1 Fajardo, Reniel Kian

Literature 187: American Literature

Dr. Edward Ruiz

January 15, 2014

The final extrapolation

This paper would be focusing on analyzing the poetry of Emily Dickinson through

Because I Could Not Stop For Death and at the same time Sylvia Plaths Death & Co.

Both poems explore ones reaction towards death but at the same time considering that each

individual have different notions towards ones finality. Dickinson and Plath represent

different eras as well as different views that would best be exemplified by analyzing the

content of their respective poems.

Dickinsons poetry, Because I could not stop for death, provide us with the first

perspective towards death. Examining the titleprovided that we have not yet read the

poemit faintly suggests the speakers approach of the concept and will set the tone for the

rest of the poem. The title hints some kind of knowledge, an awareness and even to an

extent the acceptance of death in the speakers part. Considering the fact that the choice of

words like: could not suggests our own vulnerability, such that could not means our

capability (as human beings), it was not phrased as would not or should not that

connotes ones desire or moralityemphasizing its inevitability. In reading the poem, there

seems to be fluidity in the rhyming as well as the choice of words. The piece gives a lot of

pleasant imagery that would carry as of to a different world where death is just a ride away.

In encountering the first stanza, Dickinson immediately describes Deathor in this

case provides an image of Death, and to an extent personifies it as well. That is, Death,

2 unlike our previous notions, is something that we should not be afraid of. We always have

this idea that death comes swiftly and unexpectedly. But Dickinson is quick to rebut that

Death is patient, since we could not stop for it, it stops for usnot just abruptly but gently.

It is as if Death was a gentleman asking a lady out for carriage ride He kindly stopped for

me (l. 2). It does not only connote the passing of our lives, but also the transcendence

towards a new and eternal one The carriage held but just ourselves/ And Immortality (ll.

3-4). Considering the 2nd line of the poem and its allusion to the carriage and immortality we are

to compare this to the journey towards death our last exit and the entrance to an eternal life.

The carriage, being the vehicle that death used, shows that the journey ahead was neither

rough nor unpleasant but smooth and comfortablejust like that of a carriage ride. In the

end the carriage ride would lead us to the next step of our consciousness that is to immortality.

The next verse would provide a picture of the traverse one has to make and as it was

previously written, something that is pleasant and peaceful. We slowly droveHe knew no

haste (l. 5) emphasizing all the more Deaths nature. Moreover, the ride also encounters

different sceneries that depict different human experiences as seen in the school, fields and

also the setting sun. We passed the School, where Children strove (l. 9) as well as We

passed the Fields of Gazing Grain/We passed the setting sun (ll. 11-12). In addition, if

further scrutinized, these sceneries seem to paint a picture the journey of ones life from child

(school) to adulthood (fields) and finally to death (setting sun). The carriage ride involves the

trip one makes before death to the special memories we hold in ourselvesto cherish the

life we will have to leave behind. The setting of the sun can also be alluded to deathsuch

that it connotes the beginning of night end the end of the daythe termination of ones

light. In this case, we are befallen to the eternal sleepdeath. After which we are taken into a

house described as being little and no more than just a mound on the ground. This maybe

3 interpreted as the description of the coffinthat is to be the next home. We paused before

a House that seemed/ A swelling of the ground/ The roof was scarcely visible/ The

cornicein the Ground (ll. 17-20). Finally, the poem ends with the realization that the

journey towards death and eternity was nothing more than a distant memory. Since then

tis Centuriesand yet/Feel shorter than the Day (ll. 21-22).

Dickinson displayed the power of poetry in painting a picture of the journey

towards the eternity. Death was given human-like qualities, even to an extent, making him a

great companion for a long journey towards ones doom, rather than someone to be feared

or avoided. The poem itself feels a lot at peaceas if the speaker was ready all this time. It

may suggest that the speaker had a fulfilling and peaceful lifethat lead to such serene and

calm voyage. Such peacefulness is best portrayed in the imagery presented by the poem,

Dickinson wrote the carriage ride, the scenes of the school, the field and the setting sun.

Even the mound in the ground that is supposed to be the home, but nevertheless would

probably be the depiction of a coffin. One thing to note would be the recounting of the

event as if only describing another ordinary day in a life of a person. The images that the

speaker used throughout the poem are pictures of mundane scenes; the things people do

such as a journeycomplete with the ride and sceneryand the way back to our homes.

Thus, death is parallelized not outside of our senses; it is somehow an extension of our lives

here on earth.

Sylvia Plaths Death & Co. provides a different perspective than that of Dickinson.

