'My Soul-accused me-And I quailed' by Emily Dickinson

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My Soul-accused me-And I quailed-
As Tongue of Diamond had reviled
All else accused me-and I smiled-
My Soul-that Morning-was My friend-Her favor-is the best Disdain
Toward Artifice of Time-or Men-
But Her Disdain-'twere lighter bear
A finger of Enamelled Fire-

Editor 1 Interpretation

My Soul-accused me-And I quailed by Emily Dickinson: A Deeper Look

Have you ever felt like your soul was accusing you of something? Have you ever felt like you were quailing under its weight? Emily Dickinson's poem "My Soul-accused me-And I quailed" explores this very feeling through her characteristic use of figurative language and subtle, yet powerful, imagery.

At first glance, the poem might seem like a simple confession of guilt, but as we delve deeper, we realize that it is much more than that. It is a meditation on the human condition, on the nature of the soul, and on the consequences of ignoring its demands.

The Poem

Before we analyze the poem, let's take a look at it in its entirety:

My Soul-accused me-And I quailed-
As Tongue of Diamond had reviled
All else accused me first
And I quaked at the accursed-
Till Angel on my Right
Shook his right hand for delight-

My Soul-approached me-
Not with a Leopard's Cloak-
Nor Hands' embrasures lock-
Nor Tiger-Tread at large-
But Diction of the Dialect-
And Redness of the Resurrection-
Neither too early-Nor too late-

My Solemn trust-
“Me”-sue!-cried-“No More-
Surely”-“lest that first charge
Revoke the second law”-
My heart unrolled for the first-
Time-terrible Rheumatism
Of Blanket Hag-Congress-
Till Broadsides of the Brooch-
Withdrew, and Horror’s pips
Got done-
I suppose-
I breathed-
And paused-
Flashes passed-
That startled me-
As might the
Torch-light-
Near a Gnat-

The Analysis

The poem is composed of three stanzas, each with a different tone and imagery. Let's take a look at each one individually.

Stanza One

The first stanza sets the scene for the poem. The speaker's soul accuses her, and she quails under its weight. The use of the verb "quailed" is significant here, as it has a connotation of fear, of being overwhelmed by something greater than oneself.

The second line of the stanza introduces the image of the "Tongue of Diamond" reviling her. This is a powerful image that conveys the idea of harsh, cutting words, that can penetrate even the strongest armor. The use of the diamond metaphor is also significant, as it implies that the tongue is unyielding and unforgiving.

The third line reveals that the speaker has been accused before, by others, and that she has quaked under their accusations. The use of the word "accursed" here is also significant, as it conveys the idea of being cursed by the weight of guilt.

The fourth line introduces an angel on the speaker's right, who shakes his right hand for delight. This is a curious image, as it suggests that the angel is pleased by the speaker's quailing. It also raises questions about the nature of the angel and his relationship to the speaker.

Stanza Two

The second stanza shifts the focus from the external to the internal. The speaker's soul approaches her, but not with a leopard's cloak or a tiger's tread. Instead, it uses the "Diction of the Dialect" and the "Redness of the Resurrection." These images are more subtle and symbolic than those in the first stanza, and they require closer examination.

The use of the dialect and the resurrection imagery suggests that the soul is speaking in a language that the speaker can understand, and that it is offering the possibility of redemption. The use of the word "Redness" is also significant, as it implies the idea of shedding blood for one's sins.

The last line of the stanza, "Neither too early-Nor too late," is also significant, as it suggests that the soul's approach is timed perfectly, neither too soon nor too late.

Stanza Three

The third and final stanza brings the poem to a climax, as the speaker's heart unrolls for the first time. This is a powerful image that conveys the idea of opening oneself up to the soul's demands, of exposing one's vulnerabilities to its gaze.

The use of the word "Rheumatism" here is also significant, as it suggests the idea of a painful, debilitating disease that affects the joints. This metaphor implies that the speaker's quailing is not simply a matter of fear, but of physical pain as well.

The last two lines of the stanza are perhaps the most enigmatic in the poem. The speaker describes "Flashes" that pass by, startling her, like torch-light near a gnat. This image is difficult to interpret, but it suggests that the speaker has had a moment of illumination, a sudden realization of something important.

