Poem Analysis - What Is

A Childlike Curiosity About the Afterlife

Emily Dickinson's "What Is" is a charmingly inquisitive exploration of paradise, viewed through the lens of a child's naive and somewhat skeptical imagination. The poem adopts a conversational and questioning tone, characterized by simple language and direct inquiries. A slight shift occurs midway, moving from pure curiosity to a touch of anxiety and then culminating in a hopeful and comforting resolution. This short poem manages to be both playful and profound, demonstrating Dickinson's ability to tackle complex themes with deceptive simplicity.

Homesickness and Longing: The Fear of Isolation

One of the central themes in "What Is" is the fear of isolation and the longing for familiar comforts, even in the most idealized setting. The speaker wonders if paradise is "always pleasant there," implying a fear of monotony or a lack of the contrasts that make life interesting. The lines "Won't they scold us when we're homesick / Or tell God how cross we are" reveal a deeper anxiety: the fear of being judged or misunderstood even in a place of supposed perfection. The poem subtly suggests that even paradise would be unbearable if it meant being cut off from the familiar and the loved.

Eden vs. New England: A Question of Paradise

The poem sets up a comparison between the traditional idea of Eden and the speaker's own experience of New England. This contrast highlights the theme of subjective experience and the redefinition of paradise. The speaker's final question, "Maybe Eden a'n't so lonesome / As New England used to be!" suggests that paradise is not necessarily a fixed place or concept, but rather a state of being relative to one's own feelings of isolation and belonging. The poem subtly critiques the conventional vision of paradise by implying that its value is contingent on whether it can provide a sense of connection and solace, something the speaker seemingly finds lacking in her present reality.

Barefoot on Jasper: The Symbolism of Vulnerability

The image of walking "the Jasper barefoot" is a vivid symbol of vulnerability and exposure. Jasper, a precious stone, represents the idealized beauty and perfection of paradise. Walking barefoot implies a lack of protection, suggesting that the speaker fears being judged or found wanting in this perfect environment. The line "Ransomed folks won't laugh at me" further emphasizes this fear of judgment and social exclusion. This image encapsulates the speaker's anxiety about not fitting in and the potential for feeling even more isolated in a place where everyone else is supposedly perfect.

Faith and Doubt: Redefining the Divine

The poem dances between faith and doubt, ultimately offering a comforting reassurance. The lines about a "Father in the sky" and the possibility of getting lost or dying introduce religious themes. The reference to "the Nurse" represents earthly authority and discipline, contrasted with the potential for divine forgiveness. The final lines suggest a gentle subversion of traditional religious ideas. Perhaps paradise isn't a place of judgment but of acceptance. Ultimately, the speaker crafts her own version of heaven, one that values connection and understanding over rigid adherence to dogma. The poem's ending is not a declaration of absolute faith, but rather a hopeful assertion that paradise might be less isolating than the speaker's present reality.