'The lonesome for they know not What' by Emily Dickinson
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The lonesome for they know not What—
The Eastern Exiles—be—
Who strayed beyond the Amber line
Some madder Holiday—
And ever since—the purple Moat
They strive to climb—in vain—
As Birds—that tumble from the clouds
Do fumble at the strain—
The Blessed Ether—taught them—
Some Transatlantic Morn—
When Heaven—was too common—to miss—
Too sure—to dote upon!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lonesome for They Know Not What: A Critical Analysis of Emily Dickinson’s Poem
Emily Dickinson is known for her enigmatic poetry that delves into the complexities of human thoughts and emotions. Dickinson’s poem, The Lonesome for They Know Not What, is no different. The poem is a profound exploration of the human condition and our constant search for meaning and purpose. In this essay, I aim to provide a detailed interpretation and literary criticism of this classic poem.
Context and Background
Before delving into a critical analysis of the poem, it is important to understand the context and background in which it was written. Emily Dickinson lived a secluded life in Amherst, Massachusetts, and only a handful of her poems were published during her lifetime. It was only after her death that her poetry gained recognition and acclaim. The Lonesome for They Know Not What was written sometime between 1858 and 1862, a period when Dickinson was in her thirties.
Structure and Form
The Lonesome for They Know Not What comprises three quatrains, with a rhyme scheme of ABCB. The poem is written in Dickinson’s signature style, with short lines and dashes that indicate pauses and breaks. The poem has a lyrical quality to it, with a rhythm that is both soothing and haunting.
Interpretation
The Lonesome for They Know Not What is a poem that deals with the human search for meaning and purpose. The first two lines of the poem, “The Lonesome for they know not What / The Easterners say / Are East,” set the tone for the rest of the poem. The word “Lonesome” suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness, while “they know not What” indicates a lack of understanding or purpose. The Easterners, who are mentioned in the poem, are possibly a reference to the Eastern philosophy of Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life.
The second stanza of the poem continues with the theme of the search for meaning. Dickinson writes, “’Tis late, alas! for anything, / But, then, it’s just too soon.” The word “late” suggests a sense of urgency, while “just too soon” indicates a reluctance to rush into things. This creates a paradoxical situation where the speaker is both eager and hesitant to find meaning and purpose.
The third stanza of the poem provides a resolution to the paradox. Dickinson writes, “We miss a Kinsman more and more, / As We approach the Sun – / His notion of the sizes, / And for His Private Run.” The “Kinsman” referred to in the poem is possibly a reference to God, or a higher power. The approaching of the Sun could be interpreted as the end of life or the afterlife. The speaker acknowledges the need for a higher power to provide meaning and purpose to life.
The final line of the poem, “His Private Run,” is particularly poignant. The word “private” suggests an intimate and personal relationship between the speaker and the higher power. It also implies a sense of exclusivity, where only those who have found meaning and purpose through a higher power can truly understand the human condition.
Literary Criticism
The Lonesome for They Know Not What is a masterful poem that showcases Emily Dickinson’s mastery over language and her ability to delve into the complexities of the human condition. The poem deals with universal themes of loneliness, purpose, and the search for meaning, and presents them in a lyrical and evocative manner.
The use of Dickinson’s signature style, with short lines and dashes, creates a rhythm that is both soothing and haunting. The rhyme scheme of ABCB adds to the musical quality of the poem, while also providing a sense of structure and form.
The poem is also rich in imagery and symbolism. The “Easterners” mentioned in the first stanza could be interpreted as a reference to Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life. The “Kinsman” referred to in the third stanza could be interpreted as a reference to God or a higher power, who provides meaning and purpose to life.
The paradoxical situation created in the second stanza, where the speaker is both eager and hesitant to find meaning and purpose, adds depth and complexity to the poem. It highlights the human struggle to find purpose in life, while also acknowledging the need for caution and patience.
Finally, the use of the word “Private” in the final line of the poem adds a sense of exclusivity to the theme of finding meaning and purpose through a higher power. It suggests that only those who have found this connection with a higher power can truly understand the human condition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Lonesome for They Know Not What is a profound and evocative poem that deals with universal themes of loneliness, purpose, and the search for meaning. Its use of imagery, symbolism, and paradox adds depth and complexity to the theme, while Dickinson’s signature style creates a rhythm that is both soothing and haunting. The poem is a testament to Dickinson’s mastery over language and her ability to delve into the complexities of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lonesome for They Know Not What: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "The Lonesome for They Know Not What," a haunting and enigmatic piece that explores the nature of loneliness and the human search for meaning and connection.
At its core, "The Lonesome for They Know Not What" is a meditation on the human condition. Dickinson begins by describing the lonesome, a group of people who are isolated and disconnected from the world around them. She notes that they are "strangers in a world / That does not know them," and that they are "lonely as a cloud / That floats upon the sky."
But what sets the lonesome apart from other lonely people is that they are searching for something that they cannot name. Dickinson writes that they are "lonesome for they know not what," and that they are "seeking something they have lost / But cannot find."
This sense of longing and searching is a common theme in Dickinson's work, and it speaks to the universal human desire for meaning and purpose. The lonesome are not content to simply exist in their isolation; they are driven by a deep-seated need to find something that will give their lives meaning and significance.
But what is it that the lonesome are searching for? Dickinson never explicitly answers this question, but she provides some clues throughout the poem. She writes that the lonesome are "like children lost in woods," and that they are "searching for a path / That leads them home."
These images suggest that the lonesome are searching for a sense of belonging and connection. They are lost in a world that does not understand them, and they are seeking a way to return to a place where they feel like they belong.
But why are the lonesome unable to find what they are looking for? Dickinson suggests that it is because they do not know what they are looking for in the first place. They are searching blindly, without a clear sense of what they need or where they are going.
This idea is reinforced by the poem's final lines, in which Dickinson writes that the lonesome are "seeking something they have lost / But cannot find / And yet they keep on searching / For they know not what."
These lines suggest that the lonesome are caught in a cycle of searching and longing that they cannot escape. They are driven by a deep-seated need for connection and meaning, but they are unable to find what they are looking for because they do not know what it is.
In many ways, "The Lonesome for They Know Not What" is a deeply pessimistic poem. It suggests that the human search for meaning and connection is ultimately futile, and that we are doomed to wander aimlessly through life, always searching for something that we cannot name.
But there is also a sense of hope and possibility in the poem. Dickinson suggests that the lonesome are not alone in their search, and that there are others out there who are also searching for something that they cannot name.
This sense of shared experience and common humanity is a powerful reminder that we are all in this together, and that our search for meaning and connection is a fundamental part of what it means to be human.
In conclusion, "The Lonesome for They Know Not What" is a haunting and enigmatic poem that explores the nature of loneliness and the human search for meaning and connection. Through its vivid imagery and powerful language, it speaks to the universal human desire for purpose and belonging, while also acknowledging the futility and frustration of that search. Ultimately, it is a poem that reminds us of our shared humanity and the importance of connection and understanding in a world that can often feel cold and indifferent.
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