Poem Analysis - Home

Introduction: A Lingering Question of Belonging

Emily Dickinson's "Home" is a contemplative exploration of the human desire for a place of belonging and comfort. The poem revolves around the recurring phrase, "Why don’t we all go home?", revealing a deep-seated longing that transcends physical location. The tone is initially questioning and somewhat whimsical, but gradually shifts towards a more introspective and melancholic consideration of what "home" truly represents. The poem ultimately suggests that the search for home is a universal human experience, often marked by ambiguity and a yearning for something beyond the tangible.

The Elusive Nature of "Home": A Central Theme

One of the primary themes explored in "Home" is the elusive nature of belonging. The speaker's persistent writing of the phrase "Why don’t we all go home?" suggests a constant, perhaps subconscious, yearning for a place that is undefined and potentially unattainable. The speaker explicitly questions the definition of home: "where is home exactly?". The poem moves beyond a simple geographical definition, considering possibilities ranging from the grave to paradise, or even "a state of mind." This ambiguity underscores the difficulty of pinpointing what constitutes a true sense of home and the inherent human desire to find it.

Mortality and the Search for Origin

The theme of mortality and the search for origin is interwoven into the poem through the consideration of "home" as "the grave" and the friend's desire to return to the womb. The grave represents a final, inescapable destination, a return to a state of non-existence. Juxtaposed with this is the friend's unusual ambition to "crawl right back / into the womb," symbolizing a yearning for the safety, comfort, and unburdened existence of pre-birth. This longing for the womb is presented "in a mild way" meaning that the poem acknowledges the desire but also its impossibility. These contrasting images highlight the fundamental human desire to escape the anxieties of life and find refuge in either a return to origin or a final, peaceful rest.

Isolation and Shared Yearning

The poem subtly addresses the theme of isolation, which is later countered by the realization of a shared experience. Although the speaker feels this longing for home, the poem suggests this is not an isolated experience. The speaker mentions, "I almost always / long to go home / and no doubt they do also", suggesting that the students also share this feeling. The reference to her friend’s womb-seeking ambition further emphasizes the universality of this yearning, "I see now perhaps my longing / is not much different really / from my friend’s." This realization, that "we are all held / in a silver net / dreaming of the sea," brings a sense of connection and alleviates the potential isolation by suggesting that everyone is bound by the same desire for something more.

Symbolism of the Sea and Silver Net

The poem concludes with potent symbolism, particularly the "silver net" and the "sea." The "silver net" can be interpreted as the constraints of human existence – societal expectations, physical limitations, or even the passage of time – that hold us captive. The "sea," on the other hand, represents the vast, unknown potential of what lies beyond those constraints, embodying freedom, possibility, and the ultimate fulfillment of the longing for "home." Is the dream of the sea a futile longing or a comforting reminder that beyond our earthly limitations, there is a realm of endless possibility?

Conclusion: A Universal Quest

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "Home" is a deeply resonant poem that explores the complex and often paradoxical nature of human longing. By questioning the very definition of "home," Dickinson invites readers to consider their own desires for belonging, comfort, and escape. The poem's enduring power lies in its ability to capture the universal human experience of searching for something more, something beyond the tangible world, even when that "something" remains elusive and undefined. The poem suggests that perhaps the journey itself, the shared dream of the sea, is as important as the destination.