The Reality of Death in Emily Dickinsons Poem, I Heard a...

I Heard a Fly Buzz – When I Died –, written by Emily Dickinson, is an interesting poem in which the poet deals with the subject of death in a doubtful yet both optimistic and pessimistic ways. The central theme of the poem is the doubtfulness and the reality of death. The poem is written in a very unique point of view; the narrator who is speaking is already dead. By using symbols, irony, oxymoron, imagery and punctuation, the poet greatly succeeds in showing the reality of death and her own doubtful feelings towards time after death. The use of fly in the poem, I Heard a Fly Buzz – When I Died –, act as a symbol which represents the hope of the person on her deathbed. The quietness in the room is described as â€Å"the Stillness in the†¦show more content†¦However, once more, â€Å"there interposed a Fly† (12), interrupting not only the silence but also the narrator’s mind which is trying to calm before the fear of death. This is because, the fly act as the last string the narrator can hold on to, or in other words, the last string that will connect the narrator and the world. With all her possessions assigned to others, the narrator does not own any physical possessions and she is also standing on the margin of losing her life. The sound of the fly buzzing and the sight of the fly flying around the room allow the narrator on the deathbed to know she is still alive and existing in the world as a human being. The fly, when seen from the positive or the optimistic point of vie w, can act as a symbol of hopefulness, for life existing in the same room with death can be interpreted as fly blocking and stopping the door of death from opening. Although the fly can be interpreted as a symbol of hope, this is ironic because a fly is something very trivial and unnoticeable. A fly is commonly known as an irritating and annoying insect and is not welcomed by the people. However, in this poem, the fly is welcomed by the narrator, who is about to face death. Interestingly, each time the fly is mentioned in the poem, its first letter is always capitalized. This shows that the fly in the poem is not something trivial and unimportant but rather a significant individual being. Also, the constant mention of the fly, for example, â€Å"I heard aShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I Died and Jilting of Granny Weatherall1714 Words   |  7 Pagesprimarily to a future life after death but a transformation in this life of both ourselves and this world† (Peters, 845). Salvation is not only something that can be found after death; people can finds salvation at any point by deciding to make a transformation in thei r lives to better themselves as well as the world around them. However, most humans seek salvation to find solace in the critical moment of their death; individuals find comfort in the belief of life after death or an eternal sole. 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After that line the poem goes on withRead MoreAnalysis Of Emily Dickinson s Writing1953 Words   |  8 Pageschoice that would compel the reader to follow their logic and truly see what was being presented. Emily Dickinson, an American Writer, was well versed in the duality and power behind every word choice penned to the page. Dickinson’s poetry is a fine mix of linguistic genesis, syntax abnormalities, and connotative imagery that formed a lasting impression on audiences more than a century after her death. These complex elements that keep reappearing within the fine lines of her poetry has kept many criticsRead MoreEmily Dickson Poetic Style Of The Works Of George Eliot, Hawthorne, The Brownin gs, And Other Earlier959 Words   |  4 PagesKnown as one of America’s best poets, Emily Dickson poetic style sets her apart from all the rest. Every writer has his/her own unique ways based on theme, style, and punctuation special just to him/her; this is the same of Ms. Dickinson. Before peering into her work, lets get a little background information into the lifestyle, literary work that influenced her, and religious change of her time. Dickinson lived as a recluse. According to the experts the â€Å"Dickinson s reading was comparatively wideRead MoreEssay about Emily Dickensons Poems1190 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"I heard a fly buzz when I died† (I heard a fly, 1); the death in this poem is so effortless, besides the illusion of death that it presents it is so scary. The appearance of a simple and trivial fly at the peak of life only frightens and disconnects us. As we approach the end of the poem, the fly has obtained an awful meaning. Without doubt, the fly becomes the most central image. The fly makes a genuine appearance in four stanzas of the poem and that is what the speaker experiences in dying. †I