Stop For Death Personification

The brilliant uses of imagery, personification, and symbolism in Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for death” reveal that death is not the end, but only the beginning of an eternity. Through Dickinson’s use of imagery, she successfully paints the different scenes with descriptive language and metaphors to allow the reader to get a deeper sense of the mood and what the poem is conveying. Using personification as one of the most important tools of literature in the poem, the author creates a unique view on the experience of death, painting it into a more pleasant light. Lastly, though Dickinson’s use of symbolism, she bestows many representations and symbols that help to strongly portray her underlying truth on the subject of death. In “Because I could not stop for death,” Dickinson’s impressive uses of imagery clearly illustrate every aspect of the things around the speaker as she leaves
She begins with the most important personified character; Death as a gentlemen caller or suitor. This is clear when the author refers to Death with the masculine pronoun “He.” He “kindly stopped” to pick up the speaker on a carriage ride, which is the customary way to court a lady (2). The author also includes another only slightly personified character that is along for the ride; Immortality (4). He is acting as the chaperone of the date, which is another traditional condition that comes along with courting. As the poem progresses, Dickinson incorporates even more personification with “the Setting Sun —” (12) and “The Dews” (14). The sun is also given a masculine pronoun; “He passed us —” (13). With Dickinson’s last use of personification, she describes the actions of the Dews; “drew quivering and chill” (14). All these uses of personification, especially of Death, help Dickinson’s storyline stand out among others while still aiding her essential