'Essential Oils-are wrung' by Emily Dickinson
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Essential Oils-are wrung-
The Attar from the Rose
Be not expressed by Suns-alone-
It is the gift of Screws-The General Rose-decay-
But this-in Lady's Drawer
Make Summer-When the Lady lie
In Ceaseless Rosemary-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Essential Oils-are wrung: A Literary Criticism
Oh, Essential Oils-are wrung, how do I begin to describe thee? Emily Dickinson's poem is a masterpiece that defies simple interpretation. It's a poem that seems to be about the extraction of essential oils from plants, but it's really so much more than that. It's a poem about the very essence of life and death, about the beauty and pain of existence, and about the eternal cycle of creation and destruction. In this literary criticism, I will explore the complex themes and imagery in Essential Oils-are wrung and offer my own interpretation of this remarkable work.
Overview
Essential Oils-are wrung consists of four stanzas of four lines each. The poem is written in Dickinson's signature style, with short lines and irregular capitalization and punctuation. The title itself is an enigma, as it seems to suggest a mundane process of extracting oils from plants, yet it also hints at something more profound - the idea that essential oils are not just a physical substance, but a vital essence that is extracted from the very soul of the plant.
In the first stanza, Dickinson describes the process of extracting essential oils from plants, using the metaphor of wringing out a cloth:
Essential Oils - are wrung -
The Attar from the Rose
Be not expressed by Suns - alone -
It is the gift of Screws -
The Attar from the Rose refers to the fragrant oil that is extracted from rose petals. Dickinson suggests that this oil cannot be obtained by sunlight alone, but requires a more forceful method - the use of screws to wring out the essence. This imagery of squeezing and pressing suggests a violent process, one that requires a sacrifice of the plant's physical being in order to obtain its essence.
In the second stanza, Dickinson shifts from the physical process of extracting oils to a more philosophical exploration of the nature of existence:
The General Rose - decay -
But this - in Lady's Drawer
Make Summer - When the Lady lie
In Ceaseless Rosemary -
Here, Dickinson contrasts the transience of life with the enduring essence of essential oils. The General Rose, which symbolizes life and vitality, eventually decays and dies, but the Attar from the Rose lives on, preserved in a Lady's Drawer. The image of the Lady lying in Ceaseless Rosemary suggests an eternal, fragrant sleep, a dreamworld where the essence of life is preserved forever.
In the third stanza, Dickinson takes us deeper into the metaphysical realm:
Incertainty - Certainty -
"Nature" - hastily
Prevails upon a Leafy Tree
She wreaths a Boutoniere -
Here, Dickinson introduces the concept of uncertainty and certainty, suggesting that the natural world is both unpredictable and yet governed by certain laws. The phrase "Nature - hastily" implies a sense of urgency or haste, as if nature is constantly in motion, yet the phrase "Prevails upon a Leafy Tree" suggests a sense of order and control. The image of nature wreathing a Boutoniere implies a sense of adornment, as if nature is decorating herself with the beauty of her own creation.
In the final stanza, Dickinson brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of essential oils being extracted from plants:
So - of itself - itself - begets -
And Selves - were born - of Mothers -
As lightly - from an Amber Bell -
Electrical Gentians -
Dickinson suggests that the process of creation is cyclical, with each new generation being born from the essence of the previous one. The image of Selves being born of Mothers suggests a sense of continuity and connection, as if each new life is a continuation of the previous one. The image of Electrical Gentians suggests a sense of energy and vitality, as if the very essence of life is electric and alive.
Interpretation
So what does it all mean? What is Dickinson trying to tell us with this enigmatic poem? In my interpretation, Essential Oils-are wrung is a meditation on the very essence of life and death. Dickinson uses the metaphor of extracting oils from plants to explore the idea that life is not just a physical existence, but a vital essence that is extracted from the soul of the world.
The Attar from the Rose represents this vital essence, the very essence of life that is preserved even after the physical body decays and dies. Dickinson suggests that this essence is eternal, and that it can be accessed by those who are attuned to the mysteries of life and death.
The Lady's Drawer represents a kind of afterlife, a place where the essence of life is preserved in perpetuity. The image of the Lady lying in Ceaseless Rosemary suggests a kind of eternal sleep, a dreamworld where the vital essence of life is preserved forever.
The image of nature wreathing a Boutoniere implies that nature is not just a passive entity, but an active participant in the cycle of creation and destruction. The phrase "Nature - hastily" suggests that nature is always in motion, always creating and destroying, always in a state of flux. Yet at the same time, the phrase "Prevails upon a Leafy Tree" suggests that there is some underlying order to this chaos, some guiding force that governs the natural world.
Finally, the image of Electrical Gentians suggests that the very essence of life is electric and alive, a force that is constantly in motion. Dickinson suggests that this force is what gives life its vitality and energy, and that it is what connects us all together in an eternal cycle of creation and destruction.
Conclusion
Essential Oils-are wrung is a remarkable poem that defies easy interpretation. It's a work that explores the essence of life and death, and the eternal cycle of creation and destruction. Dickinson uses the metaphor of extracting oils from plants to suggest that life is not just a physical existence, but a vital essence that is extracted from the soul of the world. She suggests that this essence is eternal, and that it can be accessed by those who are attuned to the mysteries of life and death.
Overall, Essential Oils-are wrung is a profound and beautiful work of poetry, one that reminds us of the fragility and beauty of life, and of the eternal mystery that lies at the heart of existence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Essential Oils-are wrung: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her work continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "Essential Oils-are wrung," a short but powerful piece that explores the nature of poetry and its ability to evoke emotion and create meaning.
At its core, "Essential Oils-are wrung" is a meditation on the power of language and the way in which words can be used to create a sense of beauty and meaning. The poem begins with the line "Essential Oils-are wrung-," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "essential" suggests that the oils in question are important and valuable, and the verb "wrung" implies that they have been extracted through a process of pressure and force.
This metaphorical language is continued throughout the poem, as Dickinson compares the process of creating poetry to the extraction of essential oils. She writes that "The Attar from the Rose / Be not expressed by Suns-alone- / It is the gift of Screws-" which suggests that the true essence of poetry cannot be captured through simple observation or description. Instead, it must be extracted through a process of careful attention and manipulation, much like the way in which essential oils are extracted from plants.
The poem goes on to explore the way in which poetry can evoke emotion and create meaning. Dickinson writes that "The General Rose-deployed / Is not the Fresh and Fragrant one / Nor He, the fairest-browed-" which suggests that there is a difference between the surface-level appearance of things and their deeper, more meaningful essence. In the case of poetry, this essence is the emotional and intellectual impact that it has on the reader.
Dickinson also touches on the idea that poetry can be used to create a sense of connection and community. She writes that "So of the Soul- no different-As Analysts- disjoint / Affirm- and We- reject-" which suggests that while different people may interpret poetry in different ways, there is still a sense of shared experience and understanding that comes from engaging with it. This idea is further reinforced by the final lines of the poem, which read "Tis the Divinity that stirs within- / 'Tis the Scepter- in the Jobs of Kings-."
Taken as a whole, "Essential Oils-are wrung" is a powerful meditation on the nature of poetry and its ability to create meaning and evoke emotion. Through its use of metaphorical language and careful attention to detail, Dickinson creates a sense of depth and complexity that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. Whether read as a celebration of the power of language or a meditation on the human experience, this poem remains a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.
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