Emily Dickinson needs no introduction

Emily Dickinson needs no introduction. One of the close prolific and renowned poets in the literary world, Dickinson subdued remains somely a mystery. She is often labeled as a lifelong recluse who did nothing but sit in her attic only day and scribble poetry. How ever, Dickinsons poetry reveals a soul keenly in tune with the human condition. The simple and always relatable poetry of Dickinson serves as her superior autobiography, and as a testament to humanity itself. She was and remains the master of capturing emotion in a literary statue.Happiness, anger, envy, surpriseevery feeling that man has ever felt flowed from Dickinsons pen at some point. One subject contains all of these emotions, and this subject both haunted and fascinated Emily Dickinson by dint ofout her life wipeout. The poet wrote turbulently about death many times, but one poemone imagein particular resonated with readers in its stark, memorable simplicity. In I perceive a cut down buzz when I died, Dick inson masterfully interweaves tone, style, and imagery to capture a speaker in the midst of lifes greatest skeptical challenge. its own conclusion.In the poem, lifes end is represented through the persona of a dying individual. The condition of the terminally ill speaker emerges through the poems compact, simplistic, yet conflicted structure and in its one powerful symbolic theme. Consider, for example, the simple sounds which recur and reinforce the speakers thoughts. Soft w (Was (3), were (6), when (7), witnessed (8), willed (9), what (10), with (13), windows (15)) and s (signed (9), see (16), assignable (11)) sounds give the language a sighing quality, perhaps the labored breaths of someone whose every breath is a precious commodity.Yet these semisoft sounds are accentuated by an aggressive assault of st syllables (stillness (3), storm (4), stumbling(13)), as if the speaker is struggling with a mental block of resistance. Death also looms in the aphoristic nature of the speaker s language. With just a few well-chosen words (a dying breath)stillness (3), wrung (5), storm (4), stumbling (13)the speaker provides powerful sixth sense into the complex feelings which accompany death. Who else but a dying person would understand the value of quality over quantity?This human conflict is further strengthen by the alternating long and short lines which constitute the final stanzas. While the opening stanzas form near-perfect boxes (the very symbol of control), the frenzied push-pull of the speakers conclusion thoughts offers a concrete snapshot of the inner turmoil that surrounds impending death. The moment of transformation for the speakerfrom peaceful resolve to subtle panicis high lightnessed by a Dickinson Dash (Milani, Dickinson Analysis) .Could make assignable,and then/There interposed a fly (11-12). Can the majesty of death be reduced to a mere flys presence? Is the majesty merely an illusion? (Frankowski, Death) The fly itself is the anchor symbol in a sp eakers mindset largely devoid of elaborate imagery (Frankowski, Death). Throughout the poem, the speaker eludes to a need for some magical spiritual fulfillment And breaths were gathering sure/For that resist onset, when the king/Be witnessed in his power (6-8).However, the only constantthe only true anchorfor the speaker as death approaches is the uncertain, stumbling, buzzingfly (12-13). Does the small brute steal away the speakers peace by standing Between the lights and me (14)? Or does the flys final farewell (its auditory buzz) inspire the speaker that he or she need not see to see (16). Does true sight come from the eyes, or does true sighttrue light in factshine from a higher source?Perhaps the speakers musings are not random, but a confessed realization to the most enlightened audience of all, the Creator Himself. Why might one assume that the speaker is addressing God? First, and most simply, the speakers narrative occurs after death I heard a fly buzz when I died (1). Yet evidence for the speakers intended audience also appears on a deeper level. The abstract diction of the speaker suggests a metaphysical plane stillness (3), form (3), breaths (6), power (8), light (14), air (3), and even the formless buzz (1).Further, the nominal tone (The stillness round my form (2) What portion of me I/Could make assignable (10-11)) carried throughout the piece would likely be reserved for only the most respected and wise of listeners. In addition, the iambic trimeter rhythm (Milani, Dickinson Analysis) of the speakers words and the traditional ABCB rhyme scheme summons a chaste adherence to timeless laws and beauty. A dying speaker and a celestial audience provide the most powerful backdrop for the poems ultimate theme mental and spiritual conflict.