Emily Dickinson Ambiguity

Ambiguity in Dickinson’s “Much Madness” Emily Dickinson’s “Much Madness” tells about her life, while also reflecting the life of the reader. She uses words in the poem that are ambiguous and that are open for suggestion such as madness, discerning, and starkest. The proem is also full of cleverness and humor. The first line of Dickinson’s poem, “Much Madness is divinest Sense,” makes the reader wonder about the words madness and divinest. Is the word madness referring to someone who is insane, angry or one who is foolish. The reader understands the meaning of divinest as heavenly or Godly. The reader is left wondering if Dickinson is saying insanity is heavenly logical or if foolishness is heavenly logical. In Dickinson’s second line,
The word starkest also show ambiguity. The reader is left to wonder if it means harsh or bleak. Dickinson could also being refereeing to a sense of wholeness. Lines four and five, “Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail,” Dickinson offers a conceivable explanation to the reader. However, the reader is still left to wonder about the word “All”. Does Dickinson mean all is madness or all has sense? Once again it also makes the reader wonder what madness is referencing. In line six, “Assent-and you are sane,” Dickinson is understood. She is saying if you abide by the rules you will be sound and stable. In Dickinson’s line seven, “Demur-you’re straightway dangerous,” it means to protest or object. Dickinson is saying it is dangerous to protest. In the last line of the poem, line eight says, “And handled with a Chain,” Dickinson is expressing that if you protest or object you will be held by chains or man handled. In conclusion, Dickinson’s poem can be construed in different ways. It is unclear how Dickinson meant the word madness in line one but is made clear throughout the poem that there is consequences if you object or protest. Dickinson is also saying that if you do not object and behave foolishly that you will