Because I Could Not Stop for Death Analysis Essay Example
“Because I Could Not Stop For Death” Analysis
The poem, “Because I Could Not Stop For Death,” by Emily Dickinson
presents captivating themes on the cycle of life, time, and death. The first two lines,
“Because I could not stop for death - / He kindly stopped for me – “ (Dickinson 679;
Stanza 1, Line 1 & 2), capture the poem’s central theme, but the interpretations of
that theme vary widely. This variation would have to do with how one would
interpret Death. The three varied elements that are used to describe the theme are
the civil character of Death, how Death has to do with the eternal life and, and
sailing through time in order to look back at seeing the positives of living every day
life. One would say that Death describes a scenario as dreadful, or unpleasant.
However, the underlying meaning of Death is the exact opposite in this poem. The
narrative subject of the poem finds herself to be immersed, and too involved with
the humdrum of everyday living. From the subject’s point-of-view, the character
Death is a like a civil gentleman who interrupts her in order to remove her thoughts
of everyday living. The poem is not meant to portray Death as something evil, but
rather as someone civilized and gentlemanly, kindly stopping to offer her a carriage
ride to her destination. Dickinson’s use of familiar language and colloquial tone
convey her attitude that death and dying are not to be feared.
In the first stanza, the narrative figure begins to view Death as a mysterious
friend that guides her through her thoughts. When one first thinks of Death, an
image of a grim reaper or a figure of evil is projected. However, such is not the case
in this poem. Figuratively speaking, this poem is about a woman who goes on a date
with Death. Dickinson uses the personification of Death as a metaphor throughout
the poem. Here, Death is described as a civil gentleman, perhaps handsome and
The poem, “Because I Could Not Stop For Death,” by Emily Dickinson
presents captivating themes on the cycle of life, time, and death. The first two lines,
“Because I could not stop for death - / He kindly stopped for me – “ (Dickinson 679;
Stanza 1, Line 1 & 2), capture the poem’s central theme, but the interpretations of
that theme vary widely. This variation would have to do with how one would
interpret Death. The three varied elements that are used to describe the theme are
the civil character of Death, how Death has to do with the eternal life and, and
sailing through time in order to look back at seeing the positives of living every day
life. One would say that Death describes a scenario as dreadful, or unpleasant.
However, the underlying meaning of Death is the exact opposite in this poem. The
narrative subject of the poem finds herself to be immersed, and too involved with
the humdrum of everyday living. From the subject’s point-of-view, the character
Death is a like a civil gentleman who interrupts her in order to remove her thoughts
of everyday living. The poem is not meant to portray Death as something evil, but
rather as someone civilized and gentlemanly, kindly stopping to offer her a carriage
ride to her destination. Dickinson’s use of familiar language and colloquial tone
convey her attitude that death and dying are not to be feared.
In the first stanza, the narrative figure begins to view Death as a mysterious
friend that guides her through her thoughts. When one first thinks of Death, an
image of a grim reaper or a figure of evil is projected. However, such is not the case
in this poem. Figuratively speaking, this poem is about a woman who goes on a date
with Death. Dickinson uses the personification of Death as a metaphor throughout
the poem. Here, Death is described as a civil gentleman, perhaps handsome and