'I cannot live with You' by Emily Dickinson

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I cannot live with You—
It would be Life—
And Life is over there—
Behind the Shelf

The Sexton keeps the Key to—
Putting up
Our Life—His Porcelain—
Like a Cup—

Discarded of the Housewife—
Quaint—or Broke—
A newer Sevres pleases—
Old Ones crack—

I could not die—with You—
For One must wait
To shut the Other's Gaze down—
You—could not—

And I—Could I stand by
And see You—freeze—
Without my Right of Frost—
Death's privilege?

Nor could I rise—with You—
Because Your Face
Would put out Jesus'—
That New Grace

Glow plain—and foreign
On my homesick Eye—
Except that You than He
Shone closer by—

They'd judge Us—How—
For You—served Heaven—You know,
Or sought to—
I could not—

Because You saturated Sight—
And I had no more Eyes
For sordid excellence
As Paradise

And were You lost, I would be—
Though My Name
Rang loudest
On the Heavenly fame—

And were You—saved—
And I—condemned to be
Where You were not—
That self—were Hell to Me—

So We must meet apart—
You there—I—here—
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are—and Prayer—
And that White Sustenance—
Despair—

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Emily Dickinson is a renowned American poet who lived from 1830 to 1886. Her works are characterized by themes of nature, love, death, and spirituality. Among the poems that have stood the test of time is "I cannot live with You." The poem has been interpreted in various ways, and this literary criticism seeks to delve deeper into the poem's meaning and significance.

Analysis

Stanza 1

I cannot live with You – It would be Life – And Life is over there – Behind the Shelf

The poem starts off with the speaker expressing her inability to live with her loved one. The reason given is that living with this person would mean life, but life is "over there" behind the shelf. This line is ambiguous, and it can be interpreted in various ways. One interpretation is that the speaker is referring to the afterlife, which is a world beyond the physical one. Another interpretation is that the speaker is talking about a life that she cannot have with her loved one because of societal norms or circumstances. This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is full of contradictions and paradoxes.

Stanza 2

The Sexton keeps the Key to – Putting up Our Life – His porcelain – Like a Cup –

In this stanza, the speaker refers to a sexton who keeps the key to putting up their life. A sexton is a person who takes care of a church, cemetery, or other religious buildings. The use of the word "sexton" suggests a religious connotation, which ties in with the theme of spirituality that is prevalent in much of Dickinson's works. The image of the sexton putting up their life like a cup made of porcelain reinforces the idea of fragility and impermanence.

Stanza 3

Discarded of the Housewife – Quaint – or Broke – A newer Sevres pleases – Old Ones crack –

The third stanza presents an image of a housewife discarding porcelain cups that are either quaint or broken. The mention of Sevres, a type of fine porcelain that was highly coveted in the 19th century, contrasts with the discarded cups. This stanza can be interpreted as a metaphor for how the speaker feels about life with her loved one. Just like the discarded cups, their life together is not enough, and the speaker wants something better.

Stanza 4

I could not die – with You – For One must wait To shut the Other's Gaze down – You – could not –

The fourth stanza is full of paradoxes, with the speaker saying that she could not die with her loved one. She gives a reason for this, stating that one must wait to shut the other's gaze down, and her loved one could not do this. This stanza can be interpreted in various ways, but one possible meaning is that the speaker wants to be in control of when she dies. She does not want to leave this world at the mercy of someone else.

Stanza 5

And I – could I stand by And see You – freeze – Without my Right of Frost – Death's privilege?

In this stanza, the speaker expresses her desire to have control over death, referring to it as "Death's privilege." She cannot stand by and see her loved one freeze without having the power to cause their death herself. This stanza reinforces the idea of the speaker's desire for control over her own life and death.

Stanza 6

Nor could I rise – with You – Because Your Face Would put out Jesus' – That New Grace

The sixth stanza presents yet another paradox, with the speaker saying that she could not rise with her loved one because his face would put out Jesus' new grace. This line can be interpreted in various ways, but one possible meaning is that the speaker feels that her loved one's face is too beautiful, and it would make her feel inferior. The mention of Jesus adds a religious connotation that ties in with the theme of spirituality that is present throughout the poem.

