Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Emily Dickinson's "Choice" is a remarkable poem that delves into the themes of individuality, preference, and the dichotomy between the spiritual and the material. Set within the backdrop of existential questioning and considerations of the afterlife, the poem explores the profound act of choice in electing a single "soul" over all others, in a setting that seems to transcend time and space. While Emily Dickinson often pondered the grand questions of life, death, and immortality in her work, in this particular poem, she merges these themes with a sense of intimacy, elevating the act of personal choice to cosmic significance.

The poem begins with a declaration: "Of all the souls that stand create / I have elected one." The language here is imbued with a sense of divine or cosmic act; souls "stand create," as if they are both created and ever-lasting, waiting to be elected or chosen. The speaker announces a definitive preference, though what exactly constitutes this election is left tantalizingly vague, inviting the reader into the mystery.

The second stanza delves deeper into the notion of choice, posing it within the framework of existential transition: "When sense from spirit files away, / And subterfuge is done." In these lines, the speaker refers to a moment when all illusions or pretenses ("subterfuge") are stripped away, and the earthly ("sense") separates from the eternal ("spirit"). It is as if the poem suggests that true choice is only possible when one can discern the essence of things, away from the distractions and deceits of the material world.

"When that which is and that which was / Apart, intrinsic, stand," the poem continues, introducing the concept of time-past and present-as another form of illusion or barrier to true understanding. At this point, the "brief tragedy of flesh" (our mortal life) is said to be "shifted like a sand," indicating its ephemeral nature in the grand scale of existence. The choice made by the speaker gains further weight here; it is not merely a choice among many, but one that seems to have been made with a clear vision of what is lasting and meaningful.

The closing stanza, "When figures show their royal front / And mists are carved away,- / Behold the atom I preferred / To all the lists of clay!" unveils the choice's culmination. Figures showing their "royal front" suggests a grand revelation, perhaps even divine or universal truths coming to light. Amidst this, the "atom" that the speaker preferred is revealed. The term "atom" connotes both something extremely small and fundamental-a basic unit of matter, which here symbolizes the essential soul or entity that the speaker has chosen. This soul, this "atom," is preferred over "all the lists of clay," implying the futility or impermanence of material forms.

While Emily Dickinson lived in a 19th-century American context, filled with spiritual searching and existential questioning, her work often transcends the specifics of her time and space. "Choice" is a timeless contemplation of human preference set against the grand tapestry of existence and non-existence, capturing the universal yet intimate act of making a choice that is informed by spiritual clarity and existential understanding.

In summary, "Choice" by Emily Dickinson is a profound exploration of how preference is an act of cosmic significance. Through its focus on the process of choosing a single "soul" or "atom," the poem serves as a powerful meditation on the interconnected themes of individuality, materiality, and spirituality. Dickinson's deft touch leaves the reader pondering the weight of their own choices in a world that is both temporal and eternal.

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