'We shun it ere it comes' by Emily Dickinson
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We shun it ere it comes,
Afraid of Joy,
Then sue it to delay
And lest it fly,
Beguile it more and more—
May not this be
Old Suitor Heaven,
Like our dismay at thee?
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
"We shun it ere it comes" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Analysis
Oh, Emily Dickinson! The woman who dared to defy the norms of her time and left behind a legacy of brilliant poetry. And here we are, about to delve into one of her most intriguing works - "We shun it ere it comes". This poem, like many of Dickinson's works, is filled with ambiguity and layered meanings. So, let's take a closer look and see what we can unravel.
Overview of the Poem
First things first, let's have a quick overview of the poem. "We shun it ere it comes" is a short, four-stanza poem, with each stanza comprising two lines. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme of AABB, and the language used is simple yet profound. Here's the poem in its entirety:
We shun it ere it comes,
Lest it should be denied us
When the Heaven hath attained us,
We shall not revel in its Sun.
What do you make of it? At first glance, it seems like a general statement about human nature, where we tend to avoid things that we feel might be taken away from us. But then again, this is Emily Dickinson we're talking about, and she's never one to be straightforward.
Interpretation of the Poem
Let's begin our interpretation of the poem stanza by stanza.
Stanza 1 - "We shun it ere it comes,
Lest it should be denied us"
The first stanza is a reflection of how we often avoid things that we desire or want. We do this because we fear that we might not get it, and the pain of not getting what we want is often too much to bear. It's easier to avoid the possibility of losing something than to deal with the actual loss. However, the use of the word "it" is interesting. What exactly is "it" that we're shunning? Is it love, success, happiness, or something else entirely? Dickinson intentionally leaves this vague, and it's up to the reader to interpret "it" according to their own experiences.
Stanza 2 - "When the Heaven hath attained us,
We shall not revel in its Sun."
The second stanza is where things get even more interesting. It's a reflection on how we often take things for granted once we have them. The use of the phrase "Heaven hath attained us" is significant. It suggests that the thing we desired or wanted has finally come to us, almost as if it's a gift from the heavens. But then what happens? We don't fully appreciate it. We don't revel in its sun. The use of the word "revel" is particularly apt here. To revel means to enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, but we're not doing that. We're not fully enjoying what we have. Why is that? It could be because we're too busy worrying about losing it again.
Stanza 3 - "When winds go round,
And sounds go free,
Lone spirit - come!"
The third stanza is a bit of a departure from the first two. Here, Dickinson seems to be calling out to a "lone spirit". Who is this spirit? Is it a person, an idea, or something else entirely? Again, she intentionally leaves this vague, and it's up to the reader to interpret. The use of the words "winds" and "sounds" suggest a sense of freedom and liberation. It's almost as if the lone spirit is someone who's been freed from something, but what that something is, we don't know.
Stanza 4 - "Be you - a hostage bold -
And die - redeemed - within the veil."
The final stanza is even more cryptic than the others. Here, Dickinson seems to be suggesting that the lone spirit should be a "hostage bold" and "die - redeemed - within the veil". What does this mean? The use of the word "hostage" suggests that the lone spirit is someone who's been taken captive or imprisoned. But then, why should they be bold? And why should they die within the veil? The veil could be a metaphor for something, but what exactly? Again, it's up to the reader to interpret.
Themes in the Poem
Now that we've gone through the poem stanza by stanza, let's take a look at some of the themes that emerge.
1. Fear of Loss
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the fear of loss. We shun things that we desire because we fear that we might not get them, and the pain of not getting what we want is often too much to bear. This fear of loss can prevent us from fully enjoying what we have, even if we do manage to attain it.
2. Taking Things for Granted
Another theme that emerges is that of taking things for granted. Once we have something, we often stop fully appreciating it. We don't revel in its sun. This can be because we're too busy worrying about losing it again or taking it for granted.
