'I never felt at Home-Below' by Emily Dickinson
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I never felt at Home-Below--
And in the Handsome Skies
I shall not feel at Home-I know-
I don't like Paradise-Because it's Sunday-all the time-
And Recess-never comes-
And Eden'll be so lonesome
Bright Wednesday Afternoons-If God could make a visit-
Or ever took a Nap-
So not to see us-but they say
Himself-a TelescopePerennial beholds us-
Myself would run away
From Him-and Holy Ghost-and All-
But there's the "Judgement Day"!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I never felt at Home-Below" by Emily Dickinson: A Journey into the Depths of the Soul
What does it mean to feel at home? Is it a physical or a spiritual sensation? Is it something we can find in the external world, or is it an inner state of being? These are some of the questions that Emily Dickinson's poem "I never felt at Home-Below" raises, and that we will explore in this literary analysis.
The Poem
Here is the full text of the poem:
I never felt at Home-Below—
And in the Handsome Skies
I shall not feel at Home—I know
I don't like Paradise—
Because it's Sunday—all the time—
And Recess—never comes—
And Eden'll be so lonesome
Bright Wednesday Afternoons.
If God could make a visit—
Or ever took a Nap—
So not to see us—but they say
Himself-a Telescope
Perennial beholds us—
Myself would run away
From Him—and Holy Ghost—and All—
But there's the "Judgment Day"!
The poem consists of nine quatrains, rhyming ABCB, except for the last stanza, which is a couplet. The meter is irregular, with lines ranging from tetrameter to pentameter, and occasional variations in stress and rhythm. The tone is introspective, ironic, and skeptical, with a touch of humor and pathos.
Interpretation
The title of the poem, "I never felt at Home-Below," sets the theme and mood for the rest of the poem. The phrase "below" suggests that there is a higher realm, a spiritual or metaphysical dimension, that is contrasted with the earthly or material world. The speaker implies that she has never felt at home in the latter, and that she doesn't expect to feel at home in the former either.
The first stanza introduces the idea of the "Handsome Skies," which could refer to heaven, but also to the beauty and mystery of the cosmos. The speaker acknowledges that she will not feel at home there, but doesn't explain why. The enjambment between the first and second lines creates a sense of uncertainty and anticipation, as if the speaker is about to reveal a secret.
The second stanza gives a clue to the speaker's attitude towards paradise, which she doesn't like. The reason she gives is that it's Sunday all the time, and recess never comes. This could be interpreted as a criticism of the Christian concept of heaven as an eternal rest and worship, without any activity or change. The speaker seems to prefer the earthly pleasures of play and leisure, which are denied in paradise.
The third stanza adds a touch of humor and poignancy to the poem, as the speaker imagines how lonesome Eden, the biblical paradise, would be on bright Wednesday afternoons. The irony lies in the fact that the speaker, who doesn't like the idea of paradise, is still nostalgic for the innocent pleasures of childhood, which are associated with Eden. The word "lonesome" also suggests a sense of isolation and estrangement, which the speaker feels even in the idealized past.
The fourth and fifth stanzas introduce the idea of God, who could make a visit or take a nap, but doesn't. The speaker seems to be addressing God directly, as if she were a child talking to a parent who is absent or indifferent. The image of God as a telescope that perennially beholds us suggests a distant and detached presence, that observes but doesn't intervene or communicate. The speaker's response to this divine surveillance is to run away from Him, and from the Holy Ghost, which could be interpreted as the spiritual presence of God in the world. The use of the word "myself" instead of "I" creates a sense of dissociation and fragmentation, as if the speaker were divided between her physical and spiritual selves.
The last stanza introduces the idea of the Judgment Day, which is a Christian belief that God will judge every soul after death and determine its eternal fate. The speaker seems to be ambivalent about this prospect, as she acknowledges that she will have to face it, but also suggests that it's not something she looks forward to. The use of quotation marks around the words "Judgment Day" creates a sense of skepticism and distance, as if the speaker were quoting a phrase that she doesn't fully accept.
Analysis
What makes "I never felt at Home-Below" a powerful and enduring poem is its ability to express a universal human experience in a concise and imaginative way. The speaker's sense of alienation and disconnection from the world and from God is a common theme in literature and philosophy, but Dickinson's treatment of it is unique and provocative.
One of the ways that the poem achieves this effect is through its use of irony and humor. The speaker's rejection of paradise and her nostalgia for childhood are contradictory and ambivalent attitudes, that reveal a complex and nuanced personality. The fact that she doesn't like paradise because it's Sunday all the time and recess never comes is a humorous and unexpected twist, that challenges the conventional image of heaven as a place of eternal bliss. The speaker's impish defiance and irreverence towards God and the Holy Ghost also create a sense of rebellion and independence, that is both refreshing and unsettling.
