'Safe Despair it is that raves—' by Emily Dickinson
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Safe Despair it is that raves—
Agony is frugal.
Puts itself severe away
For its own perusal.
Garrisoned no Soul can be
In the Front of Trouble—
Love is one, not aggregate—
Nor is Dying double—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Safe Despair it is that raves - A Critical Analysis
Emily Dickinson's "Safe Despair it is that raves" is a poem that highlights the futility of hope and the safety provided by despair. The poem is a journey through the human psyche, exploring the depths of despair and the hopelessness that accompanies it. Dickinson uses various literary techniques to convey her message, and this essay will explore those techniques, interpret their meaning, and offer a critical analysis of the poem.
Poem Analysis
The poem consists of two stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza describes the safety found in despair, while the second stanza describes the danger of hope. The poem begins with the line, "Safe Despair it is that raves," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "safe" suggests that there is comfort to be found in despair, and the word "raves" suggests that this comfort is not found in a peaceful state of mind but rather in a frenzied one. The word "despair" itself suggests hopelessness and a lack of optimism.
The second line of the first stanza, "Agony is frugal," continues the theme of despair. The word "agony" suggests pain and suffering, while the word "frugal" suggests that this pain is not wasteful but rather useful. This line hints at the idea that pain can be a teacher and that there is value in suffering.
The third line of the first stanza, "Puts itself severe away," describes the alienation that comes with despair. The word "puts" suggests a deliberate action, and the phrase "severe away" suggests a distancing from others. This line conveys the idea that when one is in despair, they withdraw from others.
The final line of the first stanza, "Assured by the former grave," refers to the safety provided by the knowledge of death. This line suggests that the knowledge of death provides comfort and that the certainty of death allows for the acceptance of despair.
The second stanza begins with the line, "Hope is a subtle glutton," which contrasts with the theme of the first stanza. The word "hope" suggests optimism and a belief in the future, while the word "glutton" suggests excess and greed. This line suggests that hope can be dangerous and that it can lead to disappointment.
The second line of the second stanza, "He feeds upon the fair," describes the way in which hope consumes beauty. The word "feeds" suggests a voracious appetite, while the phrase "the fair" suggests beauty and goodness. This line suggests that hope can lead to the destruction of beauty.
The third line of the second stanza, "And yet, anon, reparations win," describes the cycle of hope and disappointment. The word "anon" suggests a cycle of repetition, while the word "reparations" suggests a fixing or repairing of something. This line suggests that hope can lead to disappointment, but that eventually, some form of repair will occur.
The final line of the second stanza, "Itself is all the like it left," suggests the futility of hope. This line suggests that hope is fleeting and that once it is gone, nothing is left behind. This line reinforces the idea that despair is safer than hope.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition. It suggests that despair is a natural response to the harsh realities of life and that hope is a dangerous illusion. The poem suggests that there is comfort to be found in despair and that the knowledge of death provides a certain safety. The poem also suggests that hope can lead to disappointment and the destruction of beauty.
The poem can be seen as a critique of the optimistic worldview that was prevalent in the nineteenth century. Dickinson may have been reacting to the belief in progress and the idea that the future would be better than the past. The poem suggests that this optimism is misguided and that despair is a more realistic response to life's challenges.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of art. Dickinson may have been suggesting that true art is born out of despair and that beauty can be found in the midst of pain. The poem suggests that there is value in suffering and that pain can be a teacher.
Literary Techniques
Dickinson uses several literary techniques to convey her message. The most prominent of these is the use of contrast. The poem contrasts despair with hope, and this contrast serves to highlight the futility of hope. The poem also contrasts the safety of despair with the danger of hope.
Dickinson also uses metaphor to convey her message. The most prominent metaphor in the poem is the comparison of hope to a glutton. This metaphor serves to reinforce the idea that hope can be dangerous and that it can lead to disappointment.
The poem also uses personification to convey its message. The line, "Agony is frugal," personifies agony and suggests that it is a deliberate action. This personification reinforces the idea that pain can be a teacher.
