I started Early-Took my Dog Analysis

I started Early-Took my Dog-
And visited the Sea-
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me-And Frigates-in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands-
Presuming Me to be a Mouse-
Aground-upon the Sands-But no Man moved Me-till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe-
And past my Apron-and my Belt-
And past my Bodice-too-And made as He would eat me up-
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion's Sleeve-
And then-I started-too-And He-He followed-close behind-
I felt his Silver Heel
Upon my Ankle-Then my Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl-Until We met the Solid Town-
No One He seemed to know-
And bowing-with a Might look-
At me-The Sea withdrew-

.: The poem :.

HELP US WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POEM FOR A VERY IMPORTANT LIFE CHANGING PRESENTATION THAT WILL MAKE OR BREAK OUR CAREERS! PLEASE DO THE WORK FOR US OH MASTER

| Posted on 2008-02-04 | by a guest

.: My Idea :.

Clearly, the man with a silver heel in the poem is the desire of the poetess. “He” is the water and the symbol of emotion and sexuality. In the poem, he (the id of the poetess) always wants to dominate the heart of the poetess.
The dog in the first line “I started Early-Took my Dog and visited the Sea” symbolizes the ego of the poetess, because the poetess herself dares not to visit him alone. The dog plays as a referee to witness the whole process of the poetess’s emotion and desire. And that is to say, no one will fulfill his/her own desire at his/her own sweet time since the super-ego and ego are always there.
The super-ego in the poem is the “solid town”. “No One He seemed to know” shows that “no one” is various restrictions and morality in our society (the super-ego) and that he (the id) is unfamiliar with them. This could be a conflict. However, the water “bowing-with a Might look” illustrates that the inner-world of the poetess respects the social rules (the super-ego) and the strong will (the ego) of the poetess to leave him. The respect also shows that he (the id) is repressed by the rules.
The ego balances the conflict and the poetess goes back into the reality. At last, the water (the id) goes back to the sea, the destination for the id in reality. The poetess also tells us that the desire of a person is as vast as the sea.

| Posted on 2005-11-04 | by Approved Guest