Poem Analysis - Those Fair Fictitious People

A Glimpse into Immortality: Introduction

Emily Dickinson's "Those Fair fictitious People" explores the nature of art, death, and the afterlife, contemplating the relationship between the earthly realm and a perfected beyond. The poem begins with a detached observation of figures seemingly frozen in time, gradually shifting towards a tone of hopeful anticipation and a touch of melancholic acceptance. Dickinson contemplates these figures from afar, musing about their destiny versus humanity's.

Art as a Portal: The Unchanging Canvas

One main theme revolves around the power of art to transcend mortality. The "fair fictitious People," those "Women plucked away" and "Men of Ivory," initially seem to refer to figures in portraits or sculptures. These figures, especially the "Boys and Girls, in Canvas / Who stay upon the Wall," represent an idealized and unchanging existence. The poem suggests that art offers a form of immortality, a "Keepsake" that preserves these individuals in a state of perpetual beauty. This contrasts with the impermanence of human life, hinted at by the phrase "plucked away."

Hope and the Afterlife: Trusting in Perfection

Mortality and the afterlife are strongly emphasized. The poem transitions into a contemplation of a "perfecter" place, an afterlife characterized by "Inheriting Delight." This space exists "Beyond our faint Conjecture," highlighting the limitations of human understanding when trying to grasp the divine. The use of "we trust" emphasizes faith, acting as the foundation for believing in this blissful existence. Dickinson paints a picture of an afterlife that is not just a cessation of earthly life, but a joyous continuation, blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

Expectation and Homecoming: The Miracle of Death

The theme of anticipation builds upon the idea of the afterlife. The inhabitants of this "perfecter" place are described as "Anticipating us / With transport." This suggests a welcoming embrace, a reunion filled with joy. Dickinson presents death as a "Miracle" that grants "admittance Home," contrasting sharply with our earthly existence which is "Exile." This perspective reframes death not as an ending, but as a passage to a superior existence, one that we are all destined to traverse, "The Way ourself, must come." The "transport, that would be a pain / Except for Holiness" possibly suggests that the excitement and wonder of passing from mortal life to eternal life could be overwhelming if not for the grace and sacredness of the moment.

Concluding Thoughts: An Enduring Legacy

In conclusion, "Those Fair fictitious People" is a meditation on art, death, and the possibility of a blissful afterlife. Dickinson utilizes imagery of idealized figures and a "perfecter" place to explore the human desire for permanence and the comfort found in faith. The poem offers a hopeful perspective on mortality, suggesting that death is not an ending but a homecoming, a "Miracle" that leads to an existence beyond our current comprehension. Through art, Dickinson seems to suggest, we can glimpse a reflection of this eternal realm and find solace in the promise of enduring beauty and joy.