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    Emily Dickinson confronts the idea of her own death in a poem. She notes that if she were to die, daily life would continue as normal for those still living - the sun would still rise and set, birds would nest, and business would carry on. This idea that the world would keep functioning without her presence brings the speaker tranquility and keeps her soul serene. The analysis suggests Dickinson likely had little interest in economics or politics itself, but was commenting that life and society would persist after one's own death.

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    54_IfIShouldDie

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    Emily Dickinson confronts the idea of her own death in a poem. She notes that if she were to die, daily life would continue as normal for those still living - the sun would still rise and set, birds would nest, and business would carry on. This idea that the world would keep functioning without her presence brings the speaker tranquility and keeps her soul serene. The analysis suggests Dickinson likely had little interest in economics or politics itself, but was commenting that life and society would persist after one's own death.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    1 views1 page

    54 IfIShouldDie

    Uploaded by

    naphelge
    Emily Dickinson confronts the idea of her own death in a poem. She notes that if she were to die, daily life would continue as normal for those still living - the sun would still rise and set, birds would nest, and business would carry on. This idea that the world would keep functioning without her presence brings the speaker tranquility and keeps her soul serene. The analysis suggests Dickinson likely had little interest in economics or politics itself, but was commenting that life and society would persist after one's own death.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    "If I should die," By Emily Dickinson [Analysis]

    If I should die,[1] And you should live --[2] And time should gurgle on --[3] And morn should beam --[4] And noon should burn --[5] As it has usual done --[6] If Birds should build as early[7] And Bees as bustling go --[8] One might depart at option[9] From enterprise below![10] 'Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand[11] When we with Daisies lie --[12] That Commerce will continue --[13] And Trades as briskly fly --[14] It makes the parting tranquil[15] And keeps the soul serene --[16] That gentlemen so sprightly[17] Conduct the pleasing scene![18]
    Poem 54 [F36] "If I should die" Analysis by David Preest [Poem]

    Here Emily confronts death with an insouciance and irony not shown before. Surely it won't be too bad, she suggests, if everything continues just the same without us, and especially if the business world functions as briskly as ever. It is hard to imagine that Emily took much interest in economics or politics. Her comment 'What Miracles the News is! Not Bismark but ourselves (L354)' shows that she is much more likely to have agreed with the aphorism of Dr Johnson that, 'Public affairs vex no man.'
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