Introduction
Use of Theme of Opening Line, Metaphor, Imagery and Symbolism in Revealing Theme of Death and Victory
Emily Dickinson presents her poetic work a unique. She employs the power of opening line along with symbolism, metaphors, and imagery in highlighting the key theme across the poems. The poems present various themes which are influenced by her creativity with each individual poem portraying a different presentation of themes. The themes of death and hope are common in Dickinson’s poems. However, no single poem presents a similar understanding of the themes. For instance, death is presented as menacing, and in other accounts hinted as gentle or just inevitable. In her poem “Because I could not Stop for Death”, use of imagery, metaphors and symbolism present death as process of realization of eternity of life. In the poem “Success is Counted Sweetest” success is ill described with the speaker failing to appreciate success. The theme of death and victory are analyzed in Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not Stop for Death” and “Success is Counted Sweetest” based on the use of opening line, imagery, symbolism and metaphors.
The theme of death is highlighted from the first line in the poem “Because I could not Stop for Death”. The speaker personalizes her journey with death with goes from life to afterlife. The speaker is busy for death and therefore could not stop for it. This is highlighted in the first line indicating no one expects death and does not create any time for it (Zahra and Tayari). However, in the process, death always gets time for the speaker. What the speaker could not do is executed by death, that is, stop for her. Dickinson uses a wide range of imagery especially visual representation of the theme. She describes the arrival of death in a carriage and the view she has on the carriage in fields as well as the setting of the sun. She uses imagery to describe the difference between life and afterlife in the course of transition in the journey of death.
On the other hand, symbolism is also used to drive the theme of death. The carriage in the poem symbolizes the death journey which starts from the arrival of the personified death (Zahra and Tayari). The carriage carries the speaker through a series of fast paced life versions. The carriage is vessel used by the speaker to illustrate her body used entirely as a soul carrier. The soul is seen to depart the body on arrival to the tomb. The house symbolizes the tomb in which the body is laid. The setting sun symbolizes death while children playing symbolizes the life experiences.Life on the carriage can be regarded as a metaphoric journey since it indicates the real life. The carriage can be metaphorically interpreted as life journey in which it carries a dying woman to immortality. The process of dying is given a spatial reality on the carriage as ride to immortality.
In the poem “Success is Counted Sweetest,” the sweetness of success is used as the introductory phrase and therefore presenting the theme of victory in the poem. The value of success is therefore emphasized in the opening line giving a greenlight on the theme of victory. However, the persona states that the failures can comprehend the value of success. In the poem, a dying soldier from the losing side and therefore affirming that the value of victory is well understood by the failing side on hearing the victorious cheers of the winning side.
The use of imagery influences the theme of victory by Dickinson. Death of soldier in the triumph victory brings about a mixed reaction. A celebration for victory and loss of the soldier who is definitely going to be missed. Nectar in the poem is used metaphorically as prize or sweetness of experiencing success. On the other hand, it can also be cited as imagery in description of the taste of success. The persona understands the sweetness of nectar and uses it to describe the sweetness of success. “To comprehend a nectar” is used to bring about the good aspects of nectar such as satisfaction, soothing sweetness and flavoring and the refreshment obtained (Gale).
Symbolism is evident in the poem as a platform for the development of the theme of victory. The use of symbolism is wisely used to spike the charm and delight evident in the poem. Nectar is used to symbolize success and reward for victory. The word purpose as used by the speaker in the poem symbolizes blood stains as the poem’s setting is during the time of wars. Seemingly, the king takes part in the wars and therefore the blood stains from various battles have turned purple with time (Gale). Success is used a face for victory in the battlefield. Trumpet is symbolically used as sign of victory to the soldiers who are successful while to the unsuccessful soldiers, it is a symbol of defeat. The flag can also be used a symbol of victory as presented by the persona.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dickson’s poetic work is influenced by the figurative language and the opening line in defining the themes. The two poems “Because I could not Stop for Death” and “Success is Counted Sweetest” utilize the opening line in hinting at a key theme in the poem. “Because I could not Stop for Death” utilizes the first line to point at the theme of death while “Success is Counted Sweetest” points at the theme of victory in the opening line. The use of imagery, symbolism and metaphors is also used to influence themes in the respective poems.
