'Unto a broken heart' by Emily Dickinson


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Unto a broken heart
No other one may go
Without the high prerogative
Itself hath suffered too.

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Unto a Broken Heart" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism

Emily Dickinson is undoubtedly one of the most renowned and celebrated poets in the history of literature. Her works have inspired countless generations of poets and readers, and continue to do so to this day. Among her many poems, "Unto a Broken Heart" stands out as one of the most emotionally charged and powerful pieces she ever wrote.

At a first glance, "Unto a Broken Heart" may seem like a simple lamentation of a lost love. However, upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a nuanced and layered exploration of grief, despair, and the human condition. In this literary criticism, I will delve into the various themes and motifs present in the poem, and attempt to provide a comprehensive interpretation of its meaning and significance.

Structure and Form

Before we dive into the content of the poem itself, it is worth examining its structure and form. Like many of Dickinson's poems, "Unto a Broken Heart" is a short and concise piece, consisting of only four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB), with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming with each other.

The brevity and simplicity of the poem's structure may seem unremarkable at first, but it is worth noting that Dickinson's use of form is a deliberate choice that serves to enhance the poem's emotional impact. By using short stanzas and a consistent rhyme scheme, Dickinson creates a sense of rhythm and repetition that mirrors the cyclical nature of grief and despair. The rhyme scheme also creates a sense of closure and resolution, as each stanza ends with a rhyming couplet.

Themes and Motifs

At its core, "Unto a Broken Heart" is a poem about the pain of loss and the struggle to find meaning and hope in the face of despair. Throughout the poem, Dickinson employs a number of themes and motifs that serve to deepen and enrich this central message.

One of the most prominent motifs in the poem is the imagery of the heart. From the very first line ("My heart has many a secret nerve"), Dickinson uses the heart as a symbol for the emotional core of the human experience. The heart is portrayed as a fragile and vulnerable organ, prone to breaking and bleeding. This imagery serves to emphasize the pain and vulnerability of the speaker, and creates a sense of empathy and connection between the reader and the poem.

Another recurring motif in the poem is the theme of time. Dickinson uses phrases like "the hours of the night" and "the long, long days" to convey a sense of the slow and agonizing passage of time in the wake of loss. The use of repetition (such as the repeated phrase "O heart!") serves to intensify this feeling of temporal despair.

Finally, the poem is rife with religious imagery and allusions. Dickinson references biblical passages like Psalm 34:18 ("The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart") and Isaiah 61:1 ("He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted") to underscore the idea that even in the depths of despair, there is hope and comfort to be found in faith.

Interpretation

Now that we have established the central themes and motifs of the poem, we can begin to interpret its meaning and significance. At its core, "Unto a Broken Heart" is a poem about the struggle to find meaning and hope in the face of despair. The speaker's heart is broken, bleeding, and vulnerable, and she feels lost and alone in the darkness of her grief.

However, despite the pain and despair she feels, the speaker finds solace in the knowledge that she is not alone. She takes comfort in the idea that God is near to those who suffer, and that even in the depths of despair, there is hope and comfort to be found in faith. The repetition of the phrase "O heart!" serves to emphasize the speaker's emotional intensity and her desperate need for comfort and reassurance.

At the same time, however, the poem also acknowledges the cyclical nature of grief and despair. The use of time imagery serves to underscore the slow and agonizing passage of time in the wake of loss, and the repeated rhyming couplets create a sense of closure and finality. The poem suggests that even though the pain of loss may never truly go away, there is a sense of closure and resolution that can be found in the acceptance of grief as a natural and necessary part of the human experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Unto a Broken Heart" is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her deep understanding of human emotion. Through its use of themes, motifs, and form, the poem explores the pain of loss and the struggle to find meaning and hope in the face of despair. It is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is comfort and solace to be found in faith and in the knowledge that we are not alone.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Unto a broken heart" is a classic example of her unique style and poetic genius. In this 14-line poem, Dickinson explores the theme of heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. Through her use of language, imagery, and symbolism, she creates a powerful and moving portrait of a broken heart.

The poem begins with the line "Unto a broken heart, no other one may go," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Dickinson is telling us that when someone's heart is broken, no one else can truly understand the depth of their pain. This is a universal truth that anyone who has experienced heartbreak can relate to. It's a feeling of isolation and loneliness that can be overwhelming.

The second line of the poem, "Without the high prerogative, it has itself for company," reinforces this idea of isolation. Dickinson is saying that a broken heart is all alone, with no one to comfort it or share its pain. This is a powerful image, and one that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt the sting of heartbreak.

The third line of the poem, "It might be mendable, if it were far away," introduces the idea that distance might be able to heal a broken heart. This is a common belief, and one that many people cling to in the aftermath of a breakup. However, Dickinson quickly dispels this notion in the next line, "But it is close at hand," reminding us that the pain of heartbreak is always with us, no matter how far we try to run from it.

The fifth line of the poem, "And inaccessible for aid," is a particularly poignant one. Dickinson is saying that even if we wanted to help someone with a broken heart, we couldn't. This is because the pain of heartbreak is so personal and individual that no one else can truly understand it. It's a feeling that we have to work through on our own.

The sixth line of the poem, "Like Ruskin's 'opal veil,'" is a reference to the English writer John Ruskin, who wrote about the beauty of opals. Dickinson is using this metaphor to describe the fragile and delicate nature of a broken heart. Like an opal, a broken heart is beautiful in its own way, but it's also incredibly fragile and can be easily shattered.

The seventh line of the poem, "No eye can suffer it," is another powerful image. Dickinson is saying that the pain of heartbreak is so intense that no one can bear to look at it. It's a feeling that is too raw and too real for anyone else to witness.

The eighth line of the poem, "No bosom can contain it," reinforces this idea of the overwhelming nature of heartbreak. Dickinson is saying that the pain of heartbreak is so big that it can't be contained by anyone else's love or support. It's a feeling that we have to work through on our own.

The ninth line of the poem, "Infinite it is," is a reminder that the pain of heartbreak can feel never-ending. It's a feeling that can consume us and make us feel like we'll never be able to move on.

The tenth line of the poem, "Eternity is short," is a powerful contrast to the previous line. Dickinson is saying that even though the pain of heartbreak can feel infinite, it's actually just a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things. This is a hopeful message, reminding us that even though heartbreak can be painful, it won't last forever.

The eleventh line of the poem, "Nor pen nor pencil can," is a reference to the limitations of language. Dickinson is saying that even though she's a poet, she can't fully capture the pain of heartbreak in words. It's a feeling that is beyond language and can only be truly understood by those who have experienced it.

The twelfth line of the poem, "Impart what stirrings there," is a reminder that even though we can't fully express the pain of heartbreak in words, we can still share our feelings with others. This is an important message, reminding us that we don't have to suffer alone.

The thirteenth line of the poem, "And so the heart that knows it, feels bitterness the most," is a powerful conclusion to the piece. Dickinson is saying that those who have experienced heartbreak are the ones who feel it the most deeply. This is a reminder that we should be kind and compassionate to those who are going through a difficult time, as we never know the full extent of their pain.

In conclusion, "Unto a broken heart" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. Through her use of language, imagery, and symbolism, Emily Dickinson creates a portrait of a broken heart that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. This is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of heartbreak, and it's a testament to Dickinson's poetic genius that it still speaks to us today.

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