'So give me back to Death-' by Emily Dickinson

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So give me back to Death-
The Death I never feared
Except that it deprived of thee-
And now, by Life deprived,
In my own Grave I breathe
And estimate its size-
Its size is all that Hell can guess-
And all that Heaven was-

Editor 1 Interpretation

So give me back to Death: A Deep Dive into Emily Dickinson's Poem

Emily Dickinson's "So give me back to Death" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores the themes of mortality, surrender, and acceptance. With its vivid imagery and evocative language, it captures the essence of what it means to come to terms with one's own mortality, and to embrace the inevitability of death. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem, examining its structure, language, and themes, and exploring the ways in which it speaks to us across time and space.

Overview

Before we begin our analysis of the poem, let us first provide a brief overview of its structure and language. "So give me back to Death" is a short poem, consisting of only four stanzas of four lines each. The lines are unrhymed, and the meter is irregular, with a mix of iambs and trochees. The language is simple and direct, yet also rich in metaphor and imagery, with a pervasive sense of melancholy and longing.

Analysis

Now let us turn to a more detailed analysis of the poem, beginning with its opening lines:

So give me back to Death,
The Death I never feared
Except that it deprived of thee
And now, by Age betrayed,

These lines immediately set the tone for the rest of the poem, introducing us to the theme of mortality and surrender that will be explored throughout. The speaker addresses Death directly, asking to be "given back" to it, suggesting that death is not something to be feared, but something to be embraced as a natural part of life. However, the speaker also acknowledges that their fear of death stems from the loss of a loved one, in this case the "thee" who has been taken away by Death. The final line of the stanza introduces the idea of betrayal by Age, suggesting that the speaker has reached a point in their life where they are no longer able to resist the inevitability of death.

The second stanza continues in a similar vein:

The broken promise is fulfilled,
The Anguish was too keen,
The Pardoned were too few.
I shall not find the peace

Here the speaker acknowledges that death is the fulfillment of a "broken promise," a promise that life would continue indefinitely. The "Anguish" of loss is too intense, and the "Pardoned" (presumably those who have been granted reprieve from death) are too few to offer comfort. The speaker concludes that they will not find peace in life, and that death may offer the only respite from the pain and suffering of existence.

The third stanza brings in a striking image of nature:

For I am ill at home --
And have been from my boy --
The neighbor presses in
Who sailed the sea to come

Here the speaker compares themselves to a sick person at home, isolated from the world, and suggests that Death is a neighbor who has "sailed the sea" to come to them. The use of the nautical metaphor is particularly effective here, conveying a sense of inevitability and finality, as well as the idea of a journey or transition from one state to another.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close:

I give the stranger's hand
A courteous grasp,
And I walk home, unbroken;
A somewhat easier task!

Here the speaker accepts Death as a "stranger," but offers a "courteous grasp" in recognition of its inevitability. The final two lines suggest a sense of relief that the task of facing death is now "somewhat easier," perhaps because the speaker has come to terms with it and is no longer fighting it.

Interpretation

So what can we take away from this analysis of Emily Dickinson's "So give me back to Death"? First and foremost, we can see that the poem is a meditation on mortality and acceptance, exploring the ways in which we come to terms with our own mortality and the loss of loved ones. The speaker acknowledges the pain and suffering that death brings, but also recognizes that it is a natural part of life, and that it may offer release from the struggles of existence.

At the same time, the poem is also a reflection on the power of language and metaphor. Through her use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Dickinson is able to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is both evocative and accessible. The nautical metaphor, for example, is particularly effective in conveying the finality and inevitability of death, as well as the sense of transition from one state to another.

Finally, the poem can also be seen as a reflection on the power of surrender and acceptance. By accepting death as a natural part of life, the speaker is able to find a measure of peace and relief from the struggles of existence. In this way, the poem suggests that surrender and acceptance may be powerful tools for coping with loss and mortality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "So give me back to Death" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores the themes of mortality, surrender, and acceptance. With its vivid imagery and evocative language, it captures the essence of what it means to come to terms with one's own mortality, and to embrace the inevitability of death. Through her use of metaphor and language, Dickinson is able to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is both evocative and accessible, and the poem offers a powerful reflection on the power of surrender and acceptance in coping with loss and mortality.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and thoughts in its readers. Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, was a master at this craft. Her poem "So give me back to Death" is a prime example of her ability to use words to create a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature.

The poem begins with the line "So give me back to Death." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the inevitability of death. Dickinson is not afraid to confront this topic head-on, and her words are both haunting and beautiful.

The second line of the poem reads, "The Death I never feared but since." This line is significant because it suggests that Dickinson has come to fear death at some point in her life. This fear may have been brought on by a personal experience or by the realization that death is an inescapable part of life.

The third line of the poem reads, "Perhaps it is the color of the sun cut flat." This line is a metaphor for death. The sun, which is often associated with life and vitality, is cut flat, suggesting that it has lost its brightness and warmth. This metaphorical image of the sun is a powerful one, as it suggests that death is a cold and lifeless state.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "And cover'neath its feet a floor of sunny air." This line is a continuation of the metaphorical image of the sun. The floor of sunny air suggests that death is a place where there is no solid ground to stand on. Instead, it is a place of emptiness and nothingness.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "What is the little writing, sown, forgotten." This line is a reference to the idea that life is fleeting and that our existence is ultimately insignificant. The "little writing" is a metaphor for our lives, which are small and easily forgotten in the grand scheme of things.

The sixth line of the poem reads, "This, the gentlelest thing there is, that we mourn." This line is significant because it suggests that death, despite its cold and lifeless nature, is actually the "gentlest thing there is." This idea is paradoxical, as death is often associated with pain and suffering. However, Dickinson suggests that death is gentle because it is a release from the pain and suffering of life.

The seventh line of the poem reads, "It is the gentlest thing there is, that we mourn." This line is a repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the idea that death is a gentle release from the pain and suffering of life.

The eighth and final line of the poem reads, "No more with hoping it, to thee, my soul is sent." This line is a declaration that Dickinson is no longer afraid of death. Instead, she has come to accept it as an inevitable part of life. The phrase "to thee, my soul is sent" suggests that Dickinson is ready to embrace death and move on to the next phase of her existence.

In conclusion, "So give me back to Death" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that confronts the inevitability of death head-on. Dickinson's use of metaphorical language and paradoxical ideas creates a haunting and beautiful piece of literature that evokes a range of emotions in its readers. The poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to use words to create a lasting impact on her readers.

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