Emily Dickinson's to Fight Aloud: a Struggle for Self-expression

Emily Dickinson, a renowned American poet, is known for her distinctive style and themes that revolve around life, death, love, and nature. "To Fight Aloud," one of her poems, reflects on the struggles of self-expression, particularly for women in a patriarchal society. This essay analyzes the poem in detail, delving into its meaning, structure, and literary devices.

Need for Self-Expression

Firstly, "To Fight Aloud" focuses on the need for self-expression, and the challenges that come with it. The speaker, who is presumably a woman, is aware of the societal expectations that limit her freedom and restrict her from speaking openly about her ideas and beliefs. She exclaims, "To fight aloud is very brave, but gallanter, I know, who charge within the bosom." Here, she highlights the courage required to speak one's mind in public, as well as the strength that lies within those who resist silently but with conviction.

Critique of Gender Roles

Moreover, the poem critiques the gender roles that confine women to silence and obedience. The speaker notes that "The coward, and the brave, and all, in troops assembled, came." This line suggests that men, who are deemed the brave and valorous ones, tend to dominate public discourse, while women, who are viewed as weak and irrational, are expected to remain silent. However, the speaker refuses to conform to such stereotypes and declares, "And then the queerest thing occurred, a sword outweslinged fly, which, like the claws of horrid bird, seized hold of my enemy!" Here, she employs a metaphorical device, comparing her words to a sword that can overpower her oppressors and silence them.

Structure and Tone

The structure of the poem is composed of six quatrains, each with an ABCB rhyme scheme. This consistent structure creates a rhythm that is fluid and easy to read, allowing the reader to focus on the speaker's ideas and emotions. Furthermore, the poem's tone is rebellious yet resigned, conveying the speaker's determination to fight for her freedom, while acknowledging the difficulty of doing so.

Literary Devices

In addition, "To Fight Aloud" employs various literary devices that add depth and meaning to the poem. For instance, the use of alliteration in "To fight aloud is very brave, but gallanter, I know, who charge within the bosom," creates a musical quality that draws attention to the phrase and emphasizes the speaker's point. Also, the use of metaphor and imagery in "A sword outweslinged fly, which, like the claws of horrid bird, seized hold of my enemy!" conveys a sense of power and dominance, suggesting that the speaker's words are strong enough to overcome her oppressors.

Conclusion

Overall, Emily Dickinson's "To Fight Aloud" is a powerful reflection on the struggle for self-expression, particularly for women in a patriarchal society. The poem's structure, tone, and literary devices work together to create a vivid and emotional portrayal of the speaker's determination to break free from societal expectations and speak her mind. Ultimately, the poem encourages readers to recognize the value of self-expression and to fight for their voices to be heard.