'Beauty—be not caused—It Is' by Emily Dickinson
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Beauty—be not caused—It Is—
Chase it, and it ceases—
Chase it not, and it abides—
Overtake the Creases
In the Meadow—when the Wind
Runs his fingers thro' it—
Deity will see to it
That You never do it—
Editor 1 Interpretation
Beauty—be not caused—it Is by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Interpretation
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 19th century, is known for her complex and often cryptic poetry. Her work has been the subject of much literary criticism and interpretation, with scholars attempting to uncover the hidden meanings and themes behind her words. One of Dickinson's most famous poems is "Beauty—be not caused—it Is," a short but powerful piece that explores the nature of beauty and its relationship to the human experience. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
The Poem
Before delving into the meaning of the poem, let us first take a look at its structure and form. "Beauty—be not caused—it Is" consists of four stanzas, each with two lines. The poem follows a simple rhyme scheme, with the first and second lines of each stanza rhyming. The poem's brevity and simplicity belie its deeper complexities, as we shall soon see.
Beauty—be not caused—It Is—
Chase it, and it ceases—
Chase it not, and it abides—
Overtake the Creases
In the Meadow—when the Wind
Runs his fingers thro' it—
Deity will see to it
That You never do it—
The poem begins with the line "Beauty—be not caused—It Is—", which is a statement that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Dickinson is telling us that beauty is not something that can be created or manufactured, but rather something that simply exists. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the fleeting nature of beauty and the futility of trying to capture it.
The second line, "Chase it, and it ceases—", is a warning to those who try too hard to attain beauty. Dickinson is telling us that the harder we try to capture beauty, the more elusive it becomes. This is a common theme in her poetry, as she often explores the idea of the human desire to grasp the intangible.
The third and fourth lines of the first stanza, "Chase it not, and it abides— / Overtake the Creases," continue the theme of the futility of chasing after beauty. Dickinson is telling us that if we do not actively seek beauty and instead let it come to us, we will be more likely to experience it. The "Creases" referred to in this line could be interpreted as the small imperfections and wrinkles in nature that make it unique and beautiful.
The second stanza, "In the Meadow—when the Wind / Runs his fingers thro' it—", paints a vivid picture of nature and its beauty. Dickinson is describing the way the wind moves through a meadow, causing the grass and flowers to sway and dance. This is a metaphor for the way beauty moves through the world, constantly in motion and never stagnant.
The third stanza, "Deity will see to it / That You never do it—", is a reference to the idea of divine intervention. Dickinson is saying that beauty is something that is beyond our control, and that it is up to a higher power to bestow it upon us. This ties in with her overall theme of the futility of trying to capture beauty, as it is ultimately out of our hands.
The final stanza, "And if He touch the Silv'ry Rim / O'er the Ego—ceaseless—mourn— / He will grieve—if you should stoop, / And the Ego—torn—adjourn—", is perhaps the most cryptic of the poem. It is difficult to discern exactly what Dickinson is trying to say here, but one interpretation is that she is warning against the dangers of ego and hubris. If we become too focused on ourselves and our own desires, we risk losing sight of the beauty that exists in the world around us.
Interpretation
So what is the meaning behind "Beauty—be not caused—it Is"? The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one overarching theme is the futility of trying to capture beauty. Dickinson is warning us that if we try too hard to attain beauty, we will only push it further away. Beauty is something that cannot be manufactured or created, but rather something that simply exists in the world around us. It is up to us to recognize and appreciate it, but we should not try to possess or control it.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of divine intervention. Dickinson is suggesting that beauty is something that is beyond our control, and that it is ultimately up to a higher power to bestow it upon us. This ties in with her overall theme of the futility of trying to capture beauty, as it is ultimately out of our hands.
