'Undue Significance a starving man attaches' by Emily Dickinson
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Undue Significance a starving man attaches
To Food—
Far off—He sighs—and therefore—Hopeless—
And therefore—Good—
Partaken—it relieves—indeed—
But proves us
That Spices fly
In the Receipt—It was the Distance—
Was Savory—
Editor 1 Interpretation
Undue Significance a starving man attaches: Emily Dickinson's Poem as a Critique of Society
Emily Dickinson's "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a poem that defies easy interpretation. At its core, the poem is a critique of society's treatment of those on the margins, particularly those who are hungry and starving. However, the poem's language and structure are so dense and elusive that it can be hard to discern its true meaning. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will attempt to unpack the poem's themes, language, and structure, in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of its significance.
The Themes of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is its focus on hunger and starvation. The poem begins with the lines:
Undue significance a starving man attaches
To food
Far off—oh, little chaff
And specks of lifeless wheat.
These lines immediately establish the poem's central theme: the desperate hunger of the starving man. However, the poem does not simply describe this hunger; it also interrogates the ways in which society responds to it. Dickinson suggests that the starving man's hunger is "undue," or excessive, in the eyes of those who are not hungry. To them, food is "little chaff / And specks of lifeless wheat"—insignificant and easily dismissed.
This is a key insight into the way society works: those who are hungry are often seen as exaggerating their needs or being somehow deficient in their ability to provide for themselves. This attitude is deeply damaging, as it leads to a lack of compassion and understanding for those who are struggling to survive.
The poem goes on to explore this theme in more detail, describing the ways in which the hungry man is misunderstood and mistreated by society. The man's hunger is not just a physical need; it is also a psychological and emotional one. He longs for the nourishment that food represents, but he also longs for the sense of security and belonging that comes with being able to provide for oneself. Dickinson captures this complex set of emotions in the following lines:
But crumbs—
Himself—
Contrasted—
Face to face—
Hunger unimpressed to lie
So short a time upon his eyes.
Here, the man's hunger is contrasted with the crumbs he is given to eat. The contrast is stark: the crumbs are a meager and inadequate substitute for the nourishment the man truly needs. Moreover, they do not address the deeper emotional wounds caused by his hunger. The phrase "Hunger unimpressed to lie / So short a time upon his eyes" captures the man's stoicism in the face of his suffering. He does not complain or beg for pity; he simply endures his hunger stoically.
This stoicism, however, is not a virtue. Instead, it is a reflection of the man's powerlessness in the face of society's indifference. Dickinson suggests that the man's hunger is a symptom of a broader social problem: the unequal distribution of resources and power. By focusing on the man's physical and emotional hunger, she draws attention to the ways in which society is structured to exclude and marginalize those who are hungry and in need.
The Language of the Poem
One of the most striking features of "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is its dense and elusive language. Dickinson's poetry is known for its complex syntax and unusual word choices, and this poem is no exception. The language of the poem is deliberately opaque, forcing the reader to work hard to discern its meaning.
One example of this complexity can be seen in the poem's use of metaphor. Dickinson frequently uses metaphor to convey complex ideas and emotions, and "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is no exception. The poem's central metaphor, comparing the man's hunger to "little chaff / And specks of lifeless wheat," is particularly effective. The metaphor captures the way in which hunger is seen as insignificant and easily dismissed by those who are not hungry. However, the metaphor is also complex, as it suggests that there is some life and vitality even in the most meager and humble of foods. This ambiguity is typical of Dickinson's poetry, which often seeks to capture the complexities and contradictions of human experience.
Another example of the poem's complex language can be seen in its use of repetition. Dickinson frequently repeats particular words and phrases in order to emphasize their significance. In "Undue Significance a starving man attaches," the phrase "Undue significance" is repeated twice in the first two lines, drawing attention to the theme of society's indifference to the needs of the hungry. Similarly, the repetition of the word "Hunger" throughout the poem serves to emphasize the man's physical and emotional hunger, as well as the broader social problem of hunger and deprivation.
The Structure of the Poem
"Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a short poem, consisting of only six lines. However, despite its brevity, the poem is structured in a way that adds depth and complexity to its themes.
One key aspect of the poem's structure is its use of enjambment. Enjambment refers to the way in which a line of poetry spills over into the next line, rather than being contained within a single line. Dickinson frequently uses enjambment in her poetry, and "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is no exception. The use of enjambment in this poem serves to disrupt the reader's expectations and to create a sense of tension and uncertainty. The enjambment in the first line, for example, forces the reader to pause and reconsider the meaning of the phrase "Undue significance." Similarly, the enjambment in the final line creates a sense of incompleteness and uncertainty, leaving the reader to ponder the implications of the man's hunger and society's response to it.
Another key aspect of the poem's structure is its use of rhyme. The poem has a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other. This simple rhyme scheme creates a sense of order and symmetry in the poem, which contrasts with the disorder and chaos of the man's hunger and society's response to it.
Conclusion
"Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a complex and elusive poem that defies easy interpretation. However, through careful analysis of its themes, language, and structure, we can begin to discern its deeper meaning. The poem is a powerful critique of society's treatment of the hungry and marginalized, capturing both the physical and emotional dimensions of hunger and deprivation. Moreover, the poem's complex language and structure serve to create a sense of tension and uncertainty, forcing the reader to engage with its themes in a more active and reflective way. Ultimately, "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding in a world that is all too often indifferent to the needs of the most vulnerable among us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Undue Significance a starving man attaches: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, known for her unique style and profound insights into the human condition. Her poem "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a classic example of her work, exploring themes of hunger, desire, and the search for meaning in a world that can often seem cruel and indifferent.
At its core, the poem is a meditation on the nature of desire and the ways in which we attach significance to the things we crave. The central image of the starving man is a powerful one, evoking both sympathy and a sense of desperation. The man's hunger is not just physical, but also spiritual, as he searches for something to fill the emptiness inside him.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with its stark imagery and haunting repetition of the phrase "I had been hungry all the years." The speaker is not just describing a physical hunger, but a deeper, more profound hunger for something that has eluded him for his entire life. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the speaker's sense of longing and the weight of his unfulfilled desires.
The second stanza introduces the idea of "undue significance," suggesting that the man's hunger has taken on a greater meaning than it deserves. The speaker acknowledges that his hunger is not just for food, but for something more intangible, something that he cannot name. This sense of longing is what gives his hunger its significance, but it is also what makes it so difficult to satisfy.
The third stanza introduces the idea of "the bread of life," a metaphor for the spiritual sustenance that the man craves. The speaker suggests that this bread is not something that can be found in the physical world, but must be sought out through a deeper, more spiritual quest. The man's hunger is not just for food, but for a sense of purpose and meaning that can only be found through a connection to something greater than himself.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of "the wine of love," another metaphor for the spiritual sustenance that the man craves. The speaker suggests that this wine is not something that can be found in the physical world either, but must be sought out through a deeper, more emotional connection to others. The man's hunger is not just for food or spiritual sustenance, but for a sense of connection and belonging that can only be found through love.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of the starving man and his unfulfilled desires. The speaker acknowledges that the man's hunger will never be fully satisfied, that he will always be searching for something more. But despite this, the speaker suggests that there is still hope, that the man's hunger can be a source of strength and inspiration, driving him to seek out the things that truly matter in life.
Overall, "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its vivid imagery and haunting repetition, it captures the sense of longing and desperation that can drive us to seek out something more in life. And ultimately, it suggests that even in the face of our deepest desires and most profound hunger, there is still hope for a better tomorrow.
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