Poem Analysis - Their Height In Heaven Comforts Not

A Comfortless Heaven: An Introduction to Dickinson's Doubt

Emily Dickinson's "Their Height in Heaven Comforts Not" is a poem steeped in uncertainty and a preference for the tangible over the abstract. The poem expresses a profound unease with grand concepts like heaven and glory, opting instead for a smaller, more manageable reality. The tone is initially dismissive, almost defiant, then shifts to a more contemplative and cautious stance, reflecting a speaker grappling with faith and the limitations of human perception. The overall mood is one of quiet dissatisfaction and a stubborn clinging to the known, however imperfect.

The Finite and the Infinite: A Clash of Worlds

One of the central themes is the limitation of human understanding in the face of the infinite. The opening lines immediately establish this tension: "Their Height in Heaven comforts not / Their Glory nought to me / 'Twas best imperfect as it was / I'm finite I can't see." Dickinson uses the vastness of heaven as a foil to the speaker's own finite nature. The speaker explicitly states that they cannot comprehend such grandeur, implying that these grand concepts offer no solace or value. This theme is further developed in the second stanza, which speaks of "The House of Supposition / The Glimmering Frontier that / Skirts the Acres of Perhaps." This imagery suggests that ideas of the divine are merely speculative constructs, existing on the edges of what is knowable, creating insecurity rather than peace.

Contentment in Smallness: Embracing Limitation

Another prominent theme is the acceptance of limitation and a preference for modest contentment. The speaker asserts that "The Wealth I had contented me / If 'twas a meaner size / Then I had counted it until / It pleased my narrow Eyes." This suggests a deliberate choice to find satisfaction in what is small and easily understood. There's a sense of control and agency in focusing on the measurable and manageable, even if it seems "meaner" to others. The phrase "narrow Eyes" is particularly telling; it could be interpreted negatively, as a lack of vision, but also as a deliberate narrowing of focus to find peace within a limited scope.

Evidence vs. Belief: The Timid Plea of Uncertainty

The poem also explores the tension between faith (or supposition) and empirical evidence. The final stanza highlights this struggle: "Better than larger values / That show however true / This timid life of Evidence / Keeps pleading I don’t know." The speaker admits that grander, more impressive "values" may be true, but they are still drawn to the tangible world of "Evidence." The personification of "this timid life of Evidence" pleading "I don't know" underscores the speaker's own uncertainty and the cautious nature of empirical observation. This could be interpreted as a critique of blind faith, suggesting that a life grounded in observable reality, even if uncertain, is preferable to accepting grandiose claims without question. Is the "I don't know" a sign of weakness or a sign of intellectual honesty?

A Measured Reality: Final Thoughts

In conclusion, "Their Height in Heaven Comforts Not" is a powerful exploration of the human desire for certainty and the struggle to reconcile faith with the limitations of human perception. Dickinson uses imagery of vastness and smallness to emphasize the speaker's preference for a manageable reality over abstract, overwhelming concepts. The poem reveals a deep-seated skepticism toward grand pronouncements and an embrace of the imperfect but tangible world, reminding us that contentment can be found not in seeking the infinite, but in appreciating the beauty and complexity of the finite.