Emily Dickinson

Charles So

English 48B

March 16, 2011

Journal for Dickinson

Author Quote:

                         [435]

Much Madness is divinest Sense -

To a discerning Eye -

Much Sense - the starkest Madness -

'Tis the Majority

In this, as all, prevail -

Assent - and you are sane -

Demur - you're straightway dangerous -

And handled with a Chain -

           

  [1624]

Apparently with no surprise

To any happy Flower

The Frost beheads it at it's play -

In accidental power -

The blonde Assassin passes on -

The Sun proceeds unmoved

To measure off another day
For an Approving God -

Summary/Personal Opinion:

I'm sure everyone has heard the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," i bring this up because in the poem numbered [435], there is this same sense of message that beauty or conventional wisdom/sense is all on the individual and it shouldn't be restricted through the perception or adhere to the majority. Demur means to disagree or object so i felt that [435] was a strong message of individuality and uniqueness from societies conventional constrictions. In poem [1624] i sensed a sunrise or sunset and the descriptions stood out to me. The use of "blonde Assassin," is incredible, I have never heard anyone call the sun an assassin and the term sounds as if it just came fresh out of a Graphic Comic Novel, its just edgy and has a hard line feel to it and i just don't feel like it belongs in her time, and now i can understand why she wasn't accepted or understood in her time.