Poem Analysis - All Overgrown By Cunning Moss

A Quiet Passing into Immortality

Emily Dickinson's "All Overgrown By Cunning Moss" is a concise elegy for Charlotte Brontë (Currer Bell, her pseudonym), capturing a sense of peaceful closure and spiritual elevation. The poem begins with a somber acknowledgement of death and then transitions into a celebration of Brontë's artistic journey and her arrival in Heaven. While tinged with initial melancholy, the poem ultimately offers a hopeful vision of afterlife and artistic legacy.

The Weight of Artistic Struggle and Social Constraint

Charlotte Brontë, writing under the male pseudonym "Currer Bell" to navigate the male-dominated literary world of the 19th century, faced considerable societal constraints. Dickinson acknowledges this by subtly referencing Brontë's pen name. The "cunning moss" and "weed" covering her "little cage" suggests both the obscurity and the constraints of her life, highlighting the obstacles she overcame to express her artistic voice. Brontë's life, marked by the early deaths of her mother and sisters and a sense of isolation, informed the themes of her novels, which often explored the experiences and emotions of women within restrictive social structures.

Suffering and Redemption: The Journey to Asphodel

One of the central themes is the journey from suffering to redemption, mirrored in the poem's progression. The second stanza introduces the powerful image of Gethsemane, a biblical reference to Jesus's agony before his crucifixion. Dickinson uses this powerful allusion to suggest that Brontë, too, endured great "transporting anguish" in her life and work, likely referring to her personal struggles, the challenges of writing, and the limited opportunities afforded to women. The poem contrasts this suffering with the reward: reaching the "Asphodel," a field of flowers in Greek mythology associated with the afterlife, suggesting a place of peace and eternal beauty. The poem implies that Brontë's artistic struggles and personal hardships paved the way for her ultimate spiritual triumph.

Symbolic Landscapes: From Weeds to Eden

The poem employs potent symbols to convey its message. The "moss" and "weed" covering Brontë's grave initially represent the decay of the physical body and the seeming insignificance of death. However, the shift to imagery of Eden and Asphodel transforms this perception. Eden, the biblical paradise, signifies a state of perfect peace and happiness, while Asphodel offers an image of serene beauty. The "soft falls the sounds of Eden" implies a gentle, welcoming atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the earlier image of the overgrown grave. These contrasting images of decay and serenity, hardship and welcome, emphasize the spiritual ascension of Brontë into a realm of peace and fulfillment, highlighting the enduring nature of her soul and her art.

A Heavenly Reception: Celebrating Artistic Legacy

The final stanza encapsulates the poem's ultimate message of celebration and acceptance. The line "Oh what an afternoon for Heaven, / When Bronte entered there!" conveys a sense of joy and anticipation. Dickinson personifies Heaven as a welcoming space eager to receive Brontë, highlighting the belief that her talent and contributions were recognized and valued in the afterlife. The poem concludes with a sense of triumph, suggesting that Brontë's artistic struggles ultimately led her to a place of honor and eternal rest. The poem also suggests that her work, having been born out of suffering, is now a source of heavenly joy.