'To flee from memory' by Emily Dickinson

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To flee from memory
Had we the Wings
Many would fly
Inured to slower things
Birds with surprise
Would scan the cowering Van
Of men escaping
From the mind of man

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

Exciting Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Emily Dickinson's "To Flee from Memory"

Emily Dickinson was a prolific American poet whose works have been studied and celebrated for over a century. One of her most famous poems is "To Flee from Memory," a haunting meditation on the power of memory and the desire to escape it. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem.

Overview of the Poem

"To Flee from Memory" is a short, four-stanza poem that captures the speaker's struggle with the persistence of memory. The poem begins with the speaker expressing a desire to escape memory, to find a place where "recollection is denied." However, the speaker quickly realizes that such a place does not exist, and that memory will follow her even to the ends of the earth. The poem ends with the speaker resigned to the fact that memory is an inescapable part of human existence.

Themes

One of the central themes of "To Flee from Memory" is the power of memory. The speaker expresses a desire to escape memory, but ultimately realizes that it is impossible to do so. This theme is particularly relevant in the context of Dickinson's life, as she was known to be a recluse who rarely left her home. It is possible that she saw memory as a way of traveling beyond the confines of her physical space.

Another theme that emerges in the poem is the tension between reality and imagination. The speaker's desire to escape memory may be seen as a desire to escape the constraints of reality, to live in a world of imagination where past traumas and regrets cannot follow her. However, the poem ultimately acknowledges that memory is a necessary part of human experience, and that it is impossible to deny its power.

Imagery

Dickinson's use of imagery in "To Flee from Memory" is particularly effective in conveying the poem's themes. The image of a "village that is not in the sea" in the first stanza suggests a place that is both real and imaginary, and sets the tone for the poem's exploration of the tension between reality and imagination.

The second stanza contains perhaps the most striking image of the poem: "The stars that have a thousand years / Shall fail that night to see." This image suggests the vastness and permanence of memory, as well as its ability to transcend time and space.

The third stanza contains a series of images that suggest the speaker's attempts to escape memory, including "the mountain where the tempests go," "the ocean where the fleets come home," and "the prairie leagues remote." These images suggest a desire to find a place that is beyond the reach of memory, but ultimately the speaker realizes that such a place does not exist.

Language

One of the most striking features of Dickinson's poetry is her use of language, and "To Flee from Memory" is no exception. The poem is written in Dickinson's characteristic style, with short lines and unconventional punctuation. This gives the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is struggling to capture her thoughts before they slip away.

The language of the poem is also marked by a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker's desire to escape memory is expressed in vague terms, and the poem offers no clear solution to the problem of memory. This ambiguity is characteristic of Dickinson's poetry, and encourages multiple interpretations.

Interpretation

"To Flee from Memory" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's perspective. At its core, the poem is an exploration of the tension between reality and imagination, and the power of memory to transcend both. The speaker's desire to escape memory may be seen as a desire to live in a world of imagination, where reality cannot intrude. However, the poem ultimately acknowledges that memory is a necessary part of human experience, and that it is impossible to deny its power.

From a psychological perspective, "To Flee from Memory" can be seen as a meditation on trauma and the ways in which it can become embedded in our minds. The speaker's desire to escape memory may be seen as a desire to escape the pain of past traumas, but the poem ultimately acknowledges that memory is a necessary part of healing and growth.

In conclusion, "To Flee from Memory" is a powerful meditation on the persistence of memory and the human desire to escape its power. Through its use of imagery, language, and theme, the poem captures the emotional complexity of this struggle, and offers a nuanced exploration of the tension between reality and imagination. Whether read as a psychological study or a philosophical reflection, "To Flee from Memory" remains a timeless and haunting work of poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To Flee from Memory: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her poetry is known for its unique style, unconventional punctuation, and deep philosophical themes. One of her most famous poems is "To flee from memory," which explores the theme of memory and its impact on our lives. In this article, we will analyze this classic poem and delve into its meaning and significance.

The poem "To flee from memory" is a short but powerful piece of poetry. It consists of only four stanzas, each with two lines. The brevity of the poem is part of its charm, as it allows Dickinson to convey her message in a concise and impactful way. The poem begins with the line "To flee from memory," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is trying to escape from something, and that something is memory.

The first stanza of the poem reads:

To flee from memory Had we the wings Many would fly Inured to slower things

The first line of the poem is repeated in the third stanza, which emphasizes its importance. The speaker is suggesting that if we had wings, we would use them to escape from memory. This is a metaphorical way of saying that memory is something that we want to avoid. The second line of the stanza suggests that many people would choose to fly away from memory if they could. The third line, "Inured to slower things," suggests that those who cannot fly away from memory are forced to deal with it at a slower pace. This line implies that memory can be a burden that slows us down and holds us back.

The second stanza of the poem reads:

Our feet are planted on the ground But heavens hasten by For both the angels and ourselves The time is equitably nigh

This stanza continues the metaphor of flight, but this time it is contrasted with the idea of being grounded. The speaker suggests that our feet are planted on the ground, which implies that we are stuck in one place. However, the heavens are moving quickly, which suggests that time is passing by quickly. The line "For both the angels and ourselves, the time is equitably nigh" suggests that time is passing by equally for everyone, regardless of whether they are flying or grounded. This line implies that we cannot escape from time or memory, no matter how hard we try.

The third stanza of the poem reads:

It was not death, for I stood up And all the dead lie down It was not night, for all the bells Put out their tongues, for noon.

This stanza is the most enigmatic of the poem. The speaker is suggesting that whatever they are trying to escape from is not death or night. The line "And all the dead lie down" suggests that death is not the issue because the dead are already at rest. The line "It was not night, for all the bells put out their tongues, for noon" suggests that it is not night because the bells are ringing for noon. This line implies that it is daytime, which suggests that the speaker is not in a state of darkness or despair. However, the meaning of this stanza is not entirely clear, and it is open to interpretation.

The fourth and final stanza of the poem reads:

But brightness falls from air to air Like flakes of snow And who has seen the light Will ne'er forget the glow.

This stanza is the most hopeful of the poem. The speaker suggests that even though they are trying to escape from memory, there is still beauty in the world. The line "But brightness falls from air to air like flakes of snow" suggests that there is a kind of beauty that is all around us, even if we are not aware of it. The final line of the poem, "And who has seen the light will ne'er forget the glow," suggests that once we have experienced beauty, we cannot forget it. This line implies that even though memory can be a burden, it is also what allows us to remember the beauty that we have experienced in life.

In conclusion, "To flee from memory" is a powerful poem that explores the theme of memory and its impact on our lives. The poem suggests that memory can be a burden that we want to escape from, but it is also what allows us to remember the beauty that we have experienced in life. The poem is open to interpretation, and its meaning is not entirely clear. However, its brevity and powerful imagery make it a classic piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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