Poem Analysis - Heart We Will Forget Him

An Ode to Oblivion

Emily Dickinson's "Heart, We Will Forget Him" is a poignant exploration of heartbreak and the desperate, self-imposed task of forgetting a lost love. The poem unfolds as a dialogue between the speaker and her own heart, revealing a struggle between the will to forget and the lingering power of memory. The tone is urgent and determined, tinged with a subtle undercurrent of vulnerability as the speaker races against time to erase the traces of a cherished relationship. This urgency creates a sense of anxious determination.

The Labour of Letting Go

The primary theme of the poem is undoubtedly the difficulty of forgetting. The speaker personifies her heart, engaging it in a collaborative effort to sever ties with a former lover. This personification underscores the idea that forgetting is not a passive process, but an active and demanding labor. The lines "You must forget the warmth he gave, / I will forget the light" emphasize the specific qualities of the relationship that must be deliberately suppressed. The shared effort between "Heart" and "I" underscores the duality of experience, the emotional and intellectual aspects of memory that must both be addressed.

Warmth and Light: The Relics of Memory

The imagery of "warmth" and "light" serves as powerful symbols of the love that the speaker is trying to eradicate. "Warmth" likely represents the emotional comfort, affection, and security provided by the lover, while "light" could symbolize the joy, inspiration, and clarity that he brought into the speaker's life. These are not superficial attributes; they are fundamental elements of human connection and happiness. The speaker’s need to actively forget these qualities highlights the depth of the loss and the difficulty in erasing something so intrinsically linked to personal well-being.

A Race Against Remembrance

The poem's sense of urgency is most evident in the lines "Haste! ‘lest while you’re lagging / I may remember him!" This conveys the speaker's fear that memory will overwhelm her efforts to forget. The word "lagging" suggests that the heart might falter in its task, leading to a resurgence of memories and feelings. This highlights the fragility of the speaker's resolve and underscores the ongoing battle against her own emotions. The imperative "Haste!" reflects a frantic desire to sever the connection before it reasserts itself.

A Final Look

"Heart, We Will Forget Him" is a testament to the power of memory and the arduous task of overcoming heartbreak. Dickinson masterfully uses personification, imagery, and a sense of urgency to convey the speaker's internal struggle. Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader contemplating the fragility of the human heart and the enduring nature of love, even in the face of forced oblivion. The question lingers: can one truly erase deeply felt emotions, or are they simply suppressed, waiting for an opportune moment to resurface?