Much madness is divinest sense- poetry response 15

Corey and Justin taught this poem in class, and I really liked it, so I'm choosing it for this week. First, the title. The word "divinest" stands out because it is not a recognized word that we use a lot today. I think it is to out emphasize on the idea of divine, while giving it a "madness" touch. I think Emily Dickinson was very aware that it is not a real word, and it would even be mad to write a word that isn't what everyone else would write. So it ties into the rest of the poem. The main idea of this poem is to go against the norm. If one demurs, as Dickinson says, from everyone else, from the majority, he or she is dangerous. Possibly using the word to show that she is deferring from everyone else. She is challenging English in the slightest way, but she has written her future in saying she will be handled with a chain.

The chain was the other part in this poem which really captivated me. In poetry, each word the author uses must portray EXACTLY the feeling, imagery, tone, voice, etc., that the author is aiming for. If Dickinson as to say something like, "And handled with repercussions," or "And handled with something bad," the poem would not have the severe, weighing, fearful tone that it leaves the reader with. After I read this poem, I was astounded with the though of being bound b a chain, whether self imposed, or by another body, the idea that if I go away from the common thread, then something will cause me to be restricted with some form of an unbreakable, thick, metal chain.

Just some thoughts about why and how Dickinson creates the feeling, and writes the way she does, according to ME!

<3