The Significance of Sight in Emily Dickinson's Poem 327

Emily Dickinson's poetry often delves into the depths of human experience, offering profound insights into the complexities of life. In Poem 327, she masterfully explores the theme of sight, drawing upon her personal experiences and employing vivid imagery and poetic techniques to convey its profound importance. This essay examines how Dickinson's own encounter with eye treatment in 1864 informs her portrayal of sight in this poem, the narrative structure she employs, and the emotional intensity she infuses into her verses.

Dickinson's Personal Connection to Sight

Emily Dickinson's ability to effectively present the significance of sight in Poem 327 can be partially attributed to her personal experiences.

In 1864, she spent seven months in Boston undergoing eye treatment, a period that undoubtedly left a lasting impact on her perception of vision. This personal encounter with eye issues serves as a backdrop for her reflections in the poem. Dickinson's own journey with sight adds a layer of authenticity to her exploration of the subject, making it more relatable to readers who may have faced similar challenges.

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Exploring Poem 327's Narrative Structure

Poem 327 is a testament to Dickinson's poetic prowess in structuring her narrative. She divides the poem into three distinct parts, each serving a specific purpose in conveying her message. The first part introduces the narrator's loss of sight, which Dickinson refers to as having her 'eye put out.' This initial detachment sets the tone for the poem and immediately captures the reader's attention with its stark and unconventional description of a critical event.

Pathos is skillfully created as the narrator mourns her loss and reminisces about the times when she 'liked…to see.

' Dickinson capitalizes 'Eyes' to emphasize the ideal quality that eyes hold for the narrator, underscoring their significance. The reader can empathize with the narrator's struggle to cope without sight and her recognition of being different from 'other Creatures, that have Eyes/ And know no other way-'.

The second part of the narrative explores how blindness has forced the narrator to nurture her imagination. Dickinson portrays the strength of her imagination as potentially superior to 'finite eyes,' suggesting that the loss of physical sight has led to an enrichment of her mental faculties. The poet paints vivid, eidetic images of 'Meadows…Mountains…Forests…Stars,' demonstrating the narrator's newfound ability to envision the world through her mind's eye.

In the final stanza, Dickinson equates the mind's eye with the imagination and '[her] soul,' implying that sight is intricately intertwined with our thoughts and preconceptions. She encourages readers to look beyond the confines of their own bodies and 'the Window pane,' suggesting that the narrator's altered perspective has allowed her to perceive the world in a different, perhaps more profound, light.

The Emotional Spectrum of Sight

Sight in Poem 327 is not merely a physical sense; it embodies a wide range of emotions for the narrator. When the possibility of regaining her sight is presented, the narrator exclaims, 'my Heart/ Would split, for size of me.' This powerful declaration, punctuated by a forced cesura, reflects the overwhelming emotional impact of the prospect of sight's return. The repetition of 'mine' underscores the narrator's yearning for ownership of the images she envisions, emphasizing her desire to satisfy her visual cravings at will.

The penultimate stanza represents the climax of the poem, isolating the phrase 'to look at when I like' with dashes. This isolation magnifies the profound phenomenon of sight and its significance in the narrator's life. Simultaneously, the narrator acknowledges the benefits of her blindness, recognizing that while sight is incredible, it can also be perilous, as 'other Creatures put their eyes- / Incautious - of the Sun.'

Throughout the poem, Dickinson carefully crafts an emotional journey for the narrator, from the initial shock and loss of sight to the intense yearning for its return, and finally to an acceptance of her altered state. This emotional spectrum adds depth and complexity to the poem, inviting readers to empathize with the narrator's evolving relationship with sight.

Solitude and Nature in Poem 327

Poem 327 presents a deeply solitary experience, with the narrator in communion with a higher power and the natural world. This solitude aligns with the Romantic tradition, highlighting the narrator's passion for preserving the minutiae of nature's beauty. She intricately describes 'The Motions of the Dipping Birds' and 'The Morning's Amber Road-' with the use of capital letters, emphasizing the significance of these images to the narrator.

Dickinson employs hyperbole, such as 'my Heart/ Would split' and 'The News would strike me dead,' to convey the intensity of the narrator's emotional journey. This technique draws parallels with another contemporary poet, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who similarly used hyperbolic expressions to convey passion in her famous line, 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.' Both poets display a confidence in using poetry as a means to delve into the depths of the soul, with Dickinson repeatedly addressing the issue of the soul in various poems, including Poem 280 and Poem 309.

Structural Symmetry and Emotional Intensity

Dickinson's careful structuring of the stanzas in Poem 327 mirrors the narrator's emotional response to her loss of sight. The poem begins with a relatively ordinary description in the first stanza, portraying 'other Creatures,' but as it progresses, the emotional intensity steadily rises. Dashes become more frequent, punctuating and emphasizing the narrator's growing emotional turmoil.

The isolation and repetition of 'mine' in the third and fourth stanzas highlight the tension and selfishness of the narrator's desires. The poem reaches its emotional zenith in the fourth stanza, where Dickinson employs hyperbole and isolates 'to look at when I like,' signifying the magnificence of sight. In the final stanza, the emotional intensity gradually subsides, as indicated by the word 'safer' in the opening line. The repetition of 'other Creatures' provides balance, reinforcing the symmetry of the poem and mirroring the equilibrium found in nature, which Dickinson keenly observes.

Conclusion

Emily Dickinson's ability to empathize with diverse human challenges is a hallmark of her poetic prowess. Her poetry resonates with readers due to her skillful use of syntax, hyperbole, and vivid imagery, which conveys the power and importance of sight in Poem 327. Beyond this poem, Dickinson's body of work reflects her remarkable capacity to delve into the depths of human emotions and experiences, making her a celebrated figure in the world of literature.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's Poem 327 offers a profound exploration of the significance of sight, influenced by her personal encounter with eye treatment in 1864. Through a meticulously structured narrative, vivid imagery, and emotional intensity, Dickinson invites readers to embark on the narrator's journey from loss and yearning to acceptance. This poem exemplifies Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of human experiences and emotions, rendering her a revered poet in the annals of literature.