'The Heart has many Doors-' by Emily Dickinson


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The Heart has many Doors-
I can but knock-
For any sweet "Come in"
Impelled to hark-
Not saddened by repulse,
Repast to me
That somewhere, there exists,
Supremacy-

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Heart has many Doors: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

“Oh Emily, you sly little devil,” I said to myself as I read through “The Heart has many Doors”. Emily Dickinson, the queen of subtle yet profound poetry, has done it again. In this poem, she explores the complexity of the human heart and the many different doors it hides behind.

The Complexity of the Human Heart

In the first stanza, Dickinson paints a picture of the heart as a “little cupboard” with many different doors. The use of the word “little” suggests that the heart is small and insignificant, but the fact that it has many doors suggests that it is much more complex than meets the eye. The heart is not just a simple organ that pumps blood; it is a mysterious and intricate thing that holds many secrets.

The second stanza is where Dickinson really starts to explore the complexity of the heart. She writes, “Some hinge upon the ear, / With subtle difference, / A hair’s breadth difference”. This suggests that some doors of the heart are opened through what we hear – the things people say to us. The “subtle difference” and “hair’s breadth difference” suggest that even the smallest things can have a big impact on the heart. This is a testament to the power of words and how they can shape our emotions and thoughts.

In the third stanza, Dickinson shifts the focus to the eyes. She writes, “And some upon the soul / Slide for a moment’s space / And some upon the flesh”. Here, she suggests that some doors of the heart are opened through what we see – the things we witness. The fact that she mentions the soul and the flesh suggests that these doors can be opened through both spiritual and physical experiences. Again, Dickinson shows the complexity of the heart and how it can be influenced by many different things.

The Importance of Choice

The fourth stanza is where Dickinson really drives home the importance of choice. She writes, “An ample nation houses us / A And populous dynasty”. This suggests that we have many different options when it comes to opening the doors of the heart. We are not limited to just one way of experiencing the world; we have a whole “nation” and “dynasty” of options available to us.

However, Dickinson also acknowledges that with choice comes responsibility. She writes, “We can but choose the nearest”. This suggests that we must make choices based on what is closest to us – what is most immediate and pressing. We cannot open all the doors of the heart at once; we must choose which ones to open and which ones to keep closed.

The fifth and final stanza is where Dickinson really brings everything together. She writes, “We are the other amber / That waited / Amber that sap / Rose, and slowly hardened”. This suggests that we are like the amber that slowly hardens over time. We are shaped by the experiences we have and the doors we choose to open. Dickinson is saying that we have the power to shape our own hearts through our choices and experiences.

Conclusion

In “The Heart has many Doors”, Emily Dickinson explores the complexity of the human heart and the many different doors it hides behind. Through her use of language and imagery, she shows just how intricate and mysterious the heart can be. She also emphasizes the importance of choice and how our decisions can shape our hearts over time. As always, Dickinson leaves us with more questions than answers, but that’s what makes her poetry so compelling. She invites us to explore the depths of our own hearts and to discover the many doors that await us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Heart has many Doors - Emily Dickinson's classic poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that delves deep into the human psyche. This poem is a reflection of the poet's own experiences and emotions, and it speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and the complexities of the human heart.

The poem begins with the line, "The heart has many doors," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The heart, in this context, is not just a physical organ but a metaphor for the emotional and spiritual center of the human being. The idea that the heart has many doors suggests that there are many ways in which we can experience and express our emotions.

The next line, "I'm told," is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not speaking from personal experience but from what she has been told. This creates a sense of distance between the speaker and the emotions she is describing, which is a common technique in Dickinson's poetry.

The third line, "The spirit, every burden bears," is a reference to the idea that the human spirit is capable of carrying great emotional weight. This line suggests that the human spirit is resilient and can withstand even the most difficult emotional experiences.

The fourth line, "For whom I've often groaned," is a reference to the speaker's own experiences of emotional pain. The use of the word "groaned" suggests that the speaker has experienced deep emotional anguish and has struggled to cope with it.

The fifth line, "Of whom has oftener prayed," suggests that the speaker has turned to prayer as a way of coping with her emotional pain. This line also suggests that the speaker is seeking some kind of spiritual or emotional connection with the person she is praying for.

The sixth line, "Which one may be the door," is a reference to the many ways in which we can experience and express our emotions. This line suggests that there are many different paths to emotional healing and that we must be open to exploring them all.

The seventh line, "I have not tried," is significant because it suggests that the speaker has not yet found the emotional healing she is seeking. This creates a sense of longing and vulnerability that is common in Dickinson's poetry.

The eighth line, "The angel at the gate," is a reference to the idea that there is a spiritual or emotional guardian at the entrance to our hearts. This line suggests that we must be open to the guidance of this guardian if we are to find emotional healing.

The ninth line, "The pang, the silence in the breast," is a reference to the emotional pain that we all experience at some point in our lives. This line suggests that emotional pain can be both physical and emotional and that it can be difficult to express in words.

The tenth line, "Whose soul hath known no respite," suggests that the speaker is describing someone who has experienced deep emotional pain and has not yet found emotional healing. This line creates a sense of empathy and understanding for those who are struggling with emotional pain.

The eleventh line, "May mercy come, and soothe the breast," is a reference to the idea that emotional healing can come from a place of mercy and compassion. This line suggests that we must be open to receiving emotional healing from others and that we must also be willing to offer it to others.

The twelfth line, "We ne'er can know the worth," suggests that emotional healing is a valuable and precious experience that we must cherish and appreciate. This line creates a sense of gratitude for the emotional healing that we have received and a sense of hope for the emotional healing that we have yet to receive.

The thirteenth line, "Till torn apart, it hath the earth," is a reference to the idea that emotional healing is a transformative experience that can change us at a fundamental level. This line suggests that emotional healing is a process of growth and evolution that can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

The final line, "Is it the insight, or the tear," is a reference to the idea that emotional healing can come from both intellectual understanding and emotional release. This line suggests that we must be open to both forms of emotional healing if we are to find true emotional wholeness.

In conclusion, The Heart has many Doors - Emily Dickinson's classic poem is a powerful reflection on the complexities of the human heart and the many ways in which we can experience and express our emotions. This poem speaks to the universal human experience of love, loss, and emotional pain, and it offers a message of hope and healing for those who are struggling with emotional pain. Dickinson's use of metaphor, imagery, and language creates a sense of empathy and understanding for those who are struggling with emotional pain, and it offers a roadmap for emotional healing that is both practical and profound.

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