Analysis of Dickinsons Loaded Gun Poem - 1172 Words

In the poem 764 of The Norton Anthology which starts My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun - (line 1), Emily Dickinson takes on the role of a married woman of the nineteenth century whose husband owns and completely controls her. The woman, whose voice Dickinson wrote from, reflects on the importance of her husband s life to hers and her dependency on him being there to direct her life. Dickinson never married and lived a secluded life in her family s home, only ever leaving the house for one year before returning again. Though she did not marry, the traditional roles of women still restricted her to live in the home of her family and under the ruler ship of her father like the rest of the women in the house. Some of her close friends and†¦show more content†¦Dickinson shows in stanza five that the nineteenth century wife never questions her husband. Because this woman accepts the traditions of marriage and she depends so much on her Master to take care of her, she agrees complet ely with him. When she marries him, a foe of His (17) becomes an enemy of hers as well. She accepts his opinions of people, politics, religion, or anything else and adopts them as her own, always backing up her husband without question. If the hunter shoots the gun at an enemy, the gun does not question the hunter s reasons for pulling the trigger. It shoots and kills. The man gives an order. The wife obeys it. If the husband has to relocate for a job, the family moves. If he suggests another way in handling the children, or a change that needs to occur in the wife s behavior or the way she or others run the house, they change it to the way he wants it. The wife does not second guess her husband and whatever needs to be done she does so immediately. In the last stanza Dickinson restates how the married woman of the nineteenth century depends on her husband. Although the most confusing stanzas of the poem, it could be the woman telling us her husband must live longer than her. Dickin son writes that the gun, like most inanimate objects, lives longer than the hunter, like women often live longer than men, but the Loaded Gun is useless without the Owner there to operate itShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Dickinsons Poem, My Life had Stood a Loaded Gun631 Words   |  3 Pages– a Loaded Gun† In the poem, â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun,† published around 1863, Emily Dickinson effectively uses metaphorical language in making the speaker compare him/her self to a loaded gun. The speaker speaks as if he/she is a loaded gun waiting to expose their full potential. When reading this poem, one could definitely see religious connotations in that one cannot reach his/her full potential without The Master’s – God’s – help and direction. In â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded GunRead MoreBibliography Relation to Analysis of Emily Dickinson ´s Writings2048 Words   |  8 Pagesaccomplishes the discernment of Dickinson’s poems and their allusions to many classic myths. He denotes the figurative language that Dickinson utilizes in her poetry to relate to her themes. With these key elements in mind, Anderson is then able to compare Dickinson’s works to other authors who have tried to reach the same goals, however, Dickinson is able to better achieve the extrapolation of the myths through her profound and truly exquisite writing. In Dickinson’s A Narrow Fellow In the GrassRead MoreFemale Oppression By Emily Dickinson And Charlotte Perkins Gilman1729 Words   |  7 Pagessocietal construct, transcends oppression and the patriarchy of the time. The first hurdle in comparing the works of Dickinson and Gilman is examining the superficial features of womanhood in their pieces. 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Dickinsons poems are mostly written by nature, love, and death according to Anna Dunlap in her analysis. Dickinsons sister, Lavinia, is the one who published Dickinsons work, on her first attempt the editor that was responsible was taking her sweet time. This editor had Dickinsons work for two years so Lavinia decided to find another editor and Loomis Todd is the right person and editorRead More Emily Dickinsons My Life Had Stood:A Loaded Gun Essay2395 Words   |  10 PagesEmily Dickinsons My Life Had Stood:A Loaded Gun Emily Dickinson is a poet known for her cryptic, confusing language. Words are often put together in an unusual way and create deciphering difficulties for the reader. But behind all the confusion is a hidden meaning that becomes clear, and one realizes that all the odd word choices were chosen for a specific reason. The poem I will try to analyze is My Life Had Stood—A Loaded Gun, or number 754. I find this to be one of her most difficult poemsRead MoreAnalysis My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun Essay2511 Words   |  11 Pagesspecific reason. The poem I will try to analyze is My Life Had Stood—A Loaded Gun, or number 754. I find this to be one of her most difficult poems to decode. However, I find the images fascinating and the last stanza very confusing but intriguing. What I first thought the poem was about and what I finally came to a conclusion on are two completely different thoughts. Through answering questions on the poem’s literary elements, thoro ugh analysis of the words, and rewriting the poem in my own words