Se-AnnWilliams

Deeper Look -"Going To Heaven"

The title of the poem I chose was Going to heaven. It was published in 1955 and it was written by Emily Dickinson. I chose this poem because I felt it was a great poem. I came across so many poems, but this one got my attention. I decided to present this poem for my presentation because it made me wondered, so I figure it would allow the class to wonder too.

I interpreted this poem to be about two individuals that died. Though both individuals died and one is questioning whether or not they are going to make it to heaven to see Christ or would they remain behind. The person in the poem, then states if they do not make it he or she want a place saved near the people they lost. However, the poem continues and the person makes it to heaven and leaves the other person behind.
According to research I have done, the author stopped attending church and eventually withdrew from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary because she could not accept the idea of Original Sin. She also resisted the local religious revivals in which other family members and friends became involved. Despite her dislike for revivals incorporate central Christian themes in her poetry. Research also stated that she had a great love for the Bible. However, it maybe difficult to conclude how she feels about Christianity.
In the poem Going to heaven and by reading and researching other poems from Dickinson (example I cannot live with you and Faith). I concluded that Dickson realized that she and Christ can never come together on earth because of the discrepancies between herself and the teaching of Christian religion. She resolves that the only way is for her to keep the door, or the communication between them open as wide as the oceans are with prayer. Throughout her poems she includes despair caused by the confusion of Christian doctrine and keeps towards God. The reading of these poems offers an interesting glimpse into Dickinson's views on Christ and religion. Perhaps her feelings of uncertainty are manifested in her frequent use of Christ, dashes, and life effectively suspends the readers just as she is suspended from the truth.