Poem Analysis - Silence Is All We Dread

An Introduction to Fear

Emily Dickinson's "Silence is all we dread" is a short but powerful exploration of human anxiety, particularly the fear of the unknown and the void. The poem, characteristic of Dickinson's style, is concise and employs personification to give abstract concepts like silence tangible qualities. Its tone is initially declarative, stating a universal dread, before shifting to a more reflective and almost fearful contemplation of silence's immensity. The poem explores the comfort found in communication versus the terror evoked by absolute quiet.

The Comfort of Voice

One of the central themes in the poem is the contrast between the reassuring presence of voice and the overwhelming nature of silence. Dickinson writes, "There’s Ransom in a Voice," suggesting that voice offers a kind of redemption or salvation. This implies that communication, whether it be spoken words, song, or any other form of expression, provides a way to connect with others and escape the feeling of isolation. The idea of "ransom" further emphasizes the perceived danger from which voice protects us.

Silence as Infinity and the Unknown

The poem's most potent theme is the dread of the infinite, embodied by silence. Dickinson doesn’t simply present silence as an absence of sound; she elevates it to "Infinity." This suggests that silence represents something vast, immeasurable, and beyond human comprehension. By stating that silence itself does "not have a face," she further personifies silence. This suggests that silence is not merely an empty space but an entity. The facelessness of silence amplifies the dread, as it represents the unseen, unknowable aspects of existence, like death or the universe's mysteries.

Images of the Intangible

Dickinson masterfully uses imagery to convey the abstract nature of silence. Silence, as "Infinity," is not something that can be physically seen or touched, yet it fills the poem. The lack of a "face" for silence is a crucial symbol. A face is an identifier, a source of recognition and understanding. By denying silence a face, Dickinson makes it something alien and incomprehensible, thereby increasing our anxiety towards it. This also suggests the impersonality of the void, a place where there is no individual identity or connection.

Concluding Thoughts on Dread and the Void

In conclusion, "Silence is all we dread" is a chillingly effective poem that captures the human fear of the unknown. By personifying silence as an infinite, faceless entity, Dickinson highlights the comfort we find in communication and the terror evoked by absolute nothingness. The poem's significance lies in its ability to articulate a universal anxiety about the vastness of existence and the ultimate solitude that silence can represent, leaving the reader to ponder what, exactly, resides in that terrifying, faceless void.