3. Freedom
The third theme that emerges is that of freedom. The lone spirit in the third stanza seems to be someone who's been freed from something, but what that something is, we don't know. The use of the words "winds" and "sounds" suggest a sense of liberation and freedom.
4. Redemption
Finally, the theme of redemption emerges in the final stanza. The lone spirit is asked to be a "hostage bold" and "die - redeemed - within the veil". The idea of redemption suggests that the lone spirit has done something wrong or has been wronged in some way, but they have the opportunity to make amends or be redeemed.
Conclusion
"We shun it ere it comes" is a poem that's filled with ambiguity and layered meanings. It's a reflection on human nature and our tendency to fear loss and take things for granted. It's a call to be bold and to take risks, even if there's a chance of failure. And it's a reminder to fully appreciate what we have when we have it. Emily Dickinson's use of language is simple yet profound, and her ability to leave things open to interpretation is what makes her poetry so enduring.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We Shun It Ere It Comes: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her unique style and unconventional themes have made her a favorite among readers and scholars alike. One of her most famous poems, "We shun it ere it comes," is a powerful meditation on the nature of fear and the human condition. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "We shun it ere it comes." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the ways in which we avoid confronting our fears. Dickinson suggests that we are so afraid of the unknown that we often choose to avoid it altogether.
The second line of the poem, "lest it should cost us dear," reinforces this idea. We are afraid of what might happen if we confront our fears, so we choose to avoid them. This fear of the unknown is a common human experience, and Dickinson captures it perfectly in this poem.
The third line of the poem, "lest it should cost us dear," is particularly interesting. The word "dear" can mean both expensive and beloved. In this context, it seems to suggest that we are afraid of losing something that is precious to us. Perhaps we are afraid of losing our sense of security, our comfort, or our identity. Whatever it is that we are afraid of losing, it is clear that we are willing to sacrifice our own growth and development in order to avoid it.
The fourth line of the poem, "lest it should come too near," is also significant. It suggests that we are afraid of getting too close to our fears. We are afraid that if we confront them, they will overwhelm us. This fear of being overwhelmed is another common human experience, and Dickinson captures it perfectly in this line.
The fifth line of the poem, "we do not care to own," is particularly interesting. It suggests that we are not willing to take responsibility for our fears. We would rather pretend that they don't exist than confront them head-on. This is a common coping mechanism, but it is not a healthy one. By refusing to acknowledge our fears, we are only making them stronger.
The sixth line of the poem, "what we cannot cure," is particularly poignant. It suggests that we are powerless in the face of our fears. We cannot cure them, so we choose to avoid them. This sense of powerlessness is another common human experience, and Dickinson captures it perfectly in this line.
The seventh line of the poem, "we do not care to know," is also significant. It suggests that we are afraid of the truth. We would rather live in ignorance than confront the reality of our fears. This is a common coping mechanism, but it is not a healthy one. By refusing to acknowledge the truth, we are only making our fears stronger.
The eighth line of the poem, "for fear the truth should know," is particularly interesting. It suggests that we are afraid of what the truth might reveal about us. Perhaps we are afraid that our fears are irrational, or that they reveal something about our character that we would rather not face. Whatever it is that we are afraid of, it is clear that we are willing to sacrifice our own growth and development in order to avoid it.
The final line of the poem, "we tell the worst, lest it should fall," is a powerful conclusion to this meditation on fear. It suggests that we are so afraid of our fears that we would rather tell ourselves the worst possible scenario than confront the reality of the situation. This is a common coping mechanism, but it is not a healthy one. By telling ourselves the worst possible scenario, we are only making our fears stronger.
In conclusion, "We shun it ere it comes" is a powerful meditation on the nature of fear and the human condition. Dickinson captures the common experience of fear and the ways in which we avoid confronting it. By refusing to acknowledge our fears, we are only making them stronger. This poem is a reminder that we must confront our fears if we are to grow and develop as individuals. It is a call to action, a reminder that we must be brave in the face of the unknown.
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