Poem Analysis - I Watched The Moon Around The House

An Encounter with the Ethereal Moon

Emily Dickinson's "I Watched The Moon Around The House" presents a speaker captivated by the moon, transforming a simple observation into a profound meditation on existence and the limitations of human understanding. The poem begins with a sense of quiet observation and wonder, gradually shifting into a more philosophical and even envious tone as the speaker contemplates the moon's detachment from earthly concerns. The overall mood is one of reverence mixed with a touch of longing, ultimately ending with a recognition of the speaker's own earthly constraints. The poem explores themes of curiosity, the unattainable, and the vastness of the universe compared to human experience.

The Moon as a Symbol of Detachment

One of the primary themes of the poem is the unattainable and unknowable. The moon serves as a symbol of something beyond human comprehension and reach. Dickinson emphasizes this through her descriptions of the moon as lacking human needs and anxieties: "No Hunger – had she – nor an Inn/Her Toilette – to suffice/Nor Avocation nor Concern/for little Mysteries/As harass us – like Life – and Death." The moon, in its serene and independent existence, is free from the burdens that weigh down humanity. This contrast highlights the limitations of human understanding and the speaker's sense of separation from something greater. This is further supported by the ending, where the speaker is "too far below" to follow the moon.

Curiosity and the Limits of Knowledge

The poem is driven by a deep sense of curiosity. The speaker's initial act of watching the moon is transformed into an intense scrutiny, akin to "The Lady in the Town" lifting her glass. However, Dickinson emphasizes the uniqueness of this curiosity: "But never Stranger justified/The Curiosity/Like Mine." This intense curiosity is fueled by the moon's lack of familiar qualities: "not a Foot – nor Hand/Nor Formula – had she." This absence of recognizable features intensifies the speaker's desire to understand the moon's existence, but also underscores the impossibility of fully grasping something so fundamentally different from the self. The use of words like "scrutinize" in relation to the moon helps to explain and support the theme.

The Poem's Striking Imagery: The Guillotine and the Stemless Flower

Dickinson uses striking imagery to convey the moon's otherworldly nature. The comparison to "a Head – a Guillotine/Slid carelessly away" is particularly jarring, suggesting both the moon's power and its detachment from earthly consequences. This image could also symbolize the severing of earthly ties and anxieties. Conversely, the image of the moon as a "Stemless Flower/Upheld in rolling Air" evokes a sense of delicate beauty and effortless grace. This flower image emphasizes the moon's independence from earthly support, highlighting its ethereal existence. These contrasting images create a sense of mystery and wonder around the moon, emphasizing its inexplicable nature.

A Final Glimpse of the Infinite

In conclusion, "I Watched The Moon Around The House" is a poem about the allure and the ultimate unknowability of the universe. Dickinson uses the image of the moon as a symbol of something beyond human comprehension, highlighting the limitations of earthly knowledge and the burdens of human existence. The poem's shift from quiet observation to philosophical reflection underscores the speaker's desire to understand something greater than themselves, even while acknowledging the impossibility of fully achieving this understanding. The poem leaves us with a sense of awe and a recognition of the vastness and mystery that surround us.