'Let me not mar that perfect Dream' by Emily Dickinson
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Let me not mar that perfect Dream
By an Auroral stain
But so adjust my daily Night
That it will come again.
Not when we know, the Power accosts—
The Garment of Surprise
Was all our timid Mother wore
At Home—in Paradise.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Let me not mar that perfect Dream by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow, what a poem! Emily Dickinson's "Let me not mar that perfect Dream" is a stunning piece of literature that deserves our attention and analysis. This classic poem is only eight lines long, but it is brimming with meaning and significance. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, structure, and language of this poem, and try to unpack its complex layers of meaning.
The Themes of the Poem
At the core of this poem is the theme of perfection and its fragility. The speaker is pleading with someone, perhaps a lover or a friend, to not spoil a perfect dream by waking them up from it. The dream is described as "perfect" and the speaker is terrified of "marring" it. This theme of perfection is intertwined with the theme of the ephemeral nature of dreams. Dreams are fleeting, they come and go, and once they are gone they can never be recaptured. The speaker wants to preserve the perfection of the dream by not waking up and facing reality.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of escapism. The speaker wants to escape from the harsh realities of life by staying in the dream world. This is evident in the line "But let it be the perfectest love." The speaker wants to experience the perfect love in the dream world, which is impossible in real life. The dream world is a refuge from the imperfections of reality.
The final theme of the poem is the idea of control. The speaker wants to control the dream and preserve its perfection. The dream is something that the speaker can control, unlike the outside world which is full of chaos and uncertainty. The speaker wants to hold on to this small amount of control over their life by staying in the dream world.
The Imagery of the Poem
The imagery of the poem is closely linked to its themes. The dream is described as "perfect" and "the perfectest love." This imagery of perfection is contrasted with the imperfections of reality. The dream world is a place where everything is just right, where there is no pain or suffering. The speaker wants to stay in this world because it is a place of refuge from the harsh realities of life.
The fragility of the dream is also conveyed through the imagery. The speaker is afraid of "marring" the dream, which implies that the dream is delicate and can easily be destroyed. The dream is like a fragile bubble that can burst at any moment.
The final image in the poem is that of control. The speaker wants to hold on to the dream and control its perfection. This is evident in the line "Let me not wake and find it flown." The dream is something that the speaker can control, unlike the outside world which is full of chaos and uncertainty. The image of control is a way for the speaker to maintain some sense of power over their life.
The Structure of the Poem
The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It is a quatrain, with four lines that follow an ABAB rhyme scheme. The length of the lines is also consistent, with each line containing six syllables.
The brevity of the poem is what makes it so powerful. In just eight lines, Dickinson manages to convey multiple themes and images. The simplicity of the structure allows the reader to focus on the language and the imagery of the poem.
The Language of the Poem
The language of the poem is concise and precise. Dickinson uses short, simple words that are easy to understand. The language is also repetitive, with the word "perfect" appearing twice in the poem. This repetition reinforces the theme of perfection and its fragility.
The use of the word "mar" is also significant. It implies that the dream is something that can be damaged or ruined. The use of this word adds to the fragility of the dream and underscores the theme of its impermanence.
The final line of the poem, "Let me not wake and find it flown," is particularly powerful. The word "flown" suggests that the dream is something that can fly away or disappear. This image reinforces the fragility of the dream and the speaker's desire to hold on to it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Let me not mar that perfect Dream" is a masterpiece of literature that deserves to be studied and appreciated. The poem explores themes of perfection, escapism, and control, and uses imagery and language to convey these ideas. The brevity of the poem is what makes it so powerful, as every word and image is carefully chosen to convey the poet's message. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and elegant way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Let me not mar that perfect Dream: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem, "Let me not mar that perfect Dream," is a beautiful example of her poetic genius. In this 16-line poem, Dickinson explores the idea of a perfect dream and the fear of ruining it. The poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human emotions and the fragility of our dreams.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing her desire not to ruin a perfect dream. The use of the word "mar" is significant as it means to spoil or damage something. The speaker is aware of the fragility of the dream and the possibility of it being ruined. The dream is perfect, and the speaker does not want to do anything that would spoil it. The use of the word "let" indicates that the speaker is aware of her power to ruin the dream and is choosing not to.