Critical Analysis
"Safe Despair it is that raves" is a powerful poem that conveys a message that is still relevant today. The poem suggests that despair is a natural response to life's challenges and that hope can be dangerous. The poem contrasts the safety of despair with the danger of hope and suggests that there is value in suffering.
The poem can be seen as a critique of the optimism that was prevalent in the nineteenth century. Dickinson may have been reacting to the belief in progress and the idea that the future would be better than the past. The poem suggests that this optimism is misguided and that despair is a more realistic response to life's challenges.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of art. Dickinson suggests that true art is born out of despair and that beauty can be found in the midst of pain. The poem suggests that there is value in suffering and that pain can be a teacher.
Overall, "Safe Despair it is that raves" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that encourages the reader to question the nature of hope and despair. The poem suggests that despair is a natural response to life's challenges and that hope can be dangerous. The poem challenges the optimistic worldview that was prevalent in the nineteenth century and suggests that there is value in suffering.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Safe Despair it is that raves— Agony is frugal. Puts itself severe away For its own perusal.
These opening lines of Emily Dickinson's poem, "Safe Despair it is that raves," set the tone for a complex exploration of the nature of despair and its relationship to the self. In this poem, Dickinson presents a vision of despair that is both terrifying and strangely comforting, a state of mind that is at once isolating and deeply personal.
At its core, "Safe Despair it is that raves" is a meditation on the nature of suffering and the ways in which we cope with it. Dickinson suggests that despair is a kind of madness, a state of mind in which we are consumed by our own pain and unable to see beyond it. Yet at the same time, she suggests that this madness can be a kind of refuge, a place where we can retreat from the world and find solace in our own suffering.
The first two lines of the poem set the stage for this exploration of despair. "Safe Despair it is that raves— / Agony is frugal." Here, Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of despair that is safe, that is somehow contained within itself. This is a curious idea, as we tend to think of despair as something that is inherently dangerous, something that can consume us if we let it. Yet Dickinson suggests that there is a way in which we can experience despair that is somehow controlled, that is not overwhelming.
The second line of the poem, "Agony is frugal," reinforces this idea. Here, Dickinson suggests that despair is something that is careful with itself, that does not waste its energy on anything other than its own self-examination. This is a powerful image, as it suggests that despair is not something that is simply destructive, but rather something that is purposeful and deliberate.
The next two lines of the poem, "Puts itself severe away / For its own perusal," further develop this idea of despair as a kind of self-contained madness. Here, Dickinson suggests that despair is something that we put away from the world, something that we keep to ourselves for our own examination. This is a deeply personal vision of despair, one that suggests that it is something that we must confront on our own, without the help of others.
Yet at the same time, Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of safety in this isolation. By putting our despair away from the world, we are able to examine it more closely, to understand it more deeply. This is a powerful idea, as it suggests that there is a kind of knowledge that can only be gained through suffering, a kind of wisdom that can only be found in the depths of despair.
The final two lines of the poem, "Girds itself unto its task, / Quietly reserves its own," reinforce this idea of despair as a kind of purposeful madness. Here, Dickinson suggests that despair is something that girds itself for its own task, something that is focused and determined. This is a powerful image, as it suggests that despair is not simply a passive state of mind, but rather something that is actively engaged in its own examination.
At the same time, Dickinson suggests that despair is something that is quiet, something that reserves its own energy for its own purposes. This is a curious idea, as it suggests that despair is not something that is meant to be shared with others, but rather something that is meant to be kept to oneself. Yet at the same time, Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of comfort in this isolation, a kind of safety in the knowledge that we are not alone in our suffering.
In conclusion, "Safe Despair it is that raves" is a complex and powerful exploration of the nature of despair and its relationship to the self. Through a series of powerful images and metaphors, Dickinson suggests that despair is a kind of purposeful madness, a state of mind in which we are consumed by our own pain and yet somehow able to find solace in it. This is a deeply personal vision of despair, one that suggests that it is something that we must confront on our own, without the help of others. Yet at the same time, Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of safety in this isolation, a kind of comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone in our suffering. Ultimately, "Safe Despair it is that raves" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human experience of suffering and the ways in which we cope with it.
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