Poem Analysis - Before I Got My Eye Put Out

An Exploration of Loss and Perception

Emily Dickinson's "Before I Got My Eye Put Out" is a poignant exploration of loss and the subsequent shift in perception. The poem initially presents a seemingly simple statement of contentment, but quickly delves into the profound impact of sensory deprivation on the speaker's understanding of the world. The tone begins matter-of-fact, even slightly nostalgic, but soon transitions into a feeling of overwhelming dread and ultimately, a quiet acceptance. It's a journey through the speaker's changed relationship with sight and, more importantly, with the world it reveals.

The Value of the Visible World

One of the central themes of the poem is the immense value placed on the ability to see. The first stanza establishes a baseline: the speaker once enjoyed sight as much as "other Creatures." This simple comparison highlights the universality of vision and its taken-for-granted nature. However, the subsequent stanzas reveal the speaker's profound realization of what she has lost. The hypothetical offer of the sky, meadows, mountains, and stars – all things she could once freely observe – would now "split" her heart due to the overwhelming sense of deprivation. This isn't merely about seeing beautiful things; it's about the fundamental connection to the world that sight provides.

Death as the Price of Sensory Loss

The poem explores the theme of death as a consequence of sensory loss, albeit a metaphorical one. The speaker declares that the "News" of being able to possess all the visible wonders "would strike me dead." This seemingly paradoxical statement suggests that the knowledge of what she has lost is unbearable. The potential to experience the beauty of the world, coupled with the stark reality of her inability to do so, is a grief so profound it equates to a form of death. This also implies that the speaker perhaps preferred the "safe" and limited view from her "soul," which implies that the mind or spirit can somehow still look out from a "window pane."

Symbolism of Light and the Window

The poem is rich in symbolism. Light, represented by the "sky," "Meadows," "Mountains," "Stars," "Noon," and "Morning’s Amber Road," symbolizes knowledge, beauty, and connection to the natural world. These images are all rendered inaccessible to the speaker, highlighting the darkness that has enveloped her experience. The window pane, on the other hand, represents a barrier, a filter through which the world is viewed. It signifies a safer, more limited perspective, but also a degree of isolation. The "other Creatures" who "put their eyes / Incautious of the Sun" perhaps represent those who take their sight for granted, unaware of the potential for loss and the intensity of the world that they see.

Acceptance and a Changed Perspective

Ultimately, "Before I Got My Eye Put Out" is a meditation on acceptance. The speaker finds a degree of solace in a limited existence, choosing the "safer guess" of viewing the world through her soul. The poem suggests that while the loss of sight is devastating, it also necessitates a shift in perspective. The final lines hint at a certain serenity, a willingness to embrace a new way of experiencing the world, even if that experience is filtered and incomplete. The poem invites us to consider what we truly value and how we might find meaning even in the face of profound loss and to appreciate the sensory experiences we might take for granted.