Poem Analysis - Of All The Souls That Stand Create

A Declaration of Eternal Devotion

Emily Dickinson's "Of All The Souls That Stand Create" is a powerful and resolute declaration of devotion that transcends earthly limitations. The poem expresses a speaker's unwavering commitment to a chosen soul, even in the face of death and the dissolving of the physical world. Initially, the tone is one of certainty and profound choice, moving toward a visionary and almost otherworldly perspective as the poem progresses. The speaker's voice is confident and resolute, tinged with a sense of anticipation for a future where only the essential remains.

The Transcendence of Love

One of the central themes of the poem is the transcendence of love beyond the physical realm. Dickinson explores this theme through the imagery of death and the dissolution of the body. The lines "When sense from spirit files away, / And subterfuge is done;" suggest a stripping away of superficiality and the unveiling of true essences. The “brief tragedy of flesh” is described as “shifted like a sand,” emphasizing its impermanence compared to the enduring nature of the speaker's chosen soul. This indicates that the speaker's love is not contingent on physical presence but rests on a deeper, more spiritual connection. She has made her choice, a decision that will last forever.

Mortality and the Eternal Soul

Mortality is another key theme, intricately woven with the concept of the eternal soul. The poem confronts death not with fear, but with a sense of acceptance and anticipation. Phrases like "When that which is and that which was / Apart, intrinsic, stand," paint a picture of a world where the past and present are distinct, hinting at a separation of the physical and spiritual. The image of "figures show their royal front / And mists are carved sway," suggests a transformation, perhaps an unveiling of a higher, more spiritual reality. This reinforces the idea that the chosen soul is not bound by mortality, but possesses a value that surpasses the limitations of the physical world.

The Significance of the Atom

The final image of the "atom" is particularly striking and symbolic. The speaker declares, "Behold the atom I preferred / To all the lists of clay!" The atom, here, can be interpreted as the essential, indivisible unit of the soul. By preferring the atom to "all the lists of clay," which likely represent the physical world and its material possessions, Dickinson emphasizes the immense value she places on the essence of the chosen soul. This choice suggests that the true worth of an individual lies not in their outward appearance or earthly achievements, but in their fundamental spiritual nature. What happens to this special indivisible unit of the soul? Does it remain the same? The poem leaves this ambiguous and open to individual interpretation, but the value of this chosen one is never in doubt.

An Everlasting Election

In conclusion, "Of All The Souls That Stand Create" is a testament to the enduring power of love and the eternal nature of the soul. Dickinson masterfully uses imagery of death and transcendence to convey a sense of unwavering devotion that extends beyond the boundaries of physical existence. The poem's final declaration, with its powerful image of the atom, solidifies the speaker's conviction that the chosen soul possesses a value that surpasses all material considerations. The poem leaves us with a sense of awe at the profound depth of human connection and the promise of a love that endures beyond the "brief tragedy of flesh."