'Portraits are to daily faces' by Emily Dickinson
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Portraits are to daily faces
As an Evening West,
To a fine, pedantic sunshine—
In a satin Vest!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Portraits are to daily faces: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Poem
When it comes to the world of poetry, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as that of Emily Dickinson. Known for her unique style and unconventional themes, Dickinson's poems have captured the hearts and minds of readers for generations. Among her many works, one poem that stands out for its depth and complexity is "Portraits are to daily faces," a captivating piece that offers a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of art, beauty, and the human condition.
At first glance, "Portraits are to daily faces" appears to be a simple poem, just five brief stanzas that explore the relationship between two seemingly disparate concepts: portraits and daily faces. However, as one delves deeper into the poem, it becomes clear that Dickinson is using these two themes to explore much larger issues, such as the nature of art, the transience of beauty, and the impermanence of human life.
The poem's first stanza sets the tone for what is to come, as Dickinson introduces the idea of portraits as something separate and distinct from daily faces. She writes, "Portraits are to daily faces/ As an evening west/ To a fine, pedantic sunshine/ In a satin vest." At first, this comparison may seem arbitrary, but as one reads on, it becomes clear that Dickinson is using it to make a larger point.
The idea of a portrait as something more than just a representation of a person's physical appearance is a recurring theme throughout the poem. Dickinson suggests that a portrait captures something essential about a person, something that goes beyond the surface level of their daily face. She writes, "Dullness stares from every visage/ We become the same/ Tired of the same old world/ The same tame game." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that daily faces, with their mundanity and predictability, can be tiresome and uninteresting. Portraits, on the other hand, offer us a glimpse into something deeper, something that captures the essence of a person and allows us to see them in a new and meaningful way.
At the same time, Dickinson acknowledges that there is a certain beauty to daily faces, a fleeting quality that makes them all the more precious. She writes, "Yet the sunsets difference provoke us/ Equals, and that's composed/ Wherefore, I for thee, and thou for me/ And for the new world, roses." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that even though daily faces may be mundane and predictable, they are still beautiful in their own way. There is a certain magic to the way the sun sets each evening, a beauty that is both fleeting and eternal. In the same way, daily faces may be fleeting and impermanent, but they are still beautiful, and they offer us a glimpse into the transience of life itself.
Perhaps the most profound aspect of "Portraits are to daily faces" is the way Dickinson uses the two themes of portraits and daily faces to explore the nature of human experience. Throughout the poem, she suggests that the world we inhabit is one of constant change and flux, where nothing remains the same for very long. She writes, "We tire of the flame/ Pace the blank, eternal shore/ Afraid to stake our lives/ On a brief uncertainty." Here, Dickinson is acknowledging the fear that comes with the knowledge that everything we know and love will eventually pass away. The flame of life may burn brightly for a time, but eventually, it will flicker and die, leaving us alone on the eternal shore of existence.
At the same time, Dickinson suggests that there is something beautiful and meaningful about this transience. She writes, "Gentle, fleeting, western blossom/ Spoils the dying day/ Every life is such a sunset/ Can you immolate?" Here, Dickinson is suggesting that even though life may be fleeting and impermanent, it is still beautiful and meaningful. The gentle, fleeting western blossom spoils the dying day, just as our own lives, with all their imperfections and flaws, make the world a more beautiful and meaningful place.
In conclusion, "Portraits are to daily faces" is a profound and moving poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience. Through the themes of portraits and daily faces, Dickinson offers a commentary on the nature of art, beauty, and the transience of life itself. She suggests that even though daily faces may be predictable and mundane, they are still beautiful and meaningful in their own way, and that art, in the form of portraits, offers us a glimpse into something deeper and more profound. Ultimately, "Portraits are to daily faces" is a testament to the power of poetry and art to capture the essence of the human experience and to make us see the world in a new and meaningful way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Portraits are to daily faces as poetry is to prose. This is the central theme of Emily Dickinson's classic poem, "Portraits are to daily faces." In this poem, Dickinson explores the relationship between art and reality, and how art can elevate the mundane to the sublime.
The poem begins with the line, "Portraits are to daily faces." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Dickinson immediately establishes the metaphor that will guide her exploration of the relationship between art and reality. The word "portraits" suggests a level of artistry and skill that is absent from the everyday world of "daily faces." By using this metaphor, Dickinson is suggesting that art has the power to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
The next line of the poem reads, "As an evening sky to a pauper's cottage." This line further develops the metaphor established in the first line. The evening sky is a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight, but it is something that is often taken for granted by those who see it every day. The pauper's cottage, on the other hand, is a symbol of poverty and hardship. By comparing the evening sky to the pauper's cottage, Dickinson is suggesting that art has the power to bring beauty and wonder to even the most difficult and challenging circumstances.
The third line of the poem reads, "A fair-haired child to a leper's face." This line continues the metaphor established in the first two lines, but it also introduces a new element. The fair-haired child is a symbol of innocence and purity, while the leper's face is a symbol of disease and decay. By comparing the two, Dickinson is suggesting that art has the power to bring hope and light to even the darkest and most hopeless situations.
The final line of the poem reads, "Are you not precious, the sight of these?" This line is a rhetorical question that serves to reinforce the central theme of the poem. Dickinson is asking the reader to consider the value of art and the way it can transform our perception of the world around us. By using the word "precious," she is suggesting that art is something that is valuable and important, and that we should cherish it.
Overall, "Portraits are to daily faces" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the relationship between art and reality. By using the metaphor of portraits and daily faces, Dickinson is able to convey the idea that art has the power to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. Whether it is the evening sky, a fair-haired child, or a portrait of a loved one, art has the ability to bring beauty and wonder to even the most difficult and challenging circumstances. As Dickinson reminds us, art is precious, and we should cherish it.
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