Poem Analysis - She Went As Quiet As The Dew

A Quiet Departure: Introduction

Emily Dickinson's "She Went As Quiet As The Dew" is a poignant exploration of loss and the difficulty of accepting absence. The poem begins with a gentle, almost peaceful tone, using delicate imagery to describe a departure. However, this initial serenity quickly shifts to a deeper sense of sorrow and disbelief as the speaker grapples with the permanence of the loss. The poem's brevity and carefully chosen words amplify the profound emotional impact of absence and the struggle to reconcile it with reality.

The Absence of Return: Mortality's Grip

One of the central themes in the poem is mortality and the finality of death. The first stanza establishes this theme through the simile of dew evaporating. The "She" departs "as quiet as the Dew / From an Accustomed flower." This suggests a natural, almost inevitable process, akin to the dew disappearing with the sunrise. However, the crucial line "Not like the Dew, did she return / At the Accustomed hour!" emphasizes the critical difference: unlike the dew which will reappear, the departed individual will not return. This highlights the irreversible nature of death and the pain of permanent absence. The use of "Accustomed" further underlines the familiarity and regularity that has been disrupted by this permanent departure.

Summer's Eve and Fallen Stars: The Fragility of Life

Another significant theme is the fragility of life. This theme is developed through the imagery of a "star" falling from "summer's Eve." Summer, often associated with vitality and abundance, provides a stark contrast to the image of a star falling, symbolizing the sudden and unexpected end of life. The star's fall is described as "softly," which, like the dew imagery, initially seems gentle. However, the subsequent lines reveal the underlying pain and disbelief. The image of a star, typically seen as distant and permanent, unexpectedly plummeting, highlights the precariousness of existence and the vulnerability of even the brightest beings. The speaker's inability to comprehend this event emphasizes the shocking and unacceptable nature of the loss.

Disbelief and Le Verriere: The Limits of Understanding

The theme of acceptance versus disbelief is poignantly explored in the second stanza, particularly with the reference to Le Verriere. Urbain Le Verrier was an astronomer who predicted the existence of Neptune based on mathematical calculations. The speaker states, "Less skillful than Le Verriere / It's sorer to believe!" This implies that while Le Verriere could predict the unseen with scientific precision, the speaker is unable to reconcile the loss with any logical understanding. The loss is "sorer to believe" because it defies reason and expectation. It surpasses even the predictability of scientific law, leaving the speaker in a state of painful disbelief and suggesting that some realities, particularly those involving grief and death, are beyond rational comprehension.

Symbols of Ephemerality and Loss: Dew and Stars

The poem is rich in symbolism. The dew symbolizes the ephemeral nature of life. Like dew, which vanishes with the morning sun, the "She" has disappeared, leaving a void in the "Accustomed flower" or the familiar setting of the speaker's life. The star also functions as a symbol of life and beauty, but its fall signifies a tragic and unexpected end. The star, once a source of light in the "summer's Eve," is now gone, plunging the speaker into a metaphorical darkness. The combination of these images creates a powerful sense of loss and underscores the fleeting nature of existence. Perhaps the "summer's Eve" also symbolizes the end of a period of happiness for the speaker.

A Final Insight: The Enduring Pain of Absence

In conclusion, "She Went As Quiet As The Dew" is a moving meditation on loss and the struggle to accept the absence of a loved one. The poem's use of delicate imagery, such as dew and falling stars, initially creates a sense of tranquility but ultimately reveals the profound pain and disbelief experienced by the speaker. The poem highlights the themes of mortality, the fragility of life, and the difficulty of reconciling grief with logic. Ultimately, Dickinson's poem captures the enduring pain of absence and the limitations of human understanding in the face of death, leaving the reader to contemplate the profound impact of loss on the human heart.