou shouldst die before thou wake" suggests that the speaker is preparing for the possibility of death, either for herself or for someone close to her.
A crisis of faith
The second stanza of the poem suggests that the speaker is experiencing a crisis of faith. She is frustrated that the Lord seems to have forgotten her, despite her prayers. This interpretation suggests that the poem is not just about bedtime prayers, but about the struggle to maintain faith in the face of adversity.
Fear of death
The line "If thou shouldst die before thou wake" also suggests a fear of death. The speaker is acknowledging the possibility that the child may not wake up, and is asking the Lord to watch over him even in death. This fear of death is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry.
Connections to other works
Now I lay thee down to Sleep is just one of many poems in Dickinson's body of work that deal with themes such as death, faith, and nature. In many ways, this poem is representative of her larger oeuvre. Here are a few examples of other poems that share similar themes:
Because I could not stop for Death
This poem, like Now I lay thee down to Sleep, deals with the theme of death. It depicts death as a gentle carriage ride, with the speaker calmly accepting her fate. This poem suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that is a natural part of life.
Hope is the thing with feathers
This poem is one of Dickinson's most famous, and it deals with the theme of hope. The speaker compares hope to a bird that lives within us, singing even in the darkest of times. This poem suggests that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope.
A Bird came down the Walk
This poem is another example of Dickinson's fascination with nature. It describes a bird that comes down the walk and interacts with the speaker. This poem suggests that even in the midst of our daily lives, there is beauty to be found in nature.
Conclusion
Now I lay thee down to Sleep is a deceptively simple poem that explores complex themes such as faith, death, and the struggle to maintain hope in the face of adversity. It's a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the reader's perspective. Ultimately, what makes this poem so special is that it manages to capture the beauty and complexity of life in just six lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Now I lay thee down to Sleep: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. Among her many famous poems is “Now I lay thee down to Sleep,” a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores themes of death, loss, and the afterlife. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line “Now I lay thee down to Sleep,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word “thee” instead of “you” gives the poem an archaic, almost biblical feel, which is further emphasized by the use of capitalization in the following line: “I pray the Lord thy soul to keep.” This line is a direct reference to the Christian bedtime prayer, which goes: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.”
However, Dickinson’s version of the prayer takes on a darker, more ominous tone. The use of the word “pray” suggests a sense of desperation or urgency, as if the speaker is pleading with God to protect the soul of the person they are addressing. The phrase “thy soul to keep” also implies that the soul is in danger or at risk of being lost, which adds to the sense of foreboding that permeates the poem.
The second stanza of the poem continues in this vein, with the speaker asking God to “guard and guide” the person’s “little head” and “little feet.” The use of the word “little” here is interesting, as it suggests that the person being addressed is a child or someone small and vulnerable. This could be interpreted as a reference to the fragility of life, and the fact that even the youngest and most innocent among us are not immune to death.
The third stanza of the poem takes a slightly different turn, with the speaker asking God to “bless the pillow whereon thou liest.” This line is significant because it suggests that the person being addressed is already lying down, perhaps even dying. The use of the word “whereon” is also interesting, as it is a somewhat archaic term that is rarely used in modern English. This adds to the sense of timelessness and universality that pervades the poem, as if the speaker is addressing not just one person, but all of humanity.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most haunting of all. Here, the speaker asks God to “bless the dimple in thy cheek,” which is a reference to a small indentation or hollow that can sometimes be seen when a person smiles. The use of the word “dimple” is significant because it suggests a sense of innocence and youthfulness, as if the person being addressed is still a child. However, the fact that the dimple is described as “dim” suggests that the person is already fading away, perhaps even dead.
The final line of the poem, “May angels watch thee through the night,” is a fitting conclusion to this haunting and beautiful piece. The use of the word “angels” suggests a sense of otherworldliness and spirituality, as if the person being addressed is already on the brink of the afterlife. The fact that the angels are watching “through the night” also adds to the sense of foreboding and darkness that pervades the poem, as if the person being addressed is already lost in the shadows of death.
In terms of structure, “Now I lay thee down to Sleep” is a relatively simple poem. It consists of four stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme. However, the simplicity of the structure is deceptive, as it allows Dickinson to focus on the language and imagery of the poem, which is where its true power lies.
One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is repetition. The phrase “Now I lay thee down to Sleep” is repeated twice, at the beginning and end of the poem, which gives the piece a sense of circularity and completeness. The repetition of the phrase “little head” and “little feet” also adds to the sense of vulnerability and innocence that pervades the poem.
Another literary device used in the poem is alliteration. The phrase “guard and guide” in the second stanza is a good example of this, as is the repetition of the “th” sound in the phrase “thy soul to keep.” These alliterative phrases give the poem a sense of musicality and rhythm, which adds to its haunting and ethereal quality.
In conclusion, “Now I lay thee down to Sleep” is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores themes of death, loss, and the afterlife. Through its use of archaic language, repetition, and alliteration, Emily Dickinson creates a sense of timelessness and universality that speaks to the human experience of mortality. This poem is a testament to Dickinson’s skill as a poet, and a reminder of the enduring power of her work.
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