'We outgrow love like other things' by Emily Dickinson
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We outgrow love like other things
And put it in the drawer,
Till it an antique fashion shows
Like costumes grandsires wore.
Editor 1 Interpretation
We Outgrow Love Like Other Things by Emily Dickinson: A Poetic Exploration of Love and Growth
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated American poets. Her works, filled with intricate and abstract themes, are known for their unconventional style and structure. One of her poems that exemplifies her unique style is "We outgrow love like other things." This poem explores the idea of love and growth, and how the passing of time affects our emotions.
The Poem
We outgrow love like other things And put it in the drawer, Till it an antique fashion shows Like costumes grandsires wore.
First, our pleasures die - and then Our hopes, and then our fears; And when these are dead, the pain of death Is scarce or none to tears.
Analysis
The poem begins by presenting an interesting idea - that we outgrow love like other things. The word "outgrow" implies that love is something that we can no longer fit into as we grow, just like a child would outgrow a pair of shoes. The speaker then compares love to something that is stored away in a drawer, to be forgotten until it becomes an antique. This comparison is significant because it shows how love, like antiques, can become irrelevant or outdated over time.
The second stanza explains the process of outgrowing love. It begins with the death of our pleasures, which suggests that love is something that brings pleasure. However, the line "our hopes, and then our fears" suggests that love is also tied to our emotions. As we grow, we learn to let go of our hopes and fears, and with them, our love for certain things, including people. The last line of this stanza "the pain of death is scarce or none to tears" suggests that the pain of losing love is not as profound as the pain of losing something we are attached to.
The poem's structure is simple, with two quatrains that follow an ABAB rhyme scheme. The use of simple language makes the poem easy to understand, but the message conveyed is profound.
Interpretation
Dickinson's "We outgrow love like other things" is a reflection on the fleeting nature of love and how it changes over time. The poem suggests that love is not a constant emotion; instead, it is something that we can outgrow or lose as we grow. The comparisons made in the poem between love and antiques, as well as the death of our pleasures and emotions, emphasize the idea that love is something that can become outdated or irrelevant.
The poem's theme of growth is also significant. Dickinson suggests that growth is a natural part of life and that we must learn to let go of certain things, including love, as we move forward. In essence, the poem is a reminder that change is inevitable and that we must embrace it if we are to grow and move forward.
Another interpretation of the poem is that Dickinson is exploring the idea of how we perceive love. Love is often perceived as an emotion that is everlasting and eternal. However, Dickinson's poem suggests that this is not the case. Love, like everything else, is subject to change and impermanence.
Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the inevitability of death. The line "the pain of death is scarce or none to tears" suggests that death is not as painful as losing something we are attached to, such as love. This could be seen as a commentary on the fleeting nature of life and how we must learn to let go of things as we approach the end of our lives.
Conclusion
"We outgrow love like other things" is a powerful poem that explores the transient nature of love and how it changes over time. Dickinson's use of simple language and structure makes the poem easy to read, while the themes it explores are profound and thought-provoking. The poem's message is a reminder that growth and change are inevitable and that we must learn to let go of certain things as we move forward in life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We Outgrow Love Like Other Things: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, known for her unique style and insightful observations about life, love, and the human condition. One of her most famous poems, "We outgrow love like other things," is a poignant reflection on the nature of love and how it changes over time. In this article, we will explore the themes and symbolism of this classic poem, and analyze its significance in the context of Dickinson's body of work.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "We outgrow love like other things." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the idea that love is not a static emotion, but rather a dynamic force that changes as we grow and evolve as individuals. Dickinson compares love to other things that we outgrow, such as childhood toys and clothes, suggesting that love is something that we move beyond as we mature and develop new interests and priorities.
The second stanza of the poem expands on this idea, describing how love can become "a room too small" as we grow and change. This metaphor suggests that love, like a small room, can feel confining and limiting as we become more aware of the world around us and our own potential. The image of a room also implies a sense of containment and control, suggesting that love can sometimes feel like a cage that restricts our freedom and growth.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the idea that love can also be "a resting place too warm" that we eventually need to leave. This metaphor suggests that love, like a warm bed, can be comforting and soothing, but eventually becomes stifling and suffocating if we stay in it for too long. The image of a resting place also implies a sense of complacency and stagnation, suggesting that love can sometimes prevent us from pursuing our dreams and ambitions.
The final stanza of the poem brings these ideas together, suggesting that love is ultimately a transient emotion that we must learn to let go of. Dickinson writes, "We outgrow love, and then we love again." This line suggests that while love may come and go throughout our lives, it is always a part of our experience as human beings. The repetition of the word "love" in this line also emphasizes the cyclical nature of the emotion, suggesting that it is something that we will always return to, even as we move beyond it and grow in new directions.
In terms of symbolism, the poem is rich with imagery that reinforces its themes. The metaphor of a room too small suggests a sense of confinement and restriction, while the metaphor of a resting place too warm suggests a sense of complacency and stagnation. These images are contrasted with the idea of outgrowing love, which suggests a sense of growth and expansion. The repetition of the word "love" throughout the poem also reinforces the idea that love is a central theme, and that it is something that we must constantly grapple with as we navigate the complexities of life.
In the context of Dickinson's body of work, "We outgrow love like other things" is a significant poem that reflects many of the themes and concerns that she explored throughout her career. Dickinson was known for her introspective and often melancholy poetry, which explored the complexities of human emotion and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can often seem chaotic and confusing. This poem is no exception, as it grapples with the idea of love as a transient emotion that we must learn to let go of in order to grow and evolve as individuals.
Overall, "We outgrow love like other things" is a powerful and insightful poem that speaks to the universal experience of love and its many complexities. Through its rich imagery and poignant language, Dickinson captures the essence of a complex emotion that is both beautiful and fleeting. As we read and reflect on this classic poem, we are reminded of the importance of embracing change and growth, even as we hold onto the things that matter most to us.
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