'A doubt if it be Us' by Emily Dickinson
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A doubt if it be Us
Assists the staggering Mind
In an extremer Anguish
Until it footing find.
An Unreality is lent,
A merciful Mirage
That makes the living possible
While it suspends the lives.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Doubt if it be Us by Emily Dickinson
Have you ever read a poem that made you question your own existence? A poem that made you wonder if you are actually alive or just a figment of somebody's imagination? If not, then you have not read Emily Dickinson's "A Doubt if it be Us."
Overview
"A Doubt if it be Us" is a short poem that was first published in 1955, more than half a century after Emily's death. The poem is written in Dickinson's signature style, short and sweet, but also hauntingly beautiful. The poem consists of only three stanzas, and each stanza is only two lines long. However, the brevity of the poem does not take away from its power.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line "A Doubt if it be Us." The use of the word "doubt" immediately sets the tone for the entire poem. It suggests that the speaker is unsure of their own existence. The use of the word "Us" is also significant because it implies that the speaker is not alone in their uncertainty.
The second stanza reads "The Orphaned Queen, discerns afar – / A Doubt as to it's own – Beings – " This stanza is even more mysterious than the first. The use of the phrase "Orphaned Queen" is interesting because it suggests that the speaker is royalty, but also that they are alone. The fact that the queen is "discerning afar" suggests that she is looking out into the world and questioning everything around her. The fact that she is unsure of her own existence is made even clearer by the use of the phrase "Doubt as to it's own – Beings."
The final stanza reads "We – will remain beside – ourself – / As Native to the Air – / Suspended in a Grace – / Like Deity divorced from Chair." This stanza is the most beautiful and the most confusing. The use of the word "We" suggests that there are others who feel the same uncertainty as the speaker. The fact that they will "remain beside – ourself" suggests that they will continue to question their own existence. The line "Native to the Air" is interesting because it implies that the speaker and others like them are not tied down to the physical world. They are free to question and exist in their own way. The final line, "Like Deity divorced from Chair" is perhaps the most enigmatic of all. The use of the word "Deity" suggests that the speaker and others like them are godlike. However, the fact that they are "divorced from Chair" suggests that they are not tied down to anything physical. They are free to exist as they please, without the constraints of the physical world.
Interpretation
So, what does it all mean? "A Doubt if it be Us" is a poem about existential uncertainty. The speaker and others like them are questioning their own existence and the existence of everything around them. They are unsure of who they are and what their place in the world is. However, the poem is not nihilistic. Instead, it suggests that uncertainty can be a beautiful thing.
The final stanza is the most important because it suggests that the speaker and others like them are not tied down to anything physical. They are free to exist in their own way. The fact that they are "Like Deity divorced from Chair" suggests that they are godlike in their freedom. The poem suggests that uncertainty can be liberating.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Doubt if it be Us" is a hauntingly beautiful poem about existential uncertainty. The poem suggests that uncertainty can be a beautiful thing, and that it can be liberating to exist without the constraints of the physical world. The poem is short, but its brevity does not take away from its power. It is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet that she was able to capture such a complex idea in just six lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Doubt if it be Us by Emily Dickinson is a classic poem that has been analyzed and discussed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of dashes, unconventional capitalization, and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple language. In this article, we will take a closer look at A Doubt if it be Us and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "A Doubt if it be Us," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is questioning their own identity and whether they truly belong in the world around them. This theme of self-doubt is a common one in Dickinson's poetry, and it is something that many people can relate to. The speaker goes on to say, "The very tone of the spoken word / Seems buried soft like Lethean sand," which suggests that they feel disconnected from the world and that even the sound of other people's voices is muted and distant.
The second stanza of the poem continues this theme of disconnection and uncertainty. The speaker says, "The musing softness of the eye / Is just a lullaby to me," which suggests that they are unable to connect with others on an emotional level. They feel as though they are simply going through the motions of life, without truly experiencing it. The line "The colors of the butterfly / Unnoticed lay by me" further emphasizes this sense of detachment, as the speaker is unable to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a new theme, that of mortality. The speaker says, "The breeze, the woods, the meadows, meet / Once more with childhood's ecstasies," which suggests that they are reflecting on their own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The line "Death is the common way we meet" further emphasizes this theme, as the speaker acknowledges that death is something that we all must face eventually.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. The speaker says, "To foe, or friend, or fairy sprite, / Diminished shrunk by fear," which suggests that they are afraid of something, but it is unclear what that something is. The line "The brave man is not he who feels no fear" further emphasizes this theme of fear and uncertainty. The speaker seems to be grappling with their own fears and insecurities, and it is unclear whether they will be able to overcome them.
The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of disconnection, mortality, and fear together in a powerful conclusion. The speaker says, "If then we die, to prove it so, / We shall not die, amiss," which suggests that even though death is inevitable, it is not something to be feared. The line "We shall not die, amiss" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even if we do not fully understand our place in the world, we can still find meaning and purpose in our lives.
In terms of structure, A Doubt if it be Us is a five-stanza poem with a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB. This gives the poem a sense of cohesion and unity, even as the themes and emotions expressed in each stanza vary. The use of dashes throughout the poem also adds to its unique structure, as it creates pauses and breaks in the flow of the text. This allows the reader to pause and reflect on the meaning of each line, and to fully appreciate the complexity of Dickinson's writing.
In terms of literary devices, A Doubt if it be Us is full of rich imagery and metaphors. The line "The very tone of the spoken word / Seems buried soft like Lethean sand" is a particularly striking example of this, as it compares the sound of other people's voices to the mythical river Lethe, which was said to cause forgetfulness. This metaphor emphasizes the speaker's sense of disconnection from the world around them, and their inability to fully engage with others.
Another example of Dickinson's use of metaphor can be found in the line "The colors of the butterfly / Unnoticed lay by me." This metaphor compares the beauty of the butterfly to something that is ignored or overlooked, which emphasizes the speaker's sense of detachment from the world around them.
In conclusion, A Doubt if it be Us is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of self-doubt, disconnection, mortality, and fear. Through her use of unique structure, rich imagery, and powerful metaphors, Emily Dickinson is able to convey complex emotions and ideas in a deceptively simple way. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
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