Dickson + Death's Gentleman and Missing Christina Rosetti

 

With Halloween just around the corner, it is a joyful experience to watch a scary movie, eat a bag of kitkats, and dig out the creepy reads. 

We all have our favorite horror books and poems that we love to be scared by. However, one cannot properly celebrate the spooky season without glossing over some of Emily Dickinson's works.

Of the many great pieces by Dickson, one must be familiar with "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." 

Because I could not stop for Death – 
He kindly stopped for me – 
The Carriage held but just Ourselves – 
And Immortality.

We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility – 

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring – 
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – 
We passed the Setting Sun – 

Or rather – He passed us – 
The Dews drew quivering and chill – 
For only Gossamer, my Gown – 
My Tippet – only Tulle – 

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground – 
The Roof was scarcely visible – 
The Cornice – in the Ground – 

Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity – 

This poem is both creepy yet, it takes a peaceful approach to death, We often associate death as a very depressing and painful-- or sometimes violent occasion. However, in typical Dickinson fashion, she writes death as a peaceful occasion. 

What is interesting about this work is how she personifies death as a person. While death has taken shape in society as a "spirit" to fear, Dickinson reshapes this narrative to paint death as a gentleman-like figure in the first stanza. 

However, I could not stop thinking about Christina Rosetti's "Dead Woman Poems."  

Both authors portray death in a very particular way that portrays death as a non-violent event. Both authors have solidified a role as being revered figures in literature because they excel with topics that society does not like to think about-- death is a great example.