English 48b
January 11, 2008
Professor Lankford
Quote:
Wild Nights—Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile - the winds-
To a Heart in port-
Done with the Compass-
Done with the Chart!
To a Heart in port-
Done with the Compass-
Done with the Chart!
Rowing in Eden-
Ah- the Sea!
Might I but moor- tonight-
In thee!
Summary:
I chose this poem because it is one of the most popular poems of Dickinson. However, it is quite ambiguous since it is very difficult to figure out whom she is describing. After reading for many times, I think that the one she is referring to is her lover. Additionally, I paste the entire poem here because I really have no clue to cut this poem since the whole poem is so amazing and it is focusing on one thing, her passion for sex.
Response:
This poet is illustrating the speaker's desire for sex. In her poem, Dickinson points out that “wild nights” can be the speaker's“luxury”. I am really surprised that a woman like Dickinson who always shut her door up and stayed inside her room might also write something about sex desire. This “luxury” can really show that the speaker really yearns for having a close relationship with a man. Therefore, this poem is showing the speaker's desire of sex or maybe her past experience. Moreover, “Sea” is a metaphor for a wish because no one can easily see the opposite shore with bare eyes while the opposite shore may be thought to be people's destinations. Therefore, people may have an intention to reach the opposite shore. In the poet, the speaker's destination is to have sex with her lover. It is quite obvious that “A Heart in port” means that she feels so warm and safe when she is with her lover. In her poem, I think that “Done with the Compass-/ Done with the Chart!” shows something sexual. It explains that there is no need for them to use compass or chart when they are having sex because their destination is already reached at that time. They do not need these guides any more. Furthermore, “Eden” is a very beautiful place where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, had sex together and broke the rule which was set by the God. Therefore, Dickinson uses “Eden” to further show that she is referring to sex. Under my imagination, I consider “Rowing in Eden” as well as “moor…in thee” as making love. All in all, Dickinson is superficially writing something related to religion. However, it is actually referring to something sexual in her mind or from her experience. I think that she is really a great poet who uses a lot of normal and religious words which can escape from the blame for writing something sexual.
1 comment:
20/20 It's interesting how many people say, as you do, that a person shut up in a room by themselves wouldn't ordinarily have sexual desires. Isn't it alone that most of us have our most intense sexual fantasies? And the privacy to indulge them?
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