Because I Could Not Stop for Death
In Emily Dickinson's poem, Because I Could Not Stop for Death, she describes death as
an experience that she is looking back on. The idea of death in this poem isn't portrayed as lonely
or scared, but more serene and content. She describes death as more of a person rather than just
an event in ones life. Death is often thought of as dark and frightening, and if we could choose
someone to play the role of death, they would fit into this description, but Dickinson seems to
describe death as a gentleman, almost like a potential suitor, coming to take her away in a carriage
to eternity. Emily Dickinson describes this very eternity bound carriage ride in this poem. She
portrays death as a journey, and not just a single event that concludes a life.
In the first stanza she personifies death, stating that because she "could not stop" for him,
he "kindly stopped" for her. Death is described more as an unexpected, yet surprisingly welcome
visitor. She depicts a carriage in the scene, and one could guess that they were going somewhere.
Death as a person has come like a potential suitor, and picked her up to take her on a strange yet
The second stanza suggests sacredness, a feeling that can't be found anywhere accept in a
scene exactly like this with all it's elements. Most people have sat with someone in a car and not
talked or listened to music, but just felt content with a comfortable and accepted silence between
each respected person. That feeling can't be repeated or really explained. That's the type of
sense that Dickinson tries to explain here, showing sacredness, and respect between each party.
The idea of movement, like trying to reach a specific destination is portrayed as well.
The third stanza is when the narrator finally l
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