The third stanza, "Deity will see to it / That You never do it—", is particularly interesting in its suggestion that beauty is not something that can be attained through human effort. Dickinson is suggesting that if we try too hard to capture beauty, we will only end up frustrated and disappointed. Instead, we should let beauty come to us on its own terms, and appreciate it when it does.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most difficult to interpret. Dickinson writes, "And if He touch the Silv'ry Rim / O'er the Ego—ceaseless—mourn— / He will grieve—if you should stoop, / And the Ego—torn—adjourn—". One possible interpretation of this stanza is that it is a warning against ego and hubris. If we become too focused on ourselves and our own desires, we risk losing sight of the beauty that exists in the world around us. This interpretation ties in with the overall theme of the poem, which is that beauty is something that cannot be possessed or controlled.
Conclusion
"Beauty—be not caused—it Is" is a powerful and complex poem that explores the nature of beauty and its relationship to the human experience. Dickinson warns us against the futility of trying to capture beauty, suggesting that it is something that cannot be manufactured or created, but rather something that simply exists in the world around us. She also suggests that beauty is ultimately beyond our control, and that it is up to a higher power to bestow it upon us. The final stanza of the poem is particularly cryptic, but one possible interpretation is that it is a warning against ego and hubris. Overall, "Beauty—be not caused—it Is" is a thought-provoking and deeply philosophical poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Beauty—be not caused—it Is, written by Emily Dickinson, is a classic poem that explores the concept of beauty and its origins. In this poem, Dickinson challenges the traditional notion that beauty is something that is created or caused by external factors. Instead, she argues that beauty is an inherent quality that exists within the object or person being admired.
The poem begins with the line "Beauty—be not caused—it Is," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Dickinson is making a bold statement right from the start, asserting that beauty is not something that can be created or manufactured. Instead, she suggests that beauty is a natural quality that exists within the object or person being admired.
The second line of the poem reads, "Chase it, and it ceases," which further emphasizes Dickinson's point. She is saying that if we try to create or chase after beauty, it will elude us. This is because beauty is not something that can be manufactured or controlled. It is a natural quality that exists within the object or person being admired, and it cannot be forced or manipulated.
The third line of the poem reads, "Chase it not, and it abides," which reinforces Dickinson's point even further. She is saying that if we simply appreciate and admire the beauty that already exists, it will remain with us. This is because beauty is not something that can be created or destroyed. It is a natural quality that exists within the object or person being admired, and it will always be there as long as we appreciate it.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "Overtake the Creases," which is a bit more cryptic than the previous lines. However, it can be interpreted as a warning against trying to control or manipulate beauty. Dickinson is saying that if we try to overtake or control the natural creases and imperfections that exist within the object or person being admired, we will destroy the beauty that already exists.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "Beauty—like the Tablelands—," which is a simile that compares beauty to the tablelands. The tablelands are a flat, barren landscape that stretches out as far as the eye can see. Dickinson is using this simile to suggest that beauty is something that is vast and expansive, and that it exists all around us if we simply take the time to appreciate it.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "Without a leaf or a blade of grass—," which further emphasizes the barrenness of the tablelands. Dickinson is saying that beauty exists even in the most barren and desolate places, and that it does not require any external factors such as leaves or blades of grass to exist.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "Stirs in the Blanket—gray—," which is a metaphor that compares beauty to a stirring blanket of gray. This metaphor suggests that beauty is something that is constantly moving and changing, and that it exists even in the most mundane and ordinary things.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "And intense must be the storm—," which suggests that beauty is something that can withstand even the most intense storms. This line reinforces the idea that beauty is a natural quality that exists within the object or person being admired, and that it cannot be destroyed or manipulated by external factors.
The final line of the poem reads, "Where it hath ceased to go," which suggests that beauty is something that is always present, even if we cannot see it. Dickinson is saying that even if beauty seems to have disappeared or ceased to exist, it is still there, waiting to be appreciated and admired.
Overall, Beauty—be not caused—it Is is a powerful poem that challenges our traditional notions of beauty. Dickinson suggests that beauty is not something that can be created or controlled, but rather something that exists naturally within the object or person being admired. She warns against trying to manipulate or control beauty, and instead encourages us to simply appreciate and admire the beauty that already exists all around us. This poem is a timeless reminder that beauty is not something that can be manufactured or controlled, but rather something that exists naturally within the world around us.
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