Oxymoron And Symbolism In Emily Dickinson's Poem

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An average fly is only 1.2 millimeters in length. One may think an unpleasant fly is insignificant, though it can symbolize a much larger meaning. In Emily Dickinson’s commendable poem I Heard a Fly Buzz-When I Died, Dickinson negatively approaches religion in the fly that buzzes throughout the course of her poem resembles the evil one, death throughout the poem and where there is good there is evil around the corner. One can prove these methods by the three elements of symbolism, oxymoron and irony. Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on the 10th of December in 1830. Her family was greatly involved in the community in which Dickinson grew up. She is known for living a kind of weird and dull life. Emily Dickinson, was noted …show more content…

The evil one is always buzzing around trying to find the next person to attack, in this case the dying soul. In everyday life, a fly can serve as an intruder, a gross unnecessary annoying object, just like the evil one. The fly can represent the evil one because, the devil is always trying to tempt those who are weak in faith and vulnerable. Flies in real life eat on flesh, which is the evil one stealing the life and flesh out of others. In I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I Died the opponent, “the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion,” in which the case the “roars” of the lion can be the buzzing of the fly in the room (New American Bible, 1 Peter 5. 8). The lion (the fly) is looking for, “someone to devour” and trying to drag the person into the fires of hell (New American Bible, 1 Peter 5. 8). The reader can notice that there, “interposed the fly” again trying to drag Emily Dickinson away from the light. As in the Bible, the evil one tempts those who are an easy target, in this case the fly is buzzing around the room trying to get to the dying Emily Dickinson on her …show more content…

One may argue that it is just a poem with a straightforward meaning, which does not include good and evil. Another scholar my oppose the light and darkness reference that was mentioned. Especially the scripture part, one may feel like the scripture has no meaning to light and darkness, even though it clearly does. Some other opponents may disagree on the fact that good and evil do not even intertwine or complement each other. Irregardless to all the scholarly opponents, the facts that have been proven are stated and backed up by reliable

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