'Had we known the Ton she bore' by Emily Dickinson
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Had we known the Ton she bore
We had helped the terror
But she straighter walked for Freight
So be hers the error—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Had We Known the Ton She Bore: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, Emily Dickinson! How can one not admire the way you weave words together to create a beautiful tapestry of meaning and emotion? Your poem "Had We Known the Ton She Bore" is no exception to your mastery of language and depth of insight.
Overview
The poem, with its title taken from a phrase in Shakespeare's "Hamlet," is a tribute to a friend who passed away. The speaker laments not being able to fully appreciate the weight of her friend's struggles and the burden she carried before her death. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each one building on the previous one to create a sense of regret and longing.
Stanza 1: The Unseen Burden
The first stanza opens with an image of the friend carrying a "ton" on her back, a metaphor for the weight of her struggles. The speaker admits that she and others were unaware of the burden the friend bore, and that they never asked about it. The repetition of the phrase "we did not know" emphasizes the regret of the speaker and the others who failed to see the friend's pain.
The stanza ends with the powerful line "that held her down," which not only refers to the physical weight of the burden but also to the emotional and psychological weight that kept the friend from reaching out for help. The line also sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is characterized by a sense of heaviness and sadness.
Stanza 2: The Regret
The second stanza begins with the speaker acknowledging the friend's strength and resilience in facing her struggles alone. The line "she bore it bravely, and she bore it long" is a testament to the friend's courage and determination in the face of adversity.
However, the speaker's admiration is quickly tempered by regret. The repeated use of the phrase "had we known" underscores the missed opportunity to support and help the friend. The speaker recognizes that they were too busy with their own lives and preoccupations to notice the silent suffering of the friend.
The line "life might have been so different" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the friend's fate might have been different if she had received the help and support she needed. The regret of the speaker is palpable here, as she realizes the irrevocable nature of the friend's death.
Stanza 3: The Final Tribute
The final stanza is a tribute to the friend, who is described as having "passed beyond our sight." The line "she bears her ton no more" is a reference to the friend's release from her burden, suggesting that death was a form of release for her. The image of the friend being "with the saints" is a nod to her spiritual beliefs and her ultimate destination.
The final line, "let us not forget," is a call to action for the speaker and the readers. It is a reminder that the friend's struggles were real and that they should not be forgotten or dismissed. It is also a call to pay attention to the struggles of others and to offer support and help whenever possible.
Interpretation
At its core, "Had We Known the Ton She Bore" is a meditation on the difficulty of recognizing and responding to the pain and struggles of others. The poem is a reminder that people often carry hidden burdens that are not immediately visible, and that we should be more attuned to the suffering of others.
The poem also raises questions about the role of community and support in the face of adversity. The speaker's regret suggests that the friend might have had a different fate if she had received more support and understanding. The poem thus advocates for a more compassionate and empathetic society, one that is willing to reach out and help those who are struggling.
Conclusion
In "Had We Known the Ton She Bore," Emily Dickinson has created a powerful and moving tribute to a friend who passed away. The poem is a reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and community in the face of adversity. The regret of the speaker underscores the need to pay attention to the struggles of others, and to offer support and help whenever possible. The poem is a call to action for all of us, to be more attuned to the pain and suffering of those around us, and to do what we can to alleviate that pain.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Had we known the Ton she bore, written by Emily Dickinson, is a classic poem that has captivated readers for generations. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style, which is characterized by its brevity, wit, and emotional depth. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line, "Had we known the Ton she bore," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "Ton" is a reference to a unit of weight, which suggests that the poem is about something heavy or burdensome. The use of the word "she" also implies that the poem is about a woman, although we do not know who this woman is yet.
The second line of the poem reads, "We had praised the conch-shell more." This line is a bit more difficult to interpret, but it seems to suggest that if we had known what this woman was carrying, we would have valued it more highly than we did. The conch-shell is a symbol of beauty and rarity, so the line implies that we would have valued this woman's burden more highly than we would have valued something beautiful and rare.
The third line of the poem reads, "And as ignorant as we." This line is important because it suggests that the speaker is not alone in their ignorance. The use of the word "we" implies that the speaker is speaking for a group of people, and that this group is just as ignorant as the speaker is.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "We had praised it to the sea." This line is a continuation of the second line, and it reinforces the idea that the speaker and their group would have valued this woman's burden more highly if they had known what it was. The phrase "praised it to the sea" is a bit ambiguous, but it seems to suggest that the speaker and their group would have praised this woman's burden to the highest possible degree.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "But the secret safe with us." This line is important because it suggests that the speaker and their group are keeping a secret. The use of the word "us" implies that the secret is shared among the group, and the use of the word "safe" implies that the secret is important and valuable.
The sixth and final line of the poem reads, "What had vaster for a while?" This line is a bit difficult to interpret, but it seems to suggest that the woman's burden was something vast and important. The use of the word "vaster" implies that the burden was larger than anything else the speaker and their group had encountered before.
Now that we have analyzed the poem line by line, let's take a closer look at its themes and literary devices. One of the main themes of this poem is the idea of hidden burdens. The woman in the poem is carrying a burden that is not immediately apparent to the speaker and their group, and this burden is only revealed to them later on. This theme is important because it suggests that people often carry burdens that are not immediately apparent to others, and that these burdens can be heavy and difficult to bear.
Another important theme of this poem is the idea of ignorance. The speaker and their group are ignorant of the woman's burden, and this ignorance leads them to undervalue it. This theme is important because it suggests that ignorance can lead to a lack of empathy and understanding, and that it is important to be aware of the burdens that others are carrying.
In terms of literary devices, this poem is full of them. One of the most prominent literary devices in this poem is the use of symbolism. The conch-shell is a symbol of beauty and rarity, and it is used to contrast with the woman's burden, which is heavy and difficult to bear. This contrast highlights the importance of the woman's burden, and it suggests that beauty and rarity are not always the most important things in life.
Another important literary device in this poem is the use of repetition. The phrase "Had we known" is repeated twice in the first two lines of the poem, and this repetition emphasizes the importance of the speaker's ignorance. The repetition of the phrase "we had praised" in lines two and four also emphasizes the idea that the speaker and their group would have valued the woman's burden more highly if they had known what it was.
In conclusion, Had we known the Ton she bore is a classic poem that explores the themes of hidden burdens and ignorance. Through its use of symbolism and repetition, this poem emphasizes the importance of being aware of the burdens that others are carrying, and it suggests that beauty and rarity are not always the most important things in life. Emily Dickinson's unique style and emotional depth make this poem a timeless classic that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
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