assault a Plush/ Or violate a Star" (“Poems of Emily Dickerson”1-4). My interpretation of
the preceding quatrain is that the 'soft cherubic characters' is in reference to those of us
whom expel to the people around us some divine and angelic behavior, all the while
hiding their true desires within. They're inner feelings such as those expressed in "One
would soon as assault a Plush/ Or violate a Star" (“Poems of Emily Dickerson”3-4), is
part of the intangible nature of the objects with which the hypocrites are unable to show
their true feelings towards. They exhibit restrain and the utmost respect to the objects of
societies' affection, yet all the while their inner passions are focused in the opposite
direction and, when and if the opportunity may arise, they would succumb to their inner
desires.
Hypocrisy is a 'horror' for the human race, for it makes everyone weary of the true
feelings one has towards someone or some belief. "Such Dimity Convictions/ A Horror
so refined/ Of freckled Human Nature/ Of Deity ashamed" (“Poems of Emily
Dickerson”5-8). The second quatrain depicts the nature of nature of hypocrisy as a
'freckle' on the face of humanity. In this quatrain, Dickinson incorporates great diction
that formulates into great imagery and allows greater understanding for the reader.
Dickinson's universal theme of hypocrisy is characterized as being a distinct and 'refined
horror' which is a part of the imperfect human persona, yet although we all believe that
we are different from one another, our convictions lead us towards feeling ashamed.
In the third and final quatrain, Dickinson reveals the universality of the horror of
hypocrisy; "It's such a common Glory/ A Fisherman's Degree/ Redemption Brittle
Lady / Be so ashamed of Thee" (“Poems of Emily Dickerson”9-12). "It's such a
common-Glory" (“Poems of Emily Dickerson”9), reveals that although we like to believe
that this 'problem' may be situated among a small group of people, Dickinson rather
extenuates in this last quatrain that it is universal and 'common'. The final line of the
poem "Be so ashamed of Thee" (“Poems of Emily Dickerson”12) makes on wonder if he
or she truly is tied to his or her convictions, and if so, wouldn’t one not allow his or
herself to go astray from his beliefs?
Emily Dickinson's poem " What Soft Cherubic Creatures” is about the
universality of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy in society is deemed unacceptable and quite
offensive to those who are found to practice it, yet all the while if we just look closer at
our selves we can easily find that we too are guilty in one form or another of hypocrisy.
As Emily Dickinson alluded to in her poem, hypocrisy is just one of the many 'freckles'
or imperfections in our human persona which hinders us from reaching our full potential
and will continue to cause conflict throughout the world.
Works Cited
- Smith, Dana."Poems of Emily Dickerson"
Britannica Online. 14 Mar 1999.
<http://www.eb.com: 180>.
-
Felluga, Dino.“Undergraduate Guide to Literary Theory”.
17 Dec. 1999. Purdue University.
<http://www.PurdueUniverisity.edu>
