Poem Analysis - The Name Of It Is Autumn

Introduction: A Bleakly Beautiful Season

Emily Dickinson's "The Name of It is 'Autumn'" presents a stark, almost violent, portrayal of the autumn season. The poem moves beyond the typical romanticized view, depicting autumn as a season of bleeding colors and impending loss. The tone is initially descriptive, bordering on clinical, but shifts to one of awe and perhaps even fear as the poem progresses. Dickinson uses vivid imagery to create a sense of both beauty and destruction inherent in the natural cycle of autumn.

Autumn as Violent Transition: A Theme of Decay

One of the central themes of the poem is the violent transition from life to death, represented by the shift from summer to winter. Autumn, in this context, is not a gentle decline, but a sudden and brutal shedding. This is vividly illustrated through the use of blood imagery. The lines "The hue of it is Blood / An Artery upon the Hill / A Vein along the Road" immediately establish a sense of bloodshed and the draining of life force from the landscape. This theme is further developed with the image of "the Shower of Stain," suggesting a pervasive and unavoidable staining of everything by the dying season. The use of "stain" implies a permanent alteration, marking the landscape irrevocably.

Mortality's Impending Presence: The Scarlet Rain

Another key theme is mortality, which is deeply intertwined with the imagery of blood and decay. The "Scarlet Rain" represents the falling of leaves, but it is also a metaphor for the end of life. The image of "Winds upset the Basin / And spill the Scarlet Rain" is particularly powerful, suggesting that death is not a natural occurrence, but a violent and disruptive force that overpowers nature's capacity to contain it. The fact that the "rain" sprinkles "Bonnets far below" implies that no one escapes the effects of this impending mortality; it touches everything, from the grandest of landscapes to the smallest of details.

Color and Circulation: Symbolism of Blood

The recurring symbol of blood is central to understanding the poem's message. Blood, typically associated with life and vitality, is here used to represent the process of death and decay. The image of an "Artery upon the Hill" and a "Vein along the Road" suggests the landscape itself is being drained of its lifeblood. This image reinforces the idea of autumn as a violent transition, where the vibrant energy of summer is being forcibly extracted from the world. The circulation of blood, typically a sign of life, is instead represented by the "eddies like a Rose away / Upon Vermilion Wheels," evoking a sense of movement and dissipation, highlighting the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of its end.

A Final Stain: Conclusion

"The Name of It is 'Autumn'" is a powerful meditation on the themes of decay and mortality. Dickinson uses vivid imagery and symbolism to create a portrait of autumn that is both beautiful and unsettling. The poem’s bleak tone and striking use of blood imagery underscore the poem's overall message: autumn is not a gentle farewell, but a violent reminder of the fleeting nature of existence, leaving an undeniable "stain" on everything it touches. The poem challenges us to confront the darker side of the natural cycle, and to consider the implications of mortality in the face of such stark beauty.