Death and immortality are some of the principal concerns of the poetry of Emily Dickinson. In contrast to the conventional interpretations of death, Dickinson views death as a courteous gentleman. In her poem "Because I could not stop for Death," she compares dying to a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and savors the company of Death, who is personified as the coachman. As they travel around town, Dickinson recollects her childhood and her adulthood; they pause before a nearly buried house - buried by her memories and reminiscences. At last, the carriage brings her towards an eternity with death. Most people desire a lengthened existence of life, but Dickinson does not mind an eternity with death. She speaks of death with a blithe tone, trying to lighten the mood at this momentous instant of a person's life. Through her extended metaphor, she uses vivid imagery accompanied by her ironic tone to give the message that one should not fear death, but make the best of life.
             A metaphor is developed through the poem, as Dickinson compares her journey with Death to a voyage with a coachman. In the first stanza, she describes how the carriage "stopped for me" (2) to wait for her to get on. Her getting on the carriage is similar to one lying on the deathbed, and the carriage is soon taking her to another world. Before death, one often recalls the beautiful memories of the past. Here, Dickinson expands the metaphor over the next four stanzas and compares her recollection to a ride through her life. They pass a school, which symbolizes childhood; they pass the "Fields of Gazing Grain" (11), which signifies adulthood. Then they gallop towards "the Setting Sun" (12), which symbolizes the end of life and coming of death. As they straddle through the cycles of life, their ride ends on death. " I first surmised the Horses Heads Were toward Eternity –" (23-24). Finally, the poet leaves th...