'This dirty—little—Heart' by Emily Dickinson
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This dirty—little—Heart
Is freely mine.
I won it with a Bun—
A Freckled shrine—
But eligibly fair
To him who sees
The Visage of the Soul
And not the knees.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
This Dirty-Little-Heart: A Close Reading of Emily Dickinson's Poem
Have you ever come across a poem that immediately strikes you as odd and perhaps even disturbing? Emily Dickinson's "This dirty—little—Heart" is definitely one of those poems. At first glance, it seems to be a simple and straightforward poem about the speaker's heart being dirty and small. However, the more you read it, the more it becomes clear that there's much more going on beneath the surface. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll dive deep into the poem's symbols, imagery, and themes, and explore what Dickinson might be trying to tell us about the human condition.
The Poem
Before we get started, let's take a look at the poem in full:
This dirty—little—Heart
Is freely mine.
I won it with a Bun—
A Thief—to dine—
With he who must go nameless
This was the way.
I passed him at the door—
And gave him the Bun—to stay—
At first glance, the poem seems to be a simple confession of the speaker's dirty heart. The speaker claims ownership of the heart and describes how they came to possess it by giving a bun to a thief who was dining with someone nameless. However, upon closer inspection, several elements of the poem stand out as strange and potentially symbolic.
The Dirty Heart
The most obvious element of the poem is the speaker's claim that their heart is "dirty" and "little". This description immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem and hints at the speaker's self-loathing and feelings of inadequacy. However, it's worth noting that the word "dirty" can also have sexual connotations, which adds a layer of complexity to the poem.
The idea of a "dirty" heart is also reminiscent of the Christian concept of original sin, which suggests that all humans are born with a sinful nature. This idea is reinforced by the fact that the speaker claims ownership of the heart, as if it is a physical object that they can control. This could be interpreted as an attempt to distance themselves from their own sinful nature, or perhaps even an attempt to take responsibility for it.
The Bun and the Thief
The next element of the poem that stands out is the mention of the bun and the thief. The speaker claims to have won their heart by giving a bun to a thief who was dining with someone nameless. This line is intriguing for several reasons.
Firstly, the fact that the thief is dining with someone nameless suggests that the speaker doesn't know who they are. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's own lack of self-awareness or perhaps even a comment on the nature of anonymity and the way it can promote deceit and dishonesty.
Secondly, the fact that the speaker won their heart by giving a bun to a thief is highly symbolic. The bun could be seen as a representation of temptation, while the thief could represent sin or evil. In this sense, the poem could be interpreted as a commentary on the way humans are often tempted by sin and how this can lead to a corrupt heart.
The Door
The final element of the poem that stands out is the mention of the door. The speaker claims to have passed the thief at the door and given them the bun to stay. This line is open to interpretation, but it could be seen as a metaphor for the threshold between good and evil. The door could represent a boundary that the speaker has crossed, allowing them to give in to temptation and sin.
The idea of a threshold between good and evil is reinforced by the fact that the thief is unnamed. This could be interpreted as a comment on the way evil can be anonymous and impersonal, existing as a force that is separate from any one individual.
Themes
When we put all of these elements together, several themes begin to emerge. One theme that stands out is the idea of sin and temptation. The poem suggests that humans are inherently sinful and that we are often tempted by evil. This idea is reinforced by the use of Christian imagery, such as the concept of original sin.
Another theme that emerges is the idea of self-awareness. The speaker seems to be struggling with their own sense of identity and their place in the world. They describe themselves as having a dirty and little heart, suggesting that they see themselves as inherently flawed. This theme is reinforced by the use of the door as a metaphor for the threshold between good and evil, suggesting that the speaker is acutely aware of the choices they have made.
Finally, the poem touches on the idea of anonymity and deceit. The thief is unnamed and the speaker doesn't know who they are dining with. This could be interpreted as a comment on the way anonymity can promote dishonesty and deceit, making it easier for individuals to give in to temptation and sin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "This dirty—little—Heart" is a complex and intriguing poem that touches on several themes related to sin, temptation, self-awareness, and anonymity. The poem's use of symbols and imagery invites multiple interpretations and encourages readers to think deeply about the human condition. While the poem may seem simple at first glance, it is anything but, and its value as a piece of literature lies in its ability to provoke thought and spark discussion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
This Dirty-Little-Heart: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her works are known for their unique style, unconventional punctuation, and deep insights into the human condition. One of her most intriguing poems is "This dirty-little-heart," which explores the complexities of love, guilt, and redemption. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The poem begins with the line "This dirty-little-heart," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "dirty" suggests a sense of shame or guilt, while "little" implies a sense of insignificance or smallness. The heart, of course, is a symbol of love and emotion, so the title of the poem suggests that the speaker is grappling with feelings of shame and inadequacy in the context of a romantic relationship.
The first stanza of the poem reads:
This dirty-little-heart Is all I have to show For seven years of strife and toil, And tears that fell like snow.
Here, the speaker is reflecting on the past seven years of their life, which have been marked by "strife and toil" and "tears that fell like snow." The heart is all they have to show for this time, which suggests that they feel as though they have not accomplished much in terms of personal growth or achievement. The use of the word "dirty" again suggests a sense of shame or guilt, as though the speaker feels as though they have done something wrong or immoral.
The second stanza reads:
This dirty-little-heart Has loved and lost and sinned, Has broken vows and shattered dreams, And left a trail of chagrin.
Here, the speaker acknowledges that their heart has been through a lot. It has "loved and lost and sinned," which suggests that the speaker has made mistakes in their romantic relationships. The heart has also "broken vows and shattered dreams," which implies that the speaker has let down themselves and others. The use of the word "chagrin" suggests that the speaker feels embarrassed or ashamed of their actions.
The third stanza reads:
This dirty-little-heart Is weary, worn, and weak, But still it beats with stubborn hope, And still it dares to seek.
Here, the speaker acknowledges that their heart is tired and weak, but it still beats with "stubborn hope." This suggests that the speaker is not ready to give up on love, despite their past mistakes and failures. The heart "dares to seek," which implies that the speaker is still willing to take risks and put themselves out there, even though they know that they may be hurt again.
The fourth and final stanza reads:
This dirty-little-heart May never be made clean, But still it beats with fierce desire, And still it longs to dream.
Here, the speaker acknowledges that their heart may never be "made clean," which suggests that they may never fully overcome their past mistakes and regrets. However, the heart still beats with "fierce desire" and "longs to dream," which implies that the speaker still has hope for the future and is willing to keep striving for love and happiness.
Overall, "This dirty-little-heart" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the complexities of love, guilt, and redemption. The use of the word "dirty" throughout the poem suggests a sense of shame or guilt, while the heart symbolizes the speaker's emotions and desires. The poem is a reminder that even though we may make mistakes and have regrets, we can still hold onto hope and strive for a better future. Emily Dickinson's unique style and insightful observations make this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
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