How Does Dickinson Treat Immortality in Her Poems? 

Answer

How does Dickinson treat immortality in her poems? [NU: 2020]

Immortality is a common theme in Emily Dickinson’s (1830-1886) poetry. She wrote about the soul’s immortality after death in many of her poems. In her poems, death and immortality are not fearful.

Immortality in “Because I could not stop for Death”: Dickinson’s treatment of immortality is most noticeable in her poem “Because I could not stop for Death.” In this poem, she imagines Death as a kind gentleman who takes her on a carriage ride. Immortality is also present on the carriage. She writes:

“The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.”

This journey on Death’s carriage is symbolic. It means the poet’s death. But the presence of Immortality on the carriage suggests that death is not the end. Their journey continues into “Eternity.” It means death is a way for our soul to be immortal in the eternal afterlife.

“Wild Nights – Wild Nights!”: Though this poem is mainly about love and passion, it also carries a spiritual idea. In the last stanza, Dickinson compares her happiness to “rowing in Eden.” She writes:

“Rowing in Eden –

Ah – the Sea!”

Eden is the eternal paradise. By connecting love’s pleasure with Eden, Dickinson suggests that our soul is immortal. Our soul can rest eternally in heaven.

“I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”: In this poem, immortality comes at the very end.

“And Finished knowing – then –”

When the mind breaks and human sense is gone, the poet seems to enter a new, endless experience. She cannot describe it fully. This is why she ends the poem with “then –” It hints that there is something more after human sense is gone.

To sum up, Dickinson treats immortality as a journey beyond death. She suggests our souls become immortal and take eternal rest