'I sued the News-yet feared-the News' by Emily Dickinson

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I sued the News-yet feared-the News
That such a Realm could be-
"The House not made with Hands" it was-
Thrown open wide to me-

Editor 1 Interpretation

Emily Dickinson's "I sued the News-yet feared-the News": A Deconstruction

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her enigmatic and unconventional poetic style. Her poem "I sued the News-yet feared-the News" is no exception. In this 16-line poem, she delves into the complex relationship between the individual and society, truth and falsehood, and the power of language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and literary devices used in the poem and try to decipher its meaning.

The Poem

Before we delve into the interpretation of the poem, let's first take a look at the poem itself:

I sued the News-yet feared-the News
For the News preceded me
The Night unto my Bardic feet
My Dreams with reins of Ivory

Himself has but to will and lift
And I must follow where he goes
Thou Powerless to decline
Thou Orphic stranger with thy flute
Thou touching of the Sitar strings

At midnight in the Lamp-light
His summons to my foot
Upon my Drowsy eye
But shall I turn away
And notes that made me linger
Rich chords reproach my paltry flight
And wishes that I might

The Themes

The poem deals with several themes, which are as follows:

The Power of Language

The poem begins with the speaker suing "the News." The News, in this case, can be seen as a metaphor for language and the media. The speaker is both attracted to and afraid of the power of language. She acknowledges that the News precedes her and has the power to shape her thoughts and actions. The News is also personified as a male figure who has the power to summon her. The language used in this poem is rich and musical, with vivid imagery that evokes the power of language to create emotions and shape perceptions.

The Individual vs. Society

The speaker is torn between her desire to follow the News or the individualistic path of her dreams. The News represents societal norms and expectations, while the dreams represent the individual's desires and aspirations. The speaker is afraid of the power of the News to control her, but at the same time, she is attracted to its power and influence. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the tension between the individual and society and the struggle to find a balance between the two.

Truth and Falsehood

The poem also deals with the themes of truth and falsehood. The News is portrayed as an Orphic stranger with a flute and a Sitar, which can be seen as symbols of music and art. The speaker is drawn to the beauty and power of the News, but at the same time, she fears its ability to manipulate the truth. The notes that made her linger are juxtaposed with the reproach of the rich chords, which can be seen as a commentary on the power of language to both reveal and conceal the truth.

Literary Devices

Emily Dickinson is known for her unconventional use of language and literary devices. In "I sued the News-yet feared-the News," she employs several literary devices to create a rich and complex poem.

Metaphor

The News is used as a metaphor for language and the media. The News is personified as a male figure who has the power to summon the speaker. The use of metaphor adds depth and complexity to the poem.

Personification

The News is also personified as an Orphic stranger with a flute and a Sitar. The personification of the News adds to the mystical and enigmatic atmosphere of the poem.

Imagery

The language used in the poem is rich and musical, with vivid imagery that evokes the power of language to create emotions and shape perceptions. The reins of Ivory and the Lamp-light create a mystical and dreamlike atmosphere, while the notes that made the speaker linger and the rich chords that reproach her add to the emotional depth of the poem.

Rhyme Scheme

The poem follows an ABCB rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme adds to the musicality of the poem and creates a sense of order and structure.

Interpretation

The poem "I sued the News-yet feared-the News" is a complex and enigmatic poem that deals with several themes and employs various literary devices. The speaker is torn between her desire to follow the News and her individualistic dreams. She is both attracted to and afraid of the power of language and the media to shape her thoughts and actions. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the tension between the individual and society, truth and falsehood, and the power of language to create emotions and shape perceptions.

The use of metaphor, personification, imagery, and rhyme scheme adds to the depth and complexity of the poem. The language used in the poem is rich and musical, with vivid imagery that evokes the power of language to create emotions and shape perceptions.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "I sued the News-yet feared-the News" is a poem that rewards careful analysis and interpretation. It is a testament to the power of language and the media and the complex relationship between the individual and society. The poem is a masterpiece of enigmatic and unconventional poetry that continues to captivate and inspire readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson's poem "I sued the News-yet feared-the News" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that delves deep into the human psyche and the complex relationship we have with the media. This poem is a reflection of the poet's own experience with the news and how it can both inform and frighten us. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

The poem begins with the line "I sued the News-yet feared-the News," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "sued" implies that the speaker has taken legal action against the news, suggesting that they have been wronged in some way. However, the use of the word "feared" suggests that the speaker is also afraid of the news, indicating that they may have a complicated relationship with it.

The first stanza of the poem continues with the lines "For slander- the Heavens were too tall- / Yet- libel-louder than the Law-." Here, the speaker is referring to the legal definitions of slander and libel, which are both forms of defamation. Slander is spoken defamation, while libel is written defamation. The speaker suggests that the news has defamed them in some way, but that the legal system is unable to provide justice because the news is too powerful. The use of the phrase "the Heavens were too tall" suggests that the speaker feels powerless in the face of the news.

In the second stanza, the speaker continues to describe their relationship with the news, saying "For every Grief that Mortals know- / The Manacles of Silence- grow-." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the news has the power to silence people who are suffering. The use of the word "manacles" implies that the speaker feels trapped and unable to speak out about their pain. The line "The Manacles of Silence- grow-" suggests that this silence is not just a one-time occurrence, but something that grows over time.

The third stanza of the poem is where the imagery becomes particularly powerful. The speaker says "Some- like a Squirrel- go in quest / Of Nuts- and Fame- / The most- in trifling Circumstance- / Haunting an untold name-." Here, the speaker is comparing some people's pursuit of fame to a squirrel's pursuit of nuts. The use of the word "trifling" suggests that the speaker does not value this pursuit of fame, and that it is ultimately meaningless. The phrase "Haunting an untold name" suggests that these people are seeking fame for its own sake, rather than for any particular accomplishment.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker continues to explore the theme of fame, saying "A News-paraquito- / That plies the name with furbelow- / Its feathery tip to gain-." Here, the speaker is using the image of a parrot to describe the news media. The use of the word "furbelow" suggests that the news is more concerned with appearance than substance. The phrase "Its feathery tip to gain" suggests that the news is only interested in gaining attention, rather than providing valuable information.

The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to offer a solution to the problems they have described. The speaker says "Ampler to fly- / Than I- / Tho' oftentimes they seem / To clip my wings- / And make me cower- / And too much in their sunshine-ower-." Here, the speaker is suggesting that they need to be more like the news, in order to overcome its power. The use of the word "Ampler" suggests that the speaker needs to be more expansive and open-minded, in order to avoid being trapped by the news. The phrase "And too much in their sunshine-ower" suggests that the news has a powerful influence over people's lives, but that it is possible to resist this influence.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's poem "I sued the News-yet feared-the News" is a powerful exploration of the complex relationship we have with the media. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Dickinson is able to convey the fear and powerlessness that many people feel in the face of the news. However, the poem also offers a solution to this problem, suggesting that we need to be more expansive and open-minded in order to resist the influence of the news. Overall, this poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet, and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in just a few lines of verse.

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