Earlier this week I participated in the second meeting of a monthly discussion group about selected poems by Dickinson sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum.
Dickinson was an avid reader of Shakespeare, and the main theme of this month’s discussion centered on four poems connected to The Tempest (or at least “possibly” connected).
At the start, our moderator Dr Melba Jensen shared information related to Dickinson’s love of Shakespeare, the Bard’s reception in the nineteenth century, and the poet’s personal edition of The Tempest.
After we discussed “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” we moved on to “An awful Tempest mashed the air.”
Dickinson was an avid reader of Shakespeare, and the main theme of this month’s discussion centered on four poems connected to The Tempest (or at least “possibly” connected).
At the start, our moderator Dr Melba Jensen shared information related to Dickinson’s love of Shakespeare, the Bard’s reception in the nineteenth century, and the poet’s personal edition of The Tempest.
After we discussed “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” we moved on to “An awful Tempest mashed the air.”
 | Of the four poems, this one had the most obvious connection to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” (LOL – Dr. Jensen began the discussion with “Did you note the ‘Easter eggs’ in the poem?’). For one thing, Dickinson mentions the title of the play in the poem’s first line, and in addition to the poem’s depiction of a turbulent storm, the final stanza seems to suggest some of the play’s plot points. to the play – or in any other |
Interestingly, most of the participants’ discussion focused on the final stanza: If, indeed, this poem is in reference to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” who is the “monster” who/which has turned “slowly to his native coast”? Some in the group were sure the stanza alluded to Prospero, while others thought it suggested Caliban (I’m not so familiar with the play as to make an argument either way).
Also, since this poem was written at the time of the Civil War, our moderator asked if the images and themes in this poem could in any way – albeit subtly – reflect what was going on in the world (i.e., the United States) – and she presented the concept of the “multi-vocal poem” – with regard to the different paths one could take in interpreting this poem.
Are you familiar with Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”? Does this poem connect with you in regards to the play – or in any other way?
Also, since this poem was written at the time of the Civil War, our moderator asked if the images and themes in this poem could in any way – albeit subtly – reflect what was going on in the world (i.e., the United States) – and she presented the concept of the “multi-vocal poem” – with regard to the different paths one could take in interpreting this poem.
Are you familiar with Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”? Does this poem connect with you in regards to the play – or in any other way?
NOTE: I posted this on Counter Social as part of my daily Dickinson posts (#DickinsonDaily), and I received these two comments:
| FROM ONE: I am surprised that anyone would think Dickinson's "Monster" refers to Prospero, Shakespeare calls Caliban a monster several times in The Tempest. | FROM ANOTHER: If it's Caliban, why is he turning to the coast of his native land if he's already on it? Is she therefore implying that Prospero is the monster and the coast is Italy? |
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