Because I Could Not Stop For Death Personification
“Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson is considered a masterpiece of American poetry. The short tale of a leisurely ride in a carriage with a man called Death offers insight and perspective into what life really is. Ultimately, Dickinson wishes to remind the reader that life is a cycle; and death can be seen as an end, or as a beginning. The cycle of life is exemplified in Dickinson’s use of the personification of Death, the imagery of things seen in the carriage ride, and use of time in the poem.
When one thinks about a life cycle, certain things come to their mind. Whether these things are time periods or specific achievements, each thing designates a new step in the cycle. Just as graduation from high school marks the beginning …show more content…
“Whether Death takes the form of a decrepit old man, a grim reaper, or a ferryman, his visit is almost never welcome by the poor mortal who finds him at the door” (“Because I could not Stop for Death”). However, this time the woman is almost excited to see Death, he is a suitor who “kindly stopped” (Dickinson line 2) for her. One can imagine Death as a handsome young gentleman, coming to pick up the young lady for a leisurely Sunday stroll. Semansky puts it this way in “An overview of ‘Because I Could Not Stop for Death”: “We know from the image of the carriage and the reference to the politeness of the “gentleman” that this poem uses the language and rituals of courtship to talk about something else” (Semansky: “An overview of “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”). This “something else” Semansky is talking about could indeed be a cycle. Death seems to be courting this girl, and courting is most certainly a distinct time in anyone’s life. Dickinson uses Death itself as two parts of the circle in this way. Not only is he the obvious end of life, but he is also representing a specific time in life: the time of courtship or dating. Later, it is stated that the woman is in bridal clothing: “For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle –,” (Dickinson line 15), implying that the woman has married Death, and further solidifying the cycle of life. If courtship is not significant enough to be a step, marriage certainly is, (Joyner: “Because I Could Not Stop for Death:
When one thinks about a life cycle, certain things come to their mind. Whether these things are time periods or specific achievements, each thing designates a new step in the cycle. Just as graduation from high school marks the beginning …show more content…
“Whether Death takes the form of a decrepit old man, a grim reaper, or a ferryman, his visit is almost never welcome by the poor mortal who finds him at the door” (“Because I could not Stop for Death”). However, this time the woman is almost excited to see Death, he is a suitor who “kindly stopped” (Dickinson line 2) for her. One can imagine Death as a handsome young gentleman, coming to pick up the young lady for a leisurely Sunday stroll. Semansky puts it this way in “An overview of ‘Because I Could Not Stop for Death”: “We know from the image of the carriage and the reference to the politeness of the “gentleman” that this poem uses the language and rituals of courtship to talk about something else” (Semansky: “An overview of “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”). This “something else” Semansky is talking about could indeed be a cycle. Death seems to be courting this girl, and courting is most certainly a distinct time in anyone’s life. Dickinson uses Death itself as two parts of the circle in this way. Not only is he the obvious end of life, but he is also representing a specific time in life: the time of courtship or dating. Later, it is stated that the woman is in bridal clothing: “For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle –,” (Dickinson line 15), implying that the woman has married Death, and further solidifying the cycle of life. If courtship is not significant enough to be a step, marriage certainly is, (Joyner: “Because I Could Not Stop for Death: