Comparing the Treatment of Mortality and Faith in Both Poems

Oct 13, 2025 by leolavanderia.com.br 67 views

Exploring the Themes of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"

Emily Dickinson's poetry is renowned for its depth, complexity, and thought-provoking themes. Two of her most celebrated poems, "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," offer a fascinating exploration of the human experience. In this article, we will delve into the main concepts of these poems and examine how they are treated in both works.

The Concept of Mortality in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"

Mortality is a pervasive theme in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." The poem's speaker is personified as a young woman who is visited by Death, who is described as a courteous suitor. The speaker is taken on a journey through eternity, where she encounters various symbols and metaphors that represent the afterlife. Throughout the poem, Dickinson masterfully explores the concept of mortality, raising questions about the nature of death, the afterlife, and the human experience.

In "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," mortality is treated as a universal and inevitable aspect of life. The speaker's encounter with Death is portrayed as a natural and expected event, rather than a feared or dreaded one. This is evident in the line "Since then—'tis Centuries—and yet / Feels shorter than the Day / I first surmised the Horses' Heads / Were toward Eternity" (Dickinson 4-7). The speaker's tone is calm and matter-of-fact, suggesting that mortality is a part of life that is to be accepted and even welcomed.

The Concept of Faith in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"

Faith is a central theme in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church." The poem's speaker is a skeptic who observes the hypocrisy of those who claim to keep the Sabbath. The speaker notes that these individuals are more concerned with appearances than with genuine devotion, and that their actions are motivated by a desire to be seen as righteous rather than a genuine desire to serve God.

In "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church," faith is treated with a sense of irony and skepticism. The speaker's tone is one of detachment and observation, rather than reverence or devotion. This is evident in the line "Some keep the Sabbath in their Skins— / While others brag of Sabbath kept / In their Indoor Manors— / Most of the Men—" (Dickinson 1-4). The speaker's use of italics and emphasis highlights the hypocrisy and superficiality of those who claim to keep the Sabbath.

Comparing the Treatment of Mortality and Faith in Both Poems

While both poems explore complex and thought-provoking themes, they treat mortality and faith in distinct ways. In "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," mortality is treated as a universal and inevitable aspect of life, while in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church," faith is treated with a sense of irony and skepticism.

In "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," Dickinson masterfully explores the concept of mortality, raising questions about the nature of death, the afterlife, and the human experience. The speaker's tone is calm and matter-of-fact, suggesting that mortality is a part of life that is to be accepted and even welcomed.

In contrast, "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" is a scathing critique of hypocrisy and superficiality. The speaker's tone is one of detachment and observation, rather than reverence or devotion. This is evident in the line "Some keep the Sabbath in their Skins— / While others brag of Sabbath kept / In their Indoor Manors— / Most of the Men—" (Dickinson 1-4).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main concepts of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" are treated in distinct ways. While "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" explores the universal and inevitable aspect of mortality, "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" critiques the hypocrisy and superficiality of those who claim to keep the Sabbath. Through her masterful use of language and imagery, Dickinson raises important questions about the human experience and challenges readers to think critically about the themes and ideas presented in her poetry.

References

Dickinson, E. (1863). Because I Could Not Stop for Death. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Edited by Thomas H. Johnson. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.

Dickinson, E. (1863). Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Edited by Thomas H. Johnson. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Q&A: Exploring the Themes of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"

In our previous article, we delved into the main concepts of Emily Dickinson's poems "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these poems and explore their themes in more depth.

Q: What is the significance of the title "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"?

A: The title "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" is significant because it highlights the theme of hypocrisy and superficiality in the poem. The speaker notes that some people claim to keep the Sabbath, but in reality, they are more concerned with appearances than with genuine devotion.

Q: What is the speaker's attitude towards mortality in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"?

A: The speaker's attitude towards mortality in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" is one of calm and acceptance. The speaker is personified as a young woman who is visited by Death, who is described as a courteous suitor. The speaker's tone is matter-of-fact, suggesting that mortality is a natural and inevitable part of life.

Q: What is the significance of the line "Since then—'tis Centuries—and yet / Feels shorter than the Day / I first surmised the Horses' Heads / Were toward Eternity" in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"?

A: The line "Since then—'tis Centuries—and yet / Feels shorter than the Day / I first surmised the Horses' Heads / Were toward Eternity" is significant because it highlights the speaker's perception of time. The speaker notes that centuries have passed since her encounter with Death, but the experience feels shorter than a single day. This suggests that the speaker's experience of eternity is one of timelessness and eternity.

Q: What is the speaker's attitude towards faith in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"?

A: The speaker's attitude towards faith in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" is one of irony and skepticism. The speaker notes that some people claim to keep the Sabbath, but in reality, they are more concerned with appearances than with genuine devotion. The speaker's tone is detached and observational, rather than reverent or devotional.

Q: What is the significance of the line "Some keep the Sabbath in their Skins— / While others brag of Sabbath kept / In their Indoor Manors— / Most of the Men—" in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church"?

A: The line "Some keep the Sabbath in their Skins— / While others brag of Sabbath kept / In their Indoor Manors— / Most of the Men—" is significant because it highlights the speaker's critique of hypocrisy and superficiality. The speaker notes that some people claim to keep the Sabbath, but in reality, they are more concerned with appearances than with genuine devotion.

Q: What is the relationship between the two poems?

A: The two poems are related in that they both explore complex and thought-provoking themes. While "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" explores the universal and inevitable aspect of mortality, "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" critiques the hypocrisy and superficiality of those who claim to keep the Sabbath. Through her masterful use of language and imagery, Dickinson raises important questions about the human experience and challenges readers to think critically about the themes and ideas presented in her poetry.

Q: What can readers learn from these poems?

A: Readers can learn several things from these poems. Firstly, they can learn about the importance of genuine devotion and the dangers of hypocrisy and superficiality. Secondly, they can learn about the universal and inevitable aspect of mortality and the importance of accepting and embracing it. Finally, they can learn about the power of language and imagery to explore complex and thought-provoking themes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the poems "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" offer a fascinating exploration of the human experience. Through her masterful use of language and imagery, Dickinson raises important questions about the themes and ideas presented in her poetry. By exploring these poems, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the human experience and the importance of genuine devotion, acceptance, and critical thinking.