Poem Analysis - Me From Myself To Banish

Introduction: A War Within

Emily Dickinson's "Me From Myself to Banish" is a concise yet profound exploration of internal conflict and the struggle for inner peace. The poem presents a speaker locked in a battle with their own consciousness, desperately seeking a way to escape the torment of self-awareness. The tone is one of weary resignation, tinged with a desperate yearning for tranquility. The mood shifts from a hypothetical desire for self-banishment to a stark realization of the impossibility of such a feat, culminating in a contemplation of self-abdication.

The Tyranny of Self: A Central Theme

One of the central themes in the poem is the tyranny of the self. Dickinson portrays the speaker as being at war with themself, besieged by their own thoughts and feelings. The poem opens with the speaker wishing they had the "Art" to banish "Me from Myself," suggesting a desire to escape the confines of their own being. This theme is further developed in the second stanza, where the speaker laments, "since Myself assault Me / How have I peace?" This line highlights the speaker's feeling of being under constant attack from within, unable to find solace from their own consciousness. The use of the word "assault" creates a vivid image of the internal struggle, emphasizing the speaker's feeling of helplessness.

Consciousness as the Battlefield

The poem uses the metaphor of a battlefield to represent the speaker's internal state, highlighting consciousness as the battleground. The first stanza speaks of an "impregnable...Fortress," suggesting a defense against external forces, yet the realization that "Myself assault Me" subverts this notion. The fortress is not a protection but a prison, trapping the self in its own unending conflict. The second stanza directly refers to achieving "peace" through "subjugating / Consciousness," illustrating the speaker's belief that silencing their own awareness is the only way to find relief from the internal torment. The desire to control or suppress consciousness reveals the profound discomfort and anxiety that the speaker experiences in their own mind. Dickinson's choice of words paints a picture of a relentless struggle, where the very act of thinking and feeling becomes a source of pain.

Abdication: A Desperate Solution?

The poem concludes with the idea of abdication as a potential solution to the internal conflict. The speaker acknowledges that "We're mutual Monarch," suggesting a dual nature within the self, where both parts hold power. The question then becomes, "How this be / Except by Abdication / Me of Me?" This final question implies that the only way to resolve the internal struggle is for one part of the self to relinquish its power, effectively ceasing to exist. The concept of "Abdication / Me of Me" is both intriguing and unsettling. It raises questions about the nature of identity and the possibility of self-annihilation as a means of achieving peace. Is Dickinson suggesting a literal erasure of self, or is she hinting at a transcendence beyond the limitations of the ego?

Conclusion: The Unending Inner Dialogue

In conclusion, "Me From Myself to Banish" is a powerful and introspective poem that delves into the complexities of the human psyche. Through vivid imagery and a tone of weary resignation, Dickinson explores the themes of internal conflict, the tyranny of self, and the desperate search for inner peace. The poem's final image of abdication leaves the reader with a lingering sense of ambiguity, prompting contemplation about the nature of identity and the possibility of transcending the limitations of self-awareness. The poem’s lasting significance lies in its articulation of the unending inner dialogue that defines the human experience, a dialogue that can often feel like a relentless battleground.