Poem Analysis - Her Breast Is Fit For Pearls

Introduction: Yearning and Unrequited Love

Emily Dickinson's "Her Breast Is Fit For Pearls" is a poignant exploration of unattainable love and the speaker's humble acceptance of a lesser role in the beloved's life. The poem begins with a sense of awe and admiration, quickly transitioning to a feeling of inadequacy. While the initial tone is reverent, it soon shifts to a tender and hopeful vulnerability, culminating in a bittersweet acceptance of the speaker's position.

Themes of Aspiration and Acceptance

The poem grapples with several intertwined themes, most notably aspiration, acceptance, and the nature of love. The opening lines express a desire for something beyond the speaker's reach, highlighting the perceived disparity between the speaker and the beloved. The lines "Her breast is fit for pearls, / But I was not a Diver / Her brow is fit for thrones / But I have not a crest" clearly show that aspiration. Yet, the poem pivots toward acceptance in the latter half. The speaker acknowledges their unworthiness of the highest honors and shifts from a position of longing to one of finding solace in a smaller, more intimate connection. This small connection, however is still a powerful connection that demonstrates a hopeful love between the two people. By the conclusion of the poem, the speaker finds comfort, however small, in being able to build a "perennial nest" in the "heart fit for home."

Symbolism of Wealth and Humility

Dickinson uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the disparity between the speaker and the object of their affection. The "pearls" and "thrones" represent wealth, status, and societal expectations. They suggest that the beloved is worthy of the finest things in life, things the speaker cannot provide. The speaker being "not a Diver" and having "not a crest" implies a lack of the necessary resources or qualifications to attain such riches or position. The image of the sparrow building a nest, however, represents humility, domesticity, and a simple, enduring love. The nest itself becomes a symbol of the speaker's devotion and their desire to create a lasting connection within the heart of the beloved.

The Sparrow's Nest: A Haven of Love

The central image of the sparrow building a nest is crucial to understanding the poem's resolution. The "Sparrow" is a symbol of the speaker themselves, and the nest, made of "twigs and twine", suggests the simple, natural, and enduring nature of their love. The phrase "perennial nest" is especially significant, indicating a hope for a love that lasts beyond the fleeting pleasures of wealth or status. This imagery is more intimate and personal, contrasting with the grand images of the beloved being "fit for pearls" and having a "brow fit for thrones." The sparrow is able to make itself a permanent fixture, while also living within nature, emphasizing the ability for small creatures to make a home, just as the speaker wants to make a home within the beloved's heart.

Conclusion: Finding Value in Small Gestures

"Her Breast Is Fit For Pearls" is a moving exploration of love, longing, and the acceptance of one's place in another's life. The poem highlights the power of small gestures and enduring devotion, even when faced with perceived inadequacy. While the speaker recognizes the disparity between themselves and the beloved, they find solace in offering a simple, heartfelt love, symbolized by the sparrow's perennial nest. Ultimately, the poem suggests that true love can be found not in grand displays of wealth or status, but in the quiet intimacy of a shared home within the heart.