Poem Analysis - If This Is Fading

Introduction: Embracing the End

Emily Dickinson's "If This Is Fading" is a short, powerful poem grappling with the acceptance, and even embrace, of mortality. The poem presents a series of conditional statements, each proposing a different form of ending—fading, dying, sleeping—and responding with a passionate willingness, even a celebratory eagerness, to surrender. The tone begins with a note of resignation, but quickly transitions to one of fervent acceptance and surprising pride. The poem moves from a private plea to a public farewell, culminating in a striking image of majestic death.

The Poet's Bold Surrender to Mortality

The poem's central theme is undoubtedly mortality. Dickinson confronts death not with fear or resistance, but with a surprising degree of acceptance and even enthusiasm. The first two stanzas directly address the processes of fading and dying, and the speaker's response is immediate and decisive. "Oh let me immediately fade!" and "Bury me, in such a shroud of red!" convey an eagerness to yield to these natural processes, suggesting a belief that there is a certain beauty or dignity in death itself. The use of "immediately" emphasizes the speaker's readiness to relinquish life, implying perhaps a weariness or a sense of having fulfilled her purpose.

Red: A Color of Life and Death

The color red is a significant symbol in the poem. The speaker requests to be buried in "such a shroud of red!" Red is traditionally associated with life, passion, and energy, but it can also symbolize blood and violence. In this context, the "shroud of red" could represent a passionate embrace of death, a final burst of vitality before the end. It might also symbolize the intensity of feeling that accompanies the transition from life to death. The choice of red, instead of a more traditional color like white or black, suggests a rejection of conventional mourning practices and a preference for a more vibrant, assertive farewell.

Pride in the Face of Oblivion

The poem explores the theme of pride, not in the sense of vanity, but in the sense of accepting one's fate with dignity. The lines "If this is sleep,/On such a night/How proud to shut the eye!" connect death with rest, suggesting a peaceful and welcomed slumber. The word "proud" is particularly striking, implying that there is honor or even triumph in surrendering to sleep, which is here a metaphor for death. This pride is further amplified in the final lines, "Good Evening, gentle Fellow men!/Peacock presumes to die!" The comparison to a peacock, a bird known for its vibrant plumage and ostentatious display, suggests a magnificent and deliberate performance of dying. It is as if the speaker is asserting their right to a dignified and memorable exit.

Conclusion: A Celebratory Farewell

"If This Is Fading" is a powerful exploration of mortality, acceptance, and pride. The poem moves from a quiet resignation to a bold embrace of death, culminating in a celebratory farewell. Dickinson's use of vivid imagery, particularly the "shroud of red" and the comparison to a peacock, creates a striking and memorable picture of a speaker who is not afraid to face the end, but rather welcomes it as a natural and even beautiful part of life. The poem's significance lies in its unconventional portrayal of death, not as a tragedy to be feared, but as a transition to be embraced with dignity and perhaps even a touch of theatrical flair.