'Taking up the fair Ideal' by Emily Dickinson

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Taking up the fair Ideal,
Just to cast her down
When a fracture—we discover—
Or a splintered Crown—
Makes the Heavens portable—
And the Gods—a lie—
Doubtless—"Adam"—scowled at Eden—
For his perjury!

Cherishing—our pool Ideal—
Till in purer dress—
We behold her—glorified—
Comforts—search—like this—
Till the broken creatures—
We adored—for whole—
Stains—all washed—
Transfigured—mended—
Meet us—with a smile—

Editor 1 Interpretation

Taking up the fair Ideal by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is widely regarded as one of the greatest American poets of all time, and her poem, Taking up the fair Ideal, is a testament to her exceptional poetic skills. This poem is a beautiful and intricate portrayal of the human experience, exploring themes of love, desire, and imagination. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the depths of this poem, exploring its meaning and significance.

Overview

At its core, Taking up the fair Ideal is a love poem, exploring the speaker's desire for the perfect ideal of love. The poem begins with the speaker describing this ideal as "fair," suggesting that it is both beautiful and just. The speaker then goes on to describe the "sweet hope" and "glowing faith" that come with this ideal, suggesting that it brings a sense of optimism and positivity.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's desire for this ideal becomes more intense. The speaker longs to "embrace" this ideal, suggesting a physical desire for it, and describes it as a "heavenly gift." This desire is tempered, however, by the speaker's understanding that this ideal is "unattained," suggesting that it is something that can never be fully realized.

The poem concludes with the speaker expressing a sense of resignation, stating that they will "take up" this ideal, even though it is unattainable. This suggests a sense of acceptance and contentment with the idea of striving for something that can never be fully achieved.

Structure

Taking up the fair Ideal is a short poem, consisting of only three stanzas. Each stanza is comprised of four lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABCB. This structure gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance, reflecting the speaker's desire for an ideal that is both beautiful and just.

The use of rhyme also gives the poem a musical quality, with the repetition of sounds creating a sense of rhythm and melody. This musical quality is further enhanced by the use of alliteration and assonance throughout the poem, with the repetition of certain sounds creating a sense of unity and cohesion.

Themes

The central theme of Taking up the fair Ideal is the human desire for an idealized version of love. The speaker longs for a love that is both beautiful and just, one that brings hope and faith. This desire is tempered, however, by the understanding that this ideal is unattainable, suggesting a sense of resignation and acceptance.

Another theme explored in the poem is the power of imagination. The speaker's desire for this ideal is fueled by their imagination, suggesting that the human imagination has the power to create the very thing that we desire. However, this power is limited by the reality of the world, and the speaker is forced to accept that their ideal will never be fully realized.

Finally, Taking up the fair Ideal explores the idea of contentment and acceptance. The speaker realizes that their ideal is unattainable and yet, they are content to "take up" this ideal and strive for it anyway. This suggests that there is value in the pursuit of something, even if it can never be fully achieved.

Interpretation

Taking up the fair Ideal is a complex and nuanced poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. At its core, however, the poem is a meditation on the human desire for an idealized version of love. The speaker longs for a love that is both beautiful and just, one that brings hope and faith. This desire is fueled by the human imagination, which has the power to create the very thing that we desire.

However, the reality of the world is such that this ideal is unattainable. The speaker is forced to accept this fact and yet, they are content to "take up" this ideal and strive for it anyway. This suggests that there is value in the pursuit of something, even if it can never be fully achieved.

In many ways, Taking up the fair Ideal can be seen as a commentary on the human condition. We are all driven by a desire for something greater than ourselves, whether it be love, knowledge, or power. However, the reality of the world is such that these ideals are often unattainable. And yet, we continue to strive for them anyway, finding value in the pursuit itself.

Conclusion

Taking up the fair Ideal is a beautiful and intricate poem that explores the human desire for an idealized version of love. The poem is characterized by its musical quality, its use of rhyme and repetition, and its exploration of themes such as the power of imagination, contentment, and acceptance.

At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human condition, exploring our desire for something greater than ourselves and our willingness to strive for it even if it can never be fully achieved. Ultimately, Taking up the fair Ideal is a testament to Emily Dickinson's exceptional poetic skills and her ability to capture the complexity and nuance of the human experience in her writing.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Taking up the fair Ideal is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the concept of the ideal and how it can inspire and motivate us to strive for greatness. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the meaning and significance of this poem and explore the various literary devices used by Dickinson to convey her message.

The poem begins with the line, "Taking up the fair Ideal, / Just to cast her down again." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and introduces the central theme of the piece. The "fair Ideal" refers to the concept of an ideal or perfect state of being that we all strive for. However, the poem suggests that we often fall short of this ideal and end up "casting her down again." This line is significant because it highlights the struggle that we all face in trying to achieve our goals and aspirations.

The second stanza of the poem reads, "Nothing but a stone to show for / All the struggle that we know." This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that despite our best efforts, we often have nothing to show for our struggles. The "stone" represents the physical manifestation of our efforts, but it is ultimately meaningless because it does not bring us any closer to our ideal. This line is a reminder that the journey towards our goals is often more important than the destination itself.

The third stanza of the poem reads, "Nothing but a barren mound / Where the dreams and visions lie." This line is significant because it suggests that our dreams and visions are often left unfulfilled. The "barren mound" represents the emptiness and disappointment that we feel when we fail to achieve our goals. This line is a reminder that the pursuit of our ideal is not always easy, and we must be prepared to face disappointment and setbacks along the way.

The fourth stanza of the poem reads, "Yet the Ideal ever lures us, / Ever calls us to the height." This line is significant because it suggests that despite the challenges and disappointments that we face, the ideal continues to inspire and motivate us. The "height" represents the pinnacle of our aspirations, and the ideal is what drives us to reach it. This line is a reminder that the pursuit of our ideal is a never-ending journey, and we must continue to strive towards it, even in the face of adversity.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem reads, "Though our feet be lacerated, / Still the climb is all we know." This line is significant because it suggests that the journey towards our ideal is often painful and difficult. The "lacerated feet" represent the physical and emotional toll that the pursuit of our ideal can take on us. However, despite the pain and difficulty, we continue to climb towards our ideal because it is all we know. This line is a reminder that the pursuit of our ideal is a fundamental part of who we are, and we must continue to strive towards it, even when it is difficult.

Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses various literary devices to convey her message. One of the most prominent devices used in the poem is imagery. Dickinson uses vivid and powerful imagery to create a sense of the struggle and pain that we experience in the pursuit of our ideal. For example, the line "Nothing but a stone to show for / All the struggle that we know" creates a vivid image of a barren landscape where our efforts have been in vain.

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. Dickinson repeats the phrase "Taking up the fair Ideal" throughout the poem to emphasize the central theme of the piece. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and importance, reminding us that the pursuit of our ideal is a fundamental part of our lives.

In conclusion, Taking up the fair Ideal is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the concept of the ideal and how it can inspire and motivate us to strive for greatness. Through powerful imagery and repetition, Dickinson conveys the message that the pursuit of our ideal is a never-ending journey that is often painful and difficult. However, despite the challenges and setbacks, we must continue to climb towards our ideal because it is all we know. This poem is a reminder that the pursuit of our ideal is a fundamental part of who we are, and we must never give up on it.

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