FREE ESSAY ON EXPLICATION OF BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH

EXPLICATION OF BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH

The poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson expresses the speaker's
reflection on death. The poem focuses on the concept of life after death. This poem's
setting mirrors the circumstances by which death approaches, and death's ton appears kind
and compassionate. It is through the promise of immortality that fear is removed, and
death not only becomes acceptable, but welcomed as well.
As human beings, we feel that death never comes at a convenient or opportune time. When
Dickinson says, "Because I could not stop for Death," she causes the reader to ask why
she could not stop. The obvious answer is that she was so wrapped up in her own life that
she did not think about death. She makes it clear that it is inescapable, though, when
she says, "He kindly stopped for me." The next lines, "The Carriage held but just
Ourselves-/And Immortality," signify that the miracle of life is our most precious
possession and promises the gift of unending life. Immortality's presence helps to remove
fears as we exit the physical world and provides the recipient with the necessary
assistance to assure that the transition from reality to spirituality is a pleasant
experience. If the promise of immortality did not exist, one would never go along
willingly, nor would one welcome death without fear.
Death and the speaker ride along with absolutely no concept of the passage of time. They
are not hurried, as they have forever to reach their destination. This is stated in the
line "We slowly drove-/He knew no haste." Having completed all her earthly chores, the
speaker states that they are no longer of any concern to her. Now there is no sewing,
cooking, cleaning, farming, or caring for loved ones. The speaker has been allowed the
luxury of rest and relaxation, as the next lines reveal: "And I had put away-/My labor
had my leisure too." Therefore, the persona and death share a reminiscent journey
together as they stroll down memory lane, concerning themselves not with time, but
compassion as death allows the speaker to mirror the passage of life with things familiar
to her. The journey enables her to see the stages of her life beginning with her
childhood, then maturity, and, finally, old age. This is verified in the third quatrain
by the third stanza, "We passed the School, where Children strove/At Recess-in the
Ring-/We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain-/We passed the Setting Sun."
When the sun sets and darkness surrounds the Earth, a cold eerie chill almost always
accompanies it. This makes the speaker wonder if, in fact, the sun had actually passed
her. She begins to notice how inappropriately she is dressed for such an occasion. The
speaker now begins to realize that the coldness and chill are not external, but internal.
It becomes clear to the speaker that the coldness and the chill are associated with death
in the fourth stanza, "Or rather-He passed Us-/The Dews drew quivering and chill-/For
only Gossamer, my Gown-/My Tippet-only Tulle."
The speaker's metaphysical journey comes to an end at the cemetery, but somehow, the
cold, dark, and eerie chill of the night seems unimportant. In total contentment, she
views her resting-place. Although her gravestone is barely visible, she somehow
recognizes it as her underground home. This is acknowledged in the fifth stanza, "We
passed before a House that seemed/A Swelling of the Ground-/The Roof was scarcely
visible/The Cornice-in the Ground."
Upon death the concept of time becomes non-existent. Therefore, the speaker's ability to
relate how much time has passed since death and immortality carried her off becomes
irrelevant. The speaker realizes there is no price to pay for death, and death is not to
be feared, but rather embraced. This can be viewed in the sixth stanza, "Since then-'tis
Centuries-and yet/Feels shorter than the Day/I first surmised the Horses Heads/were
toward Eternity."
In conclusion, the speaker's faith and belief in immortality allow her to peacefully exit
one phase of existence, while embracing the next phase. Death's kindness and compassion
pave t