'The Soul should always stand ajar' by Emily Dickinson


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The Soul should always stand ajar
That if the Heaven inquire
He will not be obliged to wait
Or shy of troubling HerDepart, before the Host have slid
The Bolt unto the Door-
To search for the accomplished Guest,
Her Visitor, no more-

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Soul should always stand ajar by Emily Dickinson

Have you ever wondered what it means to keep your soul ajar? Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned poets of all time, explores this concept in her masterpiece, "The Soul should always stand ajar." This poem is a beautiful expression of Dickinson's unique understanding of the human soul and its connection to the world around us. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the deeper meanings behind her words and the significance of her message.

Overview of the Poem

At first glance, "The Soul should always stand ajar" appears to be a simple poem. It consists of only two stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's title itself is intriguing and captures the reader's attention, but the meaning behind the words is not immediately clear.

In the first stanza, Dickinson writes:

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 the soul should always be open to receive messages from heaven. The use of the word "ajar" is significant because it implies that the soul should not be completely open, but only slightly so, as if it were a door left ajar. This is a subtle but important distinction because it suggests that while we should be open to receiving messages from heaven, we must also be discerning and not allow just anything to enter our souls.

The second stanza reads:

Depart, before the host has slid
The bolt unto the door
To seek for the accomplished guest
Her visitor no more

Here, Dickinson emphasizes the importance of being ready to receive messages from heaven at any time. She suggests that we should be prepared to depart from this world before our time comes, so that we may be welcomed as an "accomplished guest" in heaven.

Analysis of the Poem

To truly understand the deeper meanings behind this poem, we must break it down line by line.

"The Soul should always stand ajar"

The use of the word "soul" is significant because it implies that the poem is not simply about opening oneself up to messages from heaven, but about our very essence as human beings. Our souls are the core of who we are, and Dickinson suggests that we should always keep them open to receive messages from heaven.

"That if the Heaven inquire He will not be obliged to wait Or shy of troubling Her"

Here, Dickinson suggests that by keeping our souls open, we will be ready to receive messages from heaven at any time. She also implies that heaven is always trying to communicate with us, but we must be open and receptive to its messages. The phrase "He will not be obliged to wait" suggests that there is a sense of urgency in receiving these messages and that we should not delay in opening ourselves up to them.

"Depart, before the host has slid The bolt unto the door To seek for the accomplished guest Her visitor no more"

In this stanza, Dickinson emphasizes the importance of being ready to depart from this world at any time. The phrase "before the host has slid the bolt unto the door" suggests that we should be prepared to leave this world before our time comes. The use of the word "seek" suggests that being an "accomplished guest" in heaven requires effort on our part. We must be prepared and willing to seek out the messages from heaven and act on them.

Overall, "The Soul should always stand ajar" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that encourages us to be open and receptive to messages from heaven. Dickinson suggests that by keeping our souls open, we will be ready to depart this world at any time and be welcomed as an "accomplished guest" in heaven.

Interpretation of the Poem

Interpreting Dickinson's work is not always easy, but there are several themes and motifs that are present throughout her poetry. In the case of "The Soul should always stand ajar," the theme of openness and receptivity is clear. Dickinson suggests that we should always be open and receptive to messages from heaven, but we must also be discerning and not allow just anything to enter our souls.

Another theme that is present in this poem is the idea of preparation. Dickinson emphasizes the importance of being prepared to depart from this world at any time. This suggests that we should always be working towards being an "accomplished guest" in heaven, whether through our actions or through our spiritual development.

Finally, the concept of the "accomplished guest" is significant because it suggests that being welcomed in heaven requires effort on our part. We cannot simply sit back and wait for heaven to come to us, but we must actively seek out the messages from heaven and act on them.

Conclusion

"The Soul should always stand ajar" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that encourages us to be open and receptive to messages from heaven. Dickinson's unique understanding of the human soul and its connection to the world around us is evident in her use of language and imagery. By keeping our souls open and being prepared to depart from this world at any time, we can work towards becoming an "accomplished guest" in heaven.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to move us, to inspire us, and to touch our souls. Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, understood this power of poetry and used it to express her deepest thoughts and emotions. In her poem, "The Soul should always stand ajar," Dickinson explores the idea of keeping our souls open to the world around us, and the importance of being receptive to the beauty and wonder of life.

The poem begins with the line, "The Soul should always stand ajar," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "ajar" suggests that the soul should be open, not closed or shut off from the world. This idea is reinforced in the next line, where Dickinson writes, "That if the Heaven inquire, / He will not be obliged to wait, / Or shy of troubling Her." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that if we keep our souls open, we will be ready to receive whatever the universe has to offer us. We will not be afraid to ask for what we want, and we will not be shy about reaching out to the divine.

The next stanza of the poem continues this theme of openness and receptivity. Dickinson writes, "Depart, before the host has slid / The bolt upon the door, / To seek for the accomplished guest, / Her visitor no more." Here, she is suggesting that we should be ready to receive the divine at any moment, and that we should not wait until it is too late. We should be open and receptive to the universe, and we should be ready to welcome the divine into our lives.

The third stanza of the poem takes a slightly different turn, as Dickinson explores the idea of the soul as a vessel for the divine. She writes, "The spreading wide my narrow Hands / To gather Paradise, / I find the Tree whose slender hands / Upon its bosom lies." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the soul is like a vessel that can hold the divine, and that we should be open and receptive to the beauty and wonder of the world around us. We should be ready to gather the fruits of paradise, and to embrace the beauty and wonder of life.

The final stanza of the poem brings everything together, as Dickinson writes, "The Soul should always stand ajar / That if the Heaven inquire, / He will not be obliged to wait, / Or shy of troubling Her." Here, she is suggesting that we should always keep our souls open and receptive, so that we can be ready to receive the divine at any moment. We should not be afraid to ask for what we want, and we should not be shy about reaching out to the divine. Instead, we should be open and receptive to the beauty and wonder of life, and we should be ready to embrace the divine at any moment.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's poem "The Soul should always stand ajar" is a powerful exploration of the importance of keeping our souls open and receptive to the world around us. Through her use of language and imagery, Dickinson encourages us to be open and receptive to the beauty and wonder of life, and to be ready to embrace the divine at any moment. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to move us, to inspire us, and to touch our souls.

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