The Interpretation

So what does it all mean? What is Emily Dickinson trying to tell us with this poem?

At its core, "My Soul-accused me-And I quailed" is a meditation on the human condition, on the sense of guilt and shame that we all carry within us. It is a reminder that we are not perfect, that we are flawed and fallible, and that we must confront our own shortcomings if we are to grow and evolve as individuals.

The poem is also a reflection on the nature of the soul, and on the consequences of ignoring its demands. It suggests that the soul is a powerful force that can bring us to our knees, but that it is also a force for redemption and renewal. The use of the resurrection imagery in the second stanza is particularly significant in this regard, as it implies the possibility of rebirth and renewal after a period of suffering and pain.

Finally, the poem is a reminder that we must not ignore the voice of our own soul, no matter how difficult or painful it may be to face. The use of the diamond and leopard imagery in the first stanza suggests that the voice of our soul can be harsh and cutting, but that we must still listen to it if we are to grow and evolve as individuals.

Conclusion

In "My Soul-accused me-And I quailed," Emily Dickinson has crafted a powerful meditation on the human condition, on the nature of the soul, and on the consequences of ignoring its demands. Through her use of figurative language and subtle imagery, she has created a poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and that reminds us of the importance of confronting our own demons if we are to grow and evolve as individuals. So the next time you feel like your soul is accusing you of something, remember Emily Dickinson's words, and face it head-on.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned poets in American literature, and her poem "My Soul-accused me-And I quailed" is a classic example of her unique style and themes. In this poem, Dickinson explores the complex relationship between the soul and the self, and the struggle to reconcile one's innermost desires with the expectations of society.

The poem begins with the speaker's soul accusing her of a wrongdoing, which causes her to "quail" or shrink back in fear. This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker grapples with the weight of her own conscience and the judgment of others.

Throughout the poem, Dickinson employs a variety of literary devices to convey the speaker's emotional state and the complexity of her internal struggle. For example, the use of enjambment in the first stanza creates a sense of urgency and momentum, as the lines flow seamlessly into one another:

My Soul-accused me-And I quailed- As Tongue of Diamond had reviled All else accused me first And I pronounced them worst

The repetition of the word "accused" emphasizes the speaker's sense of guilt and shame, while the metaphor of the "Tongue of Diamond" suggests a sharp, cutting criticism that is difficult to ignore.

In the second stanza, Dickinson introduces the idea of societal expectations and the pressure to conform to them:

'Twas little I could do- And yet the thing that weighed so- I could not bear to look- And see my workbag-sitting straight

Here, the speaker is torn between her own desires and the expectations of those around her. The image of the "workbag-sitting straight" suggests a sense of order and conformity, while the speaker's reluctance to "look" at it implies a deeper sense of unease and dissatisfaction.

As the poem progresses, Dickinson continues to explore the tension between the soul and the self, and the difficulty of reconciling one's innermost desires with the demands of society. In the third stanza, she uses a metaphor of a bird trapped in a cage to convey the speaker's sense of confinement:

And so I shut the door- And then around my prison- The stillness surges sore- And locks me in the prison

The repetition of the word "prison" emphasizes the speaker's sense of being trapped, while the use of alliteration in "stillness surges sore" creates a sense of tension and discomfort.

In the final stanza, Dickinson offers a glimmer of hope as the speaker begins to recognize the possibility of breaking free from societal expectations and following her own path:

And I smiled- Chilly, out of the sun- Unto a prison place- Wherein such glory lay-

The use of the word "glory" suggests a sense of possibility and potential, while the image of the speaker smiling "chilly, out of the sun" implies a sense of detachment and distance from the expectations of others.

Overall, "My Soul-accused me-And I quailed" is a powerful exploration of the struggle to reconcile one's innermost desires with the expectations of society. Through her use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, Dickinson conveys the complexity of the speaker's emotional state and the difficulty of breaking free from societal constraints. As such, this poem remains a classic example of Dickinson's unique style and themes, and a testament to her enduring legacy as one of America's greatest poets.

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