The last Night that She lived

The last Night that She lived

It was a Common Night

Except the Dying-this to Us

Made Nature different

We noticed smallest things-

Things overlooked before

By this great light upon our minds

Italicised-as 'twere.

As we went out and in

Between Her final Room

And Rooms where Those to be alive

Tomorrow were, a Blame

That Others could exist

While She must finish quite

A jealousy for Her arose

So nearly infinite-

We waited while She passed-

It was a narrow time-

Too jostled were Our Souls to speak

At length the notice came.

She mentioned, and forgot

Then lightly as a Reed

Bent to the Water, struggled scarce

Consented, and was dead

An we-We placed the Hair-

And drew the Head erect

And then an awful leisure was

Belief to regulate.

Summary

'The last Night that She lived' shows that death is not the end because life is continued after
death. Death brings an end to the life of pains and losses. It further shows that death is a
graceful departure into the sublime waters of immortality.

The opening of the poem shows man's destiny is linked with death in life. The last night of
death comes to all of us sooner or later in our lives. It enlightens us about the reality of death
and life. Moreover, it bestows on us grace and salvation. Nature appears different to the
onlookers because they have to confront nature's destructiveness and hostility. They visualize
its very minutely because death makes the world very mysterious and precious.

Stanzas III-V show the contrast between the situation and the mental condition the dying
woman and those of the observers. The witnesses are in a state of panic and are seen moving
in and out of the death room: They become resentful and ask why she is singled out to face this
tragic situation. The jealousy for her is not an envy of her death; it is in fact a jealous defense of
her basic right to live. As the fifth stanza ends, the tense moment of death approaches. The
dying woman finally submits herself before the Authority of Death.

Stanzas VI-VII describe her death by employing the suggestive image of a slender fragile
reed gently bent by the winds. The reed shudders momentarily as it comes in touch with the
cold water of eternity. She finally accepts the natural process. In the last stanza the onlookers
reach the corpse to arrange it, with formal awe and controlled tenderness. It may be concluded
that the dead person is luckier than the living because she now gets rid of all struggle for faith.

Interpretation and Critical Analysis

The poem shows that the traditional fear of death is illogical and unconvincing. The worldly
life is only a part of life because it is followed by life in Heaven. Death is only a transitional
phase which marks the end of the material life and the commencement of the spiritual life.
Therefore, death is the connecting link between the material and the spiritual life.

For Dickinson, the material life is filled with pains and losses. Moreover, Man finds himself
almost suffocated in it. Death is an outlet song of life which promises a better life ahead. Death
makes the world mysterious and mystical. The hour of death bestows on us grace and salvation.
Nature remains indifferent at the time of man's departure from the scene of life.

Man cannot postpone or avert death by any means or strategy. Death is unavoidable and
man must submit himself before its Authority. Man must accept the natural process in which
death plays a key role. It is finally observed that a dead person is luckier than the living because
she now gets rid of all struggle and faith.