Poem Analysis - How Far Is It To Heaven

A Concise Exploration of the Afterlife

Emily Dickinson's "How Far Is It To Heaven?" is a short but profound meditation on the nature of heaven and hell, and their relationship to death. The poem, characterized by Dickinson's signature brevity and slant rhyme, explores the unknowable distance to these destinations, suggesting that they are intimately linked with the experience of dying. The tone is inquisitive and somewhat resigned, acknowledging the limitations of human understanding when it comes to the afterlife. There is a shift in the poem from questioning distances to a subtle declaration of how death shapes the answers.

Death as the Defining Boundary

A central theme in this poem is mortality. Dickinson presents death not as an ending, but as a threshold. The poem asserts that both heaven and hell are "As far as Death this way," meaning that the journey to either destination begins only after one has crossed the boundary of death. The poem doesn't say they are “a part” of death but rather "as far as this way". This phrasing emphasizes that death is the necessary condition. The "River or of Ridge beyond" in the first stanza and the "Sepulchre" in the second stanza act as symbolic barriers, reinforcing the idea that death represents an insurmountable geographical obstacle. It is as if it is not the distance we are calculating, but the door that must be opened.

The Unknowable Afterlife

The theme of the unknowable is also important. Dickinson's poem acknowledges the limitations of human understanding when it comes to the afterlife. The phrase "no discovery" suggests that no amount of exploration or scientific inquiry can reveal the secrets of heaven. Similarly, the "Sepulchre" defies "Topography," implying that the realm of death and what lies beyond is beyond earthly measurement and mapping. This contributes to a tone of resignation, not necessarily negative, but accepting that certain mysteries are inherently unsolvable in life.

Symbolic Geography: Rivers, Ridges, and Sepulchres

The poem is rich in symbolic imagery. The river and ridge in the first stanza represent natural barriers and obstacles that separate the living from the dead or perhaps, the earthly from the divine. The Sepulchre, or tomb, is a more direct symbol of death and confinement. It "defies Topography," meaning it cannot be understood or mapped according to earthly principles. This image reinforces the idea that death and the afterlife are fundamentally different from the world of the living and cannot be measured or understood by our mortal means. This makes death both fearsome and a final frontier.

Concluding Thoughts: Embracing the Mystery

In conclusion, "How Far Is It To Heaven?" is a poignant exploration of death, the afterlife, and the limitations of human knowledge. Through evocative imagery and a contemplative tone, Dickinson suggests that heaven and hell are inseparable from the experience of death, representing destinations accessible only after crossing a definitive boundary. The poem ultimately embraces the mystery surrounding these concepts, acknowledging that some questions may forever remain unanswered, and perhaps, it is in the mystery that the value resides. This is why the speaker is asking “how far” rather than declaring knowledge.