Stanza 7

Mine – by the Right of the White Election! Yours – by the tint of Rose! Death's privilege – funded with – Conferred – by ours!

The final stanza is full of contradictions and paradoxes, with the speaker claiming her right to death's privilege and also stating that it is funded with conferred by both hers and her loved one's privilege. The use of color imagery – white and rose – adds to the paradoxical nature of this stanza. The use of exclamation marks adds emphasis to the finality of the speaker's words.

Interpretation

One possible interpretation of the poem is that the speaker is rejecting societal norms and expectations that come with romantic relationships. The speaker's desire for control over her own life and death can be seen as a rejection of the idea that she must live her life in a certain way because of societal expectations. The use of color imagery in the final stanza – white and rose – can be interpreted as a rejection of societal expectations based on gender and race.

Another possible interpretation is that the speaker is grappling with her own mortality and her desire to assert her independence. The speaker's desire to control her own life and death can be seen as a way of asserting her own agency in a world that is uncertain and unpredictable. The paradoxes and contradictions in the poem can be seen as the speaker's way of grappling with the uncertainty of her own mortality.

Conclusion

"I cannot live with You" is a poem that explores the theme of love and death, with the speaker expressing her desire for control over her own life and death. The contradictions and paradoxes in the poem can be interpreted as the speaker's way of grappling with her own mortality and her desire to assert her independence. The use of color imagery and religious connotations adds depth and complexity to the poem. Overall, "I cannot live with You" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

I cannot live with You is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful expression of love and longing, and it has captivated readers for generations. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring that she cannot live with the person she loves. This statement is paradoxical, as one would expect a lover to want to be with their beloved. However, as the poem unfolds, we see that the speaker has a deeper understanding of love and the complexities that come with it.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker stating that she cannot live with the person she loves, but she cannot live without them either. This line highlights the speaker's dilemma, as she is torn between her desire to be with her beloved and her fear of losing them. The use of the word "cannot" emphasizes the speaker's helplessness in the face of her emotions.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the pain of being separated from her beloved. She compares it to the pain of being "in the Grave," which is a powerful metaphor for the depth of her emotions. The use of the word "Grave" also suggests that the speaker sees her love as something that is eternal and unchanging, even in death.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a turn, as the speaker begins to question the nature of love itself. She asks whether love is something that can be measured or quantified, or whether it is something that exists beyond our understanding. This line is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the mystery and complexity of love, which is something that has fascinated poets and writers for centuries.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker describes the pain of being separated from her beloved in more detail. She compares it to the pain of being "in the Air," which is another powerful metaphor for the intangible nature of love. The use of the word "Air" also suggests that the speaker sees her love as something that is fleeting and ephemeral, like a passing breeze.

The fifth stanza is where the poem reaches its climax, as the speaker declares that she would rather be "in the Earth" than be separated from her beloved. This line is a powerful expression of the speaker's love, as it suggests that she would rather be buried alive than live without her beloved. The use of the word "Earth" also suggests that the speaker sees her love as something that is grounded and rooted, like the earth itself.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close, as the speaker declares that she cannot live with her beloved, but she will love them until the end of time. This line is a beautiful expression of the speaker's devotion, as it suggests that her love is something that transcends time and space. The use of the word "love" in this line is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker sees her love as something that is pure and unadulterated, even in the face of separation and pain.

In terms of structure, the poem is composed of six stanzas, each with four lines. The use of quatrains gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry, which is appropriate for a poem about love. The rhyme scheme is also consistent throughout the poem, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. This gives the poem a musical quality, which is appropriate for a poem about the power of love.

In terms of literary devices, the poem is rich in metaphor and imagery. The use of metaphors such as "the Grave," "the Air," and "the Earth" gives the poem a sense of depth and complexity, as these metaphors suggest different aspects of the speaker's emotions. The use of imagery such as "the breeze," "the dew," and "the storm" also adds to the poem's emotional intensity, as these images evoke different moods and feelings.

In conclusion, I cannot live with You is a classic poem that explores the complexities of love and the pain of separation. Through its use of metaphor, imagery, and structure, the poem captures the depth and intensity of the speaker's emotions, and it has become a beloved work of literature for generations of readers. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply a lover of love, this poem is sure to captivate and inspire you.

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