Like most of her other works, Emily Dickinson’s “'Twas like a Maelstrom, with a notch” is a darkly themed poem that examines depression and its effect on the human mind. Dickinson’s history with depression and suicidal thoughts implies that the poem is describing Dickinson’s daily tackle with depression. Though the poem does not describe what lead up to this torture, it shows how it has forced Dickinson into a feeling of hopelessness and resignation.
The beginning stanzas of the poem focus on a whirlpool, “Maelstrom, with a notch, nearer, every Day,” that is disrupting Dickinson's life (Dickinson 1, 2). This whirlpool is the first of the three adversities Dickinson faces throughout this poem. She uses a whirlpool to signify how she keeps on being pulled back into depression. No matter how hard she tries, the whirlpool will always overpower her. Forcing her to stop attempting …show more content…
Dickinson encounters a “Goblin with a Guage / kept measuring the hours,” as if he was counting down the time till the next horrific event (Dickinson 10, 11). Dickinson felt as if she was “in his paws,” symbolizing that she has no control over her body anymore (Dickinson 13). The depression has affected her so deeply that she is now beginning to physically react to it through chronic aches and pains. Yet again, Dickinson surrenders herself to the torture and loses hope while doing so. Only to be saved again and placed into another near death situation. The third, and final, torture begins just like the others. Dickinson finds herself summoned to a dungeon, however this time she is certain she will die. She believes that by knowing that her death is imminent she has been given the “Dungeon's luxury of Doubt” (Dickinson 20). To her dismay, however, she is once again saved by a creature gasping “Repreive!” (Dickinson 23). Thus, leaving her in a never ending loop of torture and
The beginning stanzas of the poem focus on a whirlpool, “Maelstrom, with a notch, nearer, every Day,” that is disrupting Dickinson's life (Dickinson 1, 2). This whirlpool is the first of the three adversities Dickinson faces throughout this poem. She uses a whirlpool to signify how she keeps on being pulled back into depression. No matter how hard she tries, the whirlpool will always overpower her. Forcing her to stop attempting …show more content…
Dickinson encounters a “Goblin with a Guage / kept measuring the hours,” as if he was counting down the time till the next horrific event (Dickinson 10, 11). Dickinson felt as if she was “in his paws,” symbolizing that she has no control over her body anymore (Dickinson 13). The depression has affected her so deeply that she is now beginning to physically react to it through chronic aches and pains. Yet again, Dickinson surrenders herself to the torture and loses hope while doing so. Only to be saved again and placed into another near death situation. The third, and final, torture begins just like the others. Dickinson finds herself summoned to a dungeon, however this time she is certain she will die. She believes that by knowing that her death is imminent she has been given the “Dungeon's luxury of Doubt” (Dickinson 20). To her dismay, however, she is once again saved by a creature gasping “Repreive!” (Dickinson 23). Thus, leaving her in a never ending loop of torture and