'To own the Art within the Soul' by Emily Dickinson
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To own the Art within the Soul
The Soul to entertain
With Silence as a Company
And Festival maintain
Is an unfurnished Circumstance
Possession is to One
As an Estate perpetual
Or a reduceless Mine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To Own the Art Within the Soul: A Critique and Interpretation
As one of the most celebrated American poets, Emily Dickinson’s works have always been a subject of admiration and critique. Her poem, “To Own the Art Within the Soul,” has been praised for its unique use of language and its deep insight into the human psyche. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, literary devices, and symbolic meanings in this classic poem.
Background
Emily Dickinson lived a reclusive life in Amherst, Massachusetts, and wrote over 1,800 poems over the course of her life. Her works were not widely recognized during her time, but after her death, her sister found a collection of her poems and published them. Dickinson’s works are known for their unconventional use of punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. She often used dashes to create pauses and emphasize certain words or phrases.
“To Own the Art Within the Soul” is a short, four-line poem that was first published in 1955. Although it is brief, the poem is filled with complex themes and symbols that make it a significant work in Dickinson’s oeuvre.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line, “To own the art within the soul.” This line can be interpreted in several ways. One interpretation is that the poem is about the importance of self-expression and owning one’s inner creativity. The phrase “art within the soul” suggests that creativity is innate in all humans, and it is up to each person to cultivate and express it. The use of the word “own” suggests that creativity is a personal possession that can be nurtured and developed.
The second line, “The need to share will not be missed,” can be seen as a continuation of the first line. If creativity is a personal possession, then the need to share it with others is not essential. This line can be seen as a comment on the idea that art is created solely for the benefit of others. In Dickinson’s view, art is created for its own sake and not for any external validation.
The third line, “No want of ears or tongue,” suggests that there is no need for an audience or a critic. This line can be seen as a rejection of the idea that art needs to be shared or evaluated by others. In Dickinson’s view, creativity is an internal process that does not require external validation.
The final line, “Nor cease to listen, to admire,” can be seen as a commentary on the importance of self-reflection and self-examination. The phrase “cease to listen” suggests that one should always be open to new ideas and experiences. The phrase “to admire” suggests that one should never stop appreciating the beauty and complexity of the world around them.
Themes
One of the key themes in “To Own the Art Within the Soul” is the importance of self-expression. Dickinson believed that creativity was an innate human quality that needed to be cultivated and expressed. She also believed that creativity was a personal possession and did not require external validation. Another theme in the poem is the rejection of the idea that art needs to be shared or evaluated by others. Dickinson believed that creativity was an internal process that did not require external validation.
Literary Devices
One of the literary devices used in “To Own the Art Within the Soul” is the use of enjambment. The poem is structured in a way that the lines flow into each other, creating a sense of continuity and fluidity. The use of enjambment also emphasizes certain words and phrases, such as “art within the soul” and “to admire.”
Another literary device used in the poem is the use of repetition. The phrase “to own” is repeated twice in the first line, emphasizing the idea that creativity is a personal possession that can be nurtured and developed. The phrase “no want” is also repeated in the third line, emphasizing the idea that art does not require external validation.
Finally, Dickinson’s use of dashes creates pauses and emphasizes certain words and phrases. For example, the dash after “admirer” in the final line creates a pause that emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-examination.
Symbolic Meanings
The phrase “art within the soul” can be seen as a symbol for creativity and self-expression. The use of the word “own” suggests that creativity is a personal possession that can be nurtured and developed. The phrase “cease to listen, to admire” can be seen as a symbol for the importance of self-reflection and self-examination.
Conclusion
“To Own the Art Within the Soul” is a brief poem that is filled with complex themes and symbols. Dickinson’s unique use of language and her deep insight into the human psyche make this poem a significant work in her oeuvre. The poem emphasizes the importance of self-expression, the rejection of external validation, and the importance of self-reflection and self-examination. As a whole, “To Own the Art Within the Soul” is a powerful commentary on the nature of creativity and the human spirit.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To Own the Art Within the Soul: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, known for her unique style and profound insights into the human condition. Her poem "To Own the Art Within the Soul" is a classic example of her work, exploring the idea of inner beauty and the importance of cultivating one's own soul.
At its core, "To Own the Art Within the Soul" is a meditation on the nature of beauty and the role it plays in our lives. Dickinson begins the poem by stating that "Beauty -- be not caused -- It Is," suggesting that true beauty is not something that can be manufactured or created, but rather something that exists inherently within us.
This idea is further developed in the second stanza, where Dickinson writes that "Beauty is Nature's fact." Here, she suggests that beauty is not just a human construct, but rather a fundamental aspect of the natural world. This idea is reinforced in the third stanza, where Dickinson writes that "Beauty is not alluded to / But signifies our own."
In other words, beauty is not something that can be defined or described, but rather something that we must discover within ourselves. This idea is further developed in the fourth stanza, where Dickinson writes that "To own the Art within the Soul / The Soul to entertain / With Silence as a Company / And Festival maintain."
Here, Dickinson suggests that true beauty can only be found within ourselves, and that we must cultivate our own souls in order to discover it. This requires a certain level of introspection and self-reflection, as well as a willingness to embrace silence and solitude as a means of exploring our inner selves.
The idea of solitude and introspection is further developed in the fifth stanza, where Dickinson writes that "The Soul should always stand ajar / That if the Heaven inquire / He will not be obliged to wait / Or shy of troubling Her."
Here, Dickinson suggests that we must always be open to the possibility of discovering beauty within ourselves, and that we must be willing to explore our inner selves in order to do so. This requires a certain level of vulnerability and openness, as well as a willingness to embrace the unknown and the uncertain.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Dickinson writes that "Ourselves we do inter with / And Souls who stand apart / We would abruptly stop their Breath / For their's -- would dare to start."
Here, Dickinson suggests that true beauty is not just something that we discover within ourselves, but something that we share with others. By cultivating our own souls and discovering the beauty within, we are able to inspire and uplift others, and to create a more beautiful world for all.
Overall, "To Own the Art Within the Soul" is a powerful meditation on the nature of beauty and the importance of cultivating our own souls. Through her unique style and profound insights, Emily Dickinson encourages us to explore our inner selves and to discover the beauty that exists within us all.
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