Another way that the poem achieves its effect is through its use of imagery and metaphor. The image of the Handsome Skies suggests a beauty and grandeur that transcends the mundane world, but also a distance and inaccessibility that frustrates the speaker's desire for home. The image of God as a telescope that perennially beholds us is a striking and original metaphor that suggests a cosmic surveillance and indifference, that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The image of Judgment Day as a looming threat that the speaker cannot escape is a haunting and powerful image, that resonates with the reader's own existential anxieties.
Overall, "I never felt at Home-Below" is a poem that invites the reader to reflect on the meaning of home, both as an external and an internal state. The poem suggests that home is not a fixed or permanent place, but a dynamic and elusive experience that depends on our own perception and attitude. The poem also suggests that the search for home is a spiritual and moral quest, that involves a confrontation with our own limitations and fears. The poem does not offer any ultimate answers or solutions, but rather poses a challenge to the reader to find their own way home.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to evoke emotions, and Emily Dickinson's "I never felt at Home-Below" is no exception. This classic poem is a reflection of the poet's feelings of alienation and disconnection from the world around her. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem.
The poem begins with the line, "I never felt at Home-Below," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "below" suggests that the poet is referring to the earthly world, and the use of the word "home" implies that the poet feels out of place in this world. This opening line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, which explores the poet's feelings of isolation and disconnection.
The first stanza of the poem continues with the lines, "And in the Handsome Skies / I shall not feel at Home." Here, the poet suggests that even in the beauty of the sky, she still feels disconnected. The use of the word "handsome" suggests that the poet recognizes the beauty of the sky, but it is not enough to make her feel at home. This line also suggests that the poet is searching for a sense of belonging, but she has not found it yet.
The second stanza of the poem continues with the lines, "I never lose as much as twice, / And nothing is twice as much." Here, the poet suggests that she has lost something important, but she has not lost it twice. This line suggests that the poet has experienced a sense of loss or disconnection before, but she has not been able to find what she is looking for. The use of the word "twice" suggests that the poet has been searching for a sense of belonging for a long time, but she has not found it yet.
The third stanza of the poem continues with the lines, "And nothing, that's lost, can be lost again, / Afterward, by the same hand." Here, the poet suggests that once something is lost, it cannot be lost again by the same person. This line suggests that the poet has experienced a sense of loss before, but she has not been able to find what she is looking for. The use of the word "afterward" suggests that the poet is looking forward to finding what she is looking for, but she has not found it yet.
The fourth stanza of the poem continues with the lines, "And since then, 'tis centuries; but each / Feels shorter than the day / I first surmised the Horses' Heads / Were toward Eternity." Here, the poet suggests that she has been searching for a sense of belonging for centuries, but each century feels shorter than the day she first realized that she was searching for something. The use of the word "surmised" suggests that the poet has not yet found what she is looking for, but she has a sense of what it might be. The use of the word "eternity" suggests that the poet is searching for something that is beyond this earthly world.
The structure of the poem is simple, with four stanzas of four lines each. The use of short lines and simple language gives the poem a sense of clarity and directness. The repetition of the phrase "I never" in the first line of each stanza emphasizes the poet's sense of disconnection and isolation. The use of the word "twice" in the second stanza and the repetition of the word "lost" in the third stanza emphasize the poet's sense of loss and longing. The use of the word "eternity" in the fourth stanza emphasizes the poet's search for something beyond this earthly world.
The poem also uses several literary devices to convey its themes. The use of the word "below" in the first line of the poem is an example of a metaphor, as it suggests that the earthly world is not the poet's true home. The use of the word "handsome" in the second stanza is an example of a paradox, as it suggests that something can be beautiful but not enough to make the poet feel at home. The use of the word "twice" in the second stanza is an example of repetition, as it emphasizes the poet's sense of loss. The use of the word "afterward" in the third stanza is an example of foreshadowing, as it suggests that the poet is looking forward to finding what she is looking for. The use of the word "eternity" in the fourth stanza is an example of symbolism, as it represents the poet's search for something beyond this earthly world.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "I never felt at Home-Below" is a powerful poem that explores the poet's feelings of alienation and disconnection from the world around her. The use of simple language, short lines, and repetition gives the poem a sense of clarity and directness. The use of metaphors, paradoxes, repetition, foreshadowing, and symbolism conveys the poem's themes of loss, longing, and the search for something beyond this earthly world. This classic poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and convey complex ideas in a simple and direct way.
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