Poem Analysis - Although I Put Away His Life

An Ornament Too Grand: Initial Impressions

Emily Dickinson's "Although I Put Away His Life" is a complex poem steeped in themes of loss, devotion, and the bittersweet nature of memory. The tone initially suggests a resigned acceptance, perhaps even a self-deprecating understanding of her own unworthiness. However, the poem shifts towards a more passionate and possessive affection, ultimately culminating in a surprising declaration of both subservience and defiance. The speaker grapples with the absence of a beloved "Sir," reflecting on past service and future yearning.

Devotion and Unworthiness

One central theme is the speaker’s profound, almost overwhelming, devotion to the deceased. This is evident from the opening lines, where she describes his life as "An Ornament too grand / For Forehead low as mine, to wear." The imagery here immediately establishes a sense of her own inferiority and the exalted status of the "Sir." The poem proceeds to paint a picture of absolute dedication: the speaker imagines herself fulfilling his every need, from tending his garden ("sowed the flower, he preferred") to easing his discomfort ("smoothed a homely pain"). The repetition of simple, domestic acts emphasizes the depth and sincerity of her service.

Memory as a Refuge: Preserving the Past

The poem heavily relies on memory as a way to preserve the "Sir's" presence. The speaker clings to the smallest details: the specific flower he liked, the particular tune he enjoyed. Her insistence, "That whatsoe’er delighted it, / I never would let go," reveals a desperate attempt to keep him alive in her mind. The imagery of the "Lute the least the latest" suggests a simple, intimate pleasure shared only between them. This focus on the specific and personal creates a powerful sense of intimacy and highlights the speaker's determination to defy the inevitable erasure of time.

Death's Inevitable Claim: Challenging Immortality

The poem confronts the harsh reality of death. The lines beginning with "Your Servant, Sir, will weary" introduce a stark shift. The speaker acknowledges that even the most devoted service cannot prevent the decay of the body or the indifference of the world. "The World, will have its own to do / The Dust, will vex your Fame" speaks to the fleeting nature of earthly glory. Yet, even in the face of this bleak truth, the speaker offers a defiant act of love. She envisions bringing sticks to make his "Cottage gay," suggesting a desire to create warmth and comfort even in the afterlife, to somehow mitigate the cold and the decay.

Ambiguous Avarice: Love and Possession

The final stanza introduces a surprising twist with the line, "To teach the Angels, avarice, / You, Sir, taught first to me." This is perhaps the most ambiguous and intriguing part of the poem. Is the "avarice" a greedy possessiveness of his memory, a refusal to let him go? Or is it a desire for the same kind of profound connection she shared with him? It seems to be both. The poem suggests that the "Sir" instilled in her a kind of loving selfishness, a desire to hold onto something precious even beyond death. Is this avarice, born of love, a form of rebellion against the finality of loss? The poem leaves this question unanswered, allowing for multiple interpretations.

Final Reflection: A Love That Defies Death

In conclusion, "Although I Put Away His Life" is a poignant exploration of grief, devotion, and the enduring power of memory. The poem moves from an initial sense of unworthiness to a defiant assertion of love, even in the face of death's inevitability. The speaker’s determination to preserve the "Sir's" memory and to bring comfort to his afterlife reveals a profound and complex relationship, one marked by both subservience and a possessive, almost rebellious, love. The final image of teaching the angels "avarice" encapsulates the poem's central message: that love, in its most intense form, can defy even the boundaries of mortality.