I Heard a Fly Buzz Analysis

In the poem “I Heard a Fly Buzz,” Emily Dickinson describes her death in a way that makes her death seem insignificant. She says in the poem, “I willed my keepsakes, signed away what portions of me be assignable” (Dickinson). In this passage, Dickinson describes the last thing she does before her death. She says that she signs away all her belongings to others. This passage tells that she gave away only material and that she wanted to give away something more valuable. Dickinson did not care about what she just signed away. This passage also reveals much about the character of the author, Emily Dickinson. Through this poem, the reader can tell that Dickinson did not care about money. This passage is also symbolic. It shows that when one dies all their money and whatever they have earned means nothing. When Dickinson writes “what portions of me be assignable” (Dickinson), she is desiring to leave behind things that actually mattered. The poem does not say what these things are, but they may be her emotions, her thoughts, or her beliefs. She may have also meant she wanted to accomplish things that could benefit and help others. Whatever Dickinson wanted to leave behind, she was unable to sign it away. Dickinson is making her death seem insignificant. She cares more about others and how she can leave behind something for them instead of her own death. This poem reveals much about the author and how she feels. She cared little about herself and more about others. Emily Dickinson realizes how sad her death is and instead of making the reader feel sympathy for the author, the reader feels sympathy for those that Emily Dickinson left behind. The poem “I Heard a Fly Buzz” is written by Emily Dickinson, and describes the insignificance of her death. (309