Poem Analysis - Essential Oils Are Wrung

Introduction: The Enduring Essence

Emily Dickinson's "Essential Oils are Wrung" is a compact exploration of preservation and enduring essence. The poem reflects on how the beauty of the rose, a symbol of fleeting beauty, can be captured and made permanent through human intervention. The tone is initially matter-of-fact and almost clinical, shifting to one of gentle reverence and contemplation of mortality in the second stanza. The poem suggests that artifice, in this case the process of extracting essential oils, can overcome the natural decay of time.

Theme of Preservation: Artifice Against Decay

One central theme is the preservation of beauty and memory against the inevitability of decay. The poem contrasts the "General Rose decay" with the lasting presence of the attar (essential oil) in "Lady’s Drawer." This showcases a tension between natural processes and human efforts to resist those processes. Dickinson uses the image of the "Screws" to represent the artificial methods of extraction, contrasting with the natural process of the "Suns." This suggests that while nature provides the raw material, human ingenuity is needed to truly capture and preserve its essence.

Mortality and Remembrance: The Lady's Rosemary

The poem touches upon mortality and remembrance, specifically in relation to women. The "Lady’s Drawer" and the phrase "Make Summer When the Lady lie / In Ceaseless Rosemary" evokes a sense of mourning and remembrance. Rosemary has long been a symbol of remembrance, and its association with the "Lady" implies that the essential oils become a memento, a sensory reminder of her even in death. The rose essence acts as a preserved memory, defying the "Ceaseless Rosemary" of the grave and maintaining a semblance of "Summer."

Symbolism of the Rose and Attar: Fleeting Beauty and Eternal Essence

The rose itself serves as a symbol of beauty, love, and the ephemeral nature of life. The fact that it "decay[s]" emphasizes this fleeting quality. In contrast, the "Attar," the essential oil extracted from the rose, represents something more permanent. It is the essence of the rose, distilled and concentrated, freed from the constraints of time and decay. The poem suggests that true beauty lies not just in its outward form, but in its underlying essence, which can be captured and preserved.

An Ambiguous "Screws": Nature's Gift or Human Labor?

The phrase "It is the gift of Screws" is deliberately ambiguous. It could be interpreted as a critique of industrialization, suggesting that human interference, albeit for preservation, can be a violent or unnatural process (the "Screws" wringing the essence). Alternatively, it could be seen as an appreciation of human ingenuity and the ability to transform and preserve nature's gifts. Is Dickinson celebrating human ingenuity, or mourning the loss of natural processes in favor of mechanical ones?

Conclusion: The Enduring Fragrance of Memory

In conclusion, "Essential Oils are Wrung" explores the themes of preservation, mortality, and the enduring power of memory. Through the symbolic imagery of the rose and its extracted essence, Dickinson contemplates the relationship between nature, artifice, and the human desire to capture and hold onto beauty in the face of inevitable decay. The poem ultimately suggests that while physical beauty may fade, its essence can be preserved through human intervention and serve as a lasting reminder of what was, and who was, loved.