Analyzing the title itself it seems to suggest her view of deathsomehow more cold and

distant. Unlike Dickinson, there is no romantic feel with her poem as suggested by the

title itselfbeing compared to a corporation or a business entity. We have the notion that

death should alleviate us from worldly things, and among these, is the concept of labor or

4 work. Thus, from this fact alone, we can sense some sort of mockery or irony in Plaths

poem. In the initial reading of the literary piece, there seems to be a recurring incoherency,

and certain pauses made by the speaker. There is evident lack fluidity and progress (in terms

of the images presented) in the poem that might even be reflective of the speakers state of

mind.

The first lines of the poem immediately describe the speakers picture of deaththat

is twodeath having two faces. Having said that, the speaker was not at all surprised; Two,

of course there are two./It seems perfectly natural now (ll. 1-2) but does not lighten the

fact that the face of death did not terrify the speaker (as would be discussed later). The first

nature of death avoids contact to the speakera cold and distant figure that makes the

speaker uncomfortable or even terrified as the next lines suggest. The first face of death was

described as The one who never looks up, whose eyes are lidded/And balled, like Blakes

(ll. 3-4). The second stanza furthers describes how the first appearance of death would terrify

anyone (even the speaker)with birthmarks, the scar, the nude and the verdigris. It is

somehow reminiscent of how we commonly see death as a figure to be fearedsomehow

grotesque and appalling bordering to being demonic. One of the more interesting parts

would have to be the awareness that the speaker is comparing him/herself as red meat I am

red meat. His beak (l. 10)some sort of a victim in the vicious cycle of life and an

acknowledgement of ones mortality. Though probably afraid, the speaker does not submit

all at once maybe to an extent fighting the inevitable Claps sideways: I am not his yet (l.

11)Death then resorts in giving attention to different aspects of the speakers life. For

example it takes notice of how the speaker looks He tells me how badly I photograph as

well as the speakers loved ones like the children He tells me how sweet the babies look.

After which the speaker then describes the state of the babies in an iceboxprobably

5 referring to an incubator. The poetry then progresses to the other face of death but unlike its

counterpart, the descriptions are more vague and confusing. Plath gives phrases that are not

that coherent from its description His hair long and plausive. (l. 22) to random words and

phrases like Bastard (l. 23) and Masturbating a glitter (l. 24). It seems to reflect the

disposition of the speakerthat is somehow confused and anxious. But although this is the

case, the speaker emphasizes more the resistance he/she gives and that there is not a real loss

of cognizance I do not stir (l. 26). At the end it is realized that even if she were to resist

death, it has already chose its victim The dead bell,/ The dead bell/Somebodys done for

(ll. 29-31). The poem Death & Co. is a literary piece that invokes deaths inevitability and

mysterious nature that would entail us to struggle and contemplate our earthly lives. The

speaker in the struggle tries to make sense of everything in the face of deathbut in this case

two faces that lead to ones confusion and anxiety. These emotions are depicted throughout

the piece; in the speakers choice of words as well as the structure of the poem.

Though both Dickinson and Plath present to us poems regarding death, they are

representatives of different literary styles. Dickinsons Because I could not stop for

Death has a more present romantic spirit in approaching the concept of Death. In this

manner, as a reader, I am taken into a more pleasant perception. Reading the poem itself,

there is a feeling of easiness and comfort. In consequence, there are minimal problems

encountered in interpreting whatever the speaker wants to convey. As mentioned earlier,

it seems to suggest a rather peaceful, more fulfilling lifeand death being just another

sweet ending to another day. While Plaths Death & Co. presents a more melancholy

and anxious view of death. Reading the poem itself, I felt heaviness and sometimes a

somewhat fearful picture and horrifying experience. As if there was no way out, and the

only thing you can do is to babble on until death comes for you. Prior to this, I already

6 mentioned how the tone and structure of the poem indicates the feelings and anxiety of

the speaker in the face of death. This may be a reflection of an unpreparedness and fear

of an unknown. The poem seems to hold on to something; maybe loved ones or the

anger and the frustration. That is why, in the end, we are left hangingthere is still no

letting go, no peace. In reading both poems, one can realize how much discrepancy one

can make even in the face of the same subject matter. We are presented here with the

final extrapolation to one of lifes inevitable featsthat would be Death.

7 Works Cited:

Diyanni, Robert and Kraft Rompf. The McGraw-Hill book of poetry. New York: McGraw-

Hill, 1993. Print.

Plath, Sylvia and Ted Hughes. The collected poems. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. Print.