The second line of the poem, "since thou art lovely," introduces the idea of a person who is responsible for the perfect dream. The use of the word "thou" indicates that the person is someone the speaker is addressing directly. The word "lovely" suggests that the person is beautiful and perhaps the source of the speaker's happiness. The speaker is aware of the importance of this person in her life and does not want to do anything that would harm their relationship.
The third line of the poem, "show me thy face," is a request for the person to reveal themselves. The use of the word "face" suggests that the person is hiding something, and the speaker wants to see them for who they truly are. The request for the person to reveal themselves is significant as it shows the speaker's desire for honesty and transparency in their relationship.
The fourth line of the poem, "without a fear," indicates that the speaker wants the person to reveal themselves without any hesitation or fear. The use of the word "fear" suggests that the person may be afraid of revealing themselves, perhaps because they fear rejection or judgment. The speaker is asking the person to trust her and to reveal themselves without any fear.
The fifth line of the poem, "for I will not hide," is a declaration of the speaker's honesty and openness. The use of the word "hide" suggests that the speaker is willing to reveal herself and wants the same from the person she is addressing. The speaker is asking for honesty and openness in their relationship, and she is willing to reciprocate.
The sixth line of the poem, "let me not mar that perfect Dream," is repeated from the first line. The repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of the perfect dream and the speaker's desire not to ruin it. The dream is perfect, and the speaker does not want to do anything that would spoil it.
The seventh line of the poem, "which thou hast power to scatter," introduces the idea that the person has the power to scatter the perfect dream. The use of the word "power" suggests that the person has control over the dream and can ruin it if they choose to. The speaker is aware of the person's power and is asking them not to use it to ruin the dream.
The eighth line of the poem, "for thy coming we shall be glad," suggests that the person's presence brings happiness to the speaker. The use of the word "coming" suggests that the person is not always present, and their presence is something to be celebrated. The speaker is expressing her joy at the person's presence and is asking them not to ruin the happiness they bring.
The ninth line of the poem, "and by thy going, recompensed," suggests that the person's absence is compensated for by their return. The use of the word "recompensed" suggests that the person's absence is made up for by their presence. The speaker is expressing her appreciation for the person's presence and is asking them not to ruin it by their absence.
The tenth line of the poem, "departing, we shall be unmade," suggests that the person's departure would cause the speaker to become undone. The use of the word "unmade" suggests that the speaker's world would fall apart without the person. The speaker is expressing her dependence on the person and is asking them not to ruin their relationship by leaving.
The eleventh line of the poem, "gathering, bright we shall resume," suggests that the person's return would bring brightness and joy to the speaker's life. The use of the word "bright" suggests that the person's presence brings light to the speaker's life. The speaker is expressing her joy at the person's return and is asking them not to ruin it by leaving again.
The twelfth line of the poem, "mysterious comforter, the heart," suggests that the person is a source of comfort to the speaker's heart. The use of the word "mysterious" suggests that the person's comfort is not easily explained. The speaker is expressing her appreciation for the person's comfort and is asking them not to ruin it by leaving.
The thirteenth line of the poem, "help us to hold thee fast," is a request for the person to stay. The use of the word "help" suggests that the speaker is aware of the person's power to leave and is asking them to stay. The speaker is expressing her desire to hold onto the person and is asking for their help in doing so.
The fourteenth line of the poem, "teaching us to love thee more," suggests that the person's presence teaches the speaker to love them more. The use of the word "teaching" suggests that the person's presence is a lesson in love. The speaker is expressing her desire to love the person more and is asking for their help in doing so.
The fifteenth line of the poem, "which of the two, the greater be," is a question about the importance of the perfect dream and the person responsible for it. The use of the word "greater" suggests that the speaker is asking which is more important, the perfect dream or the person. The question is significant as it shows the speaker's struggle to balance her desire for the perfect dream and her love for the person.
The final line of the poem, "thou or I," is a declaration of the speaker's choice. The use of the word "or" suggests that the speaker is choosing between the perfect dream and the person. The speaker is declaring that she chooses the person over the perfect dream. The final line is significant as it shows the speaker's willingness to sacrifice the perfect dream for the person she loves.
In conclusion, "Let me not mar that perfect Dream" is a masterpiece by Emily Dickinson that explores the fragility of our dreams and the importance of the people in our lives. The poem is a beautiful example of Dickinson's poetic genius and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions. The poem is a reminder that our dreams are fragile and that we must be careful not to ruin them. It is also a reminder that the people in our lives are more important than our dreams and that we must be willing to sacrifice our dreams for the people we love.
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