Dan’s Reviews > Master Letters of Emily Dickinson > Status Update
Dan
is on page 25 of 52
Letter 2, Sheet 2,
Again, more uncertainty in her inability to find the right words. Here she describes being shunned like an odd "Backwoodsman" who has is on the verge of being banished from civilization, from "master". She wants forgiveness and at this point in the letter she seems more certain of her word choice once she asks for forgiveness. Are these related?
— Oct 14, 2019 12:58PM
Again, more uncertainty in her inability to find the right words. Here she describes being shunned like an odd "Backwoodsman" who has is on the verge of being banished from civilization, from "master". She wants forgiveness and at this point in the letter she seems more certain of her word choice once she asks for forgiveness. Are these related?
Like flag
Dan’s Previous Updates
Dan
is on page 44 of 52
Letter 3, sheet 7,
Very romantic image of them alone in the woods, an image of extasy, of being in "bloom", of flying in the "Ether". There is a release at the end tied to the image of "in white" which alludes to marriage, to virginity, to a new beginning?
These letters feel uncomfortably personal, like she wouldn't want us reading them?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:44PM
Very romantic image of them alone in the woods, an image of extasy, of being in "bloom", of flying in the "Ether". There is a release at the end tied to the image of "in white" which alludes to marriage, to virginity, to a new beginning?
These letters feel uncomfortably personal, like she wouldn't want us reading them?
Dan
is on page 42 of 52
Letter 3, sheet 6,
The imagery is like that of a bride "in white" and growing into old age ("cane") but there is a great distance between them, perhaps the distance between heaven and earth, between horizon and shore. There is a real longing here, a genuine desire to be together with "master" but also the anxiety that perhaps she might "disappoint" (wound?)
— Oct 14, 2019 01:41PM
The imagery is like that of a bride "in white" and growing into old age ("cane") but there is a great distance between them, perhaps the distance between heaven and earth, between horizon and shore. There is a real longing here, a genuine desire to be together with "master" but also the anxiety that perhaps she might "disappoint" (wound?)
Dan
is on page 40 of 52
Letter 3, sheet 5,
Carlo sighting! So then when the sea / horizon overtakes her, she imagines her and master switching places? Is this what she means by dying as fast as she could, that she wants to switch places? Is she waiting for death, to go to that "untried country"?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:39PM
Carlo sighting! So then when the sea / horizon overtakes her, she imagines her and master switching places? Is this what she means by dying as fast as she could, that she wants to switch places? Is she waiting for death, to go to that "untried country"?
Dan
is on page 36 of 52
Letter 3, sheet 4,
Perhaps the volcanic imagery is a symbol of her heart's passion which might have caused both of them pain, and that's why she needs a leech to bleed out the excess in her which is larger than her (letter 1, sheet 1, letter 2, sheet 1)? Is she overflowing with pain? With passion? Is there a difference? Then she combines the horizon with the edge of the sea, as if the horizon is closing in at her?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:37PM
Perhaps the volcanic imagery is a symbol of her heart's passion which might have caused both of them pain, and that's why she needs a leech to bleed out the excess in her which is larger than her (letter 1, sheet 1, letter 2, sheet 1)? Is she overflowing with pain? With passion? Is there a difference? Then she combines the horizon with the edge of the sea, as if the horizon is closing in at her?
Dan
is on page 36 of 52
Letter 3, Sheet 3,
She continues with the theme of redemption in relation to repression and that which is forbidden. This leads into her wondering if master's heart is in the same place as hers, so does she mean to admit she's done something wrong which requires redemption but only because she's human and makes mistakes of the human heart? Is it jealousy? Is the wound a wound she caused?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:33PM
She continues with the theme of redemption in relation to repression and that which is forbidden. This leads into her wondering if master's heart is in the same place as hers, so does she mean to admit she's done something wrong which requires redemption but only because she's human and makes mistakes of the human heart? Is it jealousy? Is the wound a wound she caused?
Dan
is on page 35 of 52
Letter 3, Sheet 2,
She's asking for "Redemption", and she's asked this before in letter 2 when she asked not to be banished. Is this "redemption" related to the image of Thomas and Christ's wounds? And how is she altered, is it only in age since she still loves the same? She also wants to breathe the same air that "master" has, inhabit the same space, feel the same thing, but she feels sorrow at their separation.
— Oct 14, 2019 01:31PM
She's asking for "Redemption", and she's asked this before in letter 2 when she asked not to be banished. Is this "redemption" related to the image of Thomas and Christ's wounds? And how is she altered, is it only in age since she still loves the same? She also wants to breathe the same air that "master" has, inhabit the same space, feel the same thing, but she feels sorrow at their separation.
Dan
is on page 32 of 52
Letter 3, Sheet 1,
She begins with a wound again (like 2's Tomahawk) then follows it up with the image of doubting Thomas and Jesus' wounds as proof of faith. Does she think of "master" this way, as like Christ's wounds that she must see to believe in him? Is "master" a wound she feels? And this is related to the image of the heart, first seen on this sheet as the one "He built ... in me". Wound leads to heart.
— Oct 14, 2019 01:29PM
She begins with a wound again (like 2's Tomahawk) then follows it up with the image of doubting Thomas and Jesus' wounds as proof of faith. Does she think of "master" this way, as like Christ's wounds that she must see to believe in him? Is "master" a wound she feels? And this is related to the image of the heart, first seen on this sheet as the one "He built ... in me". Wound leads to heart.
Dan
is on page 31 of 52
It is really unusual how much she worked on these letters, but then it might offer some insight into how she went about the writing process with her numerous revisions in pencil and ink, and how she turned "He" into "I dont". I wonder why she'd make such a careful alteration, but then later add many changes in pencil below? Did she mean for the letter to be done at one point then thought of something new to add?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:06PM
Dan
is on page 29 of 52
Letter 2, Sheet 4,
Again with the nautical / boat imagery she likes to use about the journey of life being like an ocean voyage (and a nice play on the word "tug"). And who is the "tug"? Is it "master", is it inspiration? She seems so eager to please and not offend and I'm also reminded of those imaginary conversation we have when we're lonely and want to express ourselves but can't in person.
— Oct 14, 2019 01:04PM
Again with the nautical / boat imagery she likes to use about the journey of life being like an ocean voyage (and a nice play on the word "tug"). And who is the "tug"? Is it "master", is it inspiration? She seems so eager to please and not offend and I'm also reminded of those imaginary conversation we have when we're lonely and want to express ourselves but can't in person.
Dan
is on page 26 of 52
Letter 2, Sheet 3,
This feels very stream of consciousness in how she goes from "wonder" stinging her more than the bee to saying the bee never stung her - is this thinking / writing the "gay music" she hears? But overall she talks of injury, of a "Tomahawk in [her] side" but she does not complain (like 'I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself" DH Lawrence). Has "master" hurt her? What's the injury?
— Oct 14, 2019 01:02PM
This feels very stream of consciousness in how she goes from "wonder" stinging her more than the bee to saying the bee never stung her - is this thinking / writing the "gay music" she hears? But overall she talks of injury, of a "Tomahawk in [her] side" but she does not complain (like 'I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself" DH Lawrence). Has "master" hurt her? What's the injury?
