The Soul Has Bandaged Moments
'The Soul Has Bandaged Moments'
Emily Dickinson
In the opening stanza,images of restriction and confinement greet the reader. Certainly the poem explores, the contrasting highs and lows of the inner life. Image of horror and freight are contrasted with images of fulfilled happiness. Images of inprisoment are contrasted with images of freedom. Yet the poem begins with the figure of fright and ends with figure of horror, suggesting that the soul experiences more anguish then joy. The poem may be read in a number of different, if related ways ; in psychological terms as an exploration of depression and elation ; in spiritual terms as an exploration of hope and despair ; in sexual terms as an exploration of the conflict between freedom and restraint. In stanzas one and two the soul is portrayed as a terrified woman,helpless before the intention of an unwelcome other. The imagery realise heavily on personification as some figure observes her in her moment of weakness. The imagery is deeply sensuous as Fright is described carressing the souls 'freezing hair'. The dashes of the opening lines capture the increasing fear of the soul. The introduction of the lover may suggest the conflicting desires of Lust and Love. Stanzas three and four break free of the atmosphere of threat, dread and claustrophobia that dominates the first two stanzas. Now the images suggest sensuous pleasure, freedom, warmth and fulfilment. Whereas the smilie 'like a bomb' strikes a note of caution, the reference to detonation may also suggest that moment of ultimate fulfilment, the climax of ecstasy. In there verses the souls escape is exuberant. May suggest an intense period of psychological elation. In stanzas five and six the imagery of shackles and staples is striking, and contrast with imagery of fright often used by Dickinson, to denote joy and happiness. There is a strong suggestion that the speaker is restrained, by her own guilt, as the image of the 'Fellon' carries
Emily Dickinson
In the opening stanza,images of restriction and confinement greet the reader. Certainly the poem explores, the contrasting highs and lows of the inner life. Image of horror and freight are contrasted with images of fulfilled happiness. Images of inprisoment are contrasted with images of freedom. Yet the poem begins with the figure of fright and ends with figure of horror, suggesting that the soul experiences more anguish then joy. The poem may be read in a number of different, if related ways ; in psychological terms as an exploration of depression and elation ; in spiritual terms as an exploration of hope and despair ; in sexual terms as an exploration of the conflict between freedom and restraint. In stanzas one and two the soul is portrayed as a terrified woman,helpless before the intention of an unwelcome other. The imagery realise heavily on personification as some figure observes her in her moment of weakness. The imagery is deeply sensuous as Fright is described carressing the souls 'freezing hair'. The dashes of the opening lines capture the increasing fear of the soul. The introduction of the lover may suggest the conflicting desires of Lust and Love. Stanzas three and four break free of the atmosphere of threat, dread and claustrophobia that dominates the first two stanzas. Now the images suggest sensuous pleasure, freedom, warmth and fulfilment. Whereas the smilie 'like a bomb' strikes a note of caution, the reference to detonation may also suggest that moment of ultimate fulfilment, the climax of ecstasy. In there verses the souls escape is exuberant. May suggest an intense period of psychological elation. In stanzas five and six the imagery of shackles and staples is striking, and contrast with imagery of fright often used by Dickinson, to denote joy and happiness. There is a strong suggestion that the speaker is restrained, by her own guilt, as the image of the 'Fellon' carries