There is a Shame of Nobleness –
Confronting Sudden Pelf –
A finer Shame of Exstasy –
Convicted of Itself –
A best Disgrace – a Brave Man feels –
Acknowledged – of the Brave —
One More – "Ye Blessed" – to be told –
But that's – Behind the Grave –
Confronting Sudden Pelf –
A finer Shame of Exstasy –
Convicted of Itself –
A best Disgrace – a Brave Man feels –
Acknowledged – of the Brave —
One More – "Ye Blessed" – to be told –
But that's – Behind the Grave –
Fr668 (1863) J551
In this nice and clever poem, Dickinson ironically depicts a progression of Shames – and 'shame' here is a feeling of embarrassment, shyness, or modesty (per ED Lexicon)
First up is the "Shame of Nobleness – / Confronting Sudden Pelf." An old-fashioned word, 'pelf' represents wealth and riches, or even praise and recognition (ED Lexicon again), with the understanding that they are ill-gotten or undeserved. The shame a noble nature would feel upon reception of riches and praise would be a modest conviction that such blessings are undeserved.
Next is the "Shame of Exstasy – / Convicted of itself." This would be the 'finer' perhaps more intense embarrassment or shyness experienced after transcendent or transporting experiences. I picture a poet, mystic, or music lover lost in some higher realm and then shaking their heads when returning to the quotidian self as if wondering how such ecstasy could be afforded such a one as themselves.
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| Civil War Medal of Honor recipient William Harvey Carney |
In a nod, perhaps, to the soldiers battling the Confederacy during the Civil War, Dickinson labels as 'best' the 'Disgrace' (Shame) that a Brave Man might feel being acknowledged as such by others he considers brave. While some might feel pride and a swelling ego at receiving something like the Medal of Honor, Dickinson implies that modesty is far more to be admired. The contrast between courage and bravery on the battlefield or elsewhere and shy modesty is profound and that might be why it is the best of the shames.
There is one final opportunity for admirable Shame or Disgrace but that comes only after death. The "Ye Blessed" is Dickinson's shorthand for a passage from the New Testament's Matthew 25: 34-36, where in end times, those who tended the poor and lowly are separated from those who did not and invited to the kingdom of heaven:
"34 Then shall the King [Jesus] say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Dickinson's reference to this passage culminates the poem's celebration of modesty. It is not, typically, those puffed up by wealth and fame, those who flaunt their spiritual or artistic transports, or those who swagger and boast of their exploits who take in strangers and visit prisoners. Neither do they find themselves, ultimately, on the right hand side of the Judgment throne.
Dickinson writes here in straightforward hymn or ballad form with the second and fourth lines ending in perfect rhymes. This is rather exceptional for Dickinson, but this is a short poem and expresses rather straightforward and accepted opinions.
It is essential do mention the quotation of Matthew in the bible. Without this the line becomes meaningless.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting the use of opposites: "best Disgrace" = very good disgrace. For sure the word "disgrace is too strong", but in ED way I, like you, would read "Shame".
ReplyDeleteI translate this poem and in portuguese the words became gorgeous. But surely we deal with a very difficult poem. Very hard to apprehend its meaning; very tough! A true piece of art.
Yes, this one took a while, but it was worth it.
DeleteWhat about the word "extasy" used in the poem? It should be ecstasy for sure, but, may be, ED did not like the word ecstasy since it means C11H15NO2 a hallucination!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it's just a variant spelling that we no longer use. It would have been an old variant in Dickinson's day, so I'm guessing she just liked it -- likes the extra emphasis and attention to the word, perhaps.
DeleteYou are wright, it should be a variant since in portuguese the word is "êxtase", speling exact like in the poem, except the letter "y". ( In portuguese there is no such letter in the alphabet.)
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was studying Hinduism that the Upanishads described layers of ego traps as you go deeper and deeper into Atman. For instance, you may gain yogic powers such as levitation, but you must be careful, because this power is a trap. You must go beyond it. This poem has that quality for me, escalating "tests" of the spirit.
ReplyDeleteThe first test, rejecting the "rewards" that come from being noble. This is a value deeply embedded in our culture. I think of a superhero refusing a cash reward, or Beowulf leaving all treasure behind from Grendel's lair except the head.
The second test is, perhaps, much harder. It's hard enough to reject wealth, but pleasure? But pleasure can be a trap too. Here again I think of the ancient Yogis. If you go deep enough into meditation you may discover a deep ecstasy. This ecstasy tricks one into thinking you've reached the goal, but even this, (and really any pleasure) can entrap us.
This rejection of ecstasy accords with the bent in ED's poems in fascicle 30, especially fr665, in which she aligns herself with the martyr poets. Reaching back to fr645, the poet speaks of exhilaration, which should be "For Visitor — Or Sacrament —'Tis not of Holiday."
So the poet is bravely going through the process of liberation (or whatever you want to call it), but don't call her brave for it! Because that's the next level of difficulty you face, the "best disgrace", to have pride in your own courage. If you've ever done anything "heroic", you know that there is a very uncomfortable embarrassment in being thanked for the deed; it was done for love, not self-gratification. To receive gratitude feels somehow profane. (Have you ever returned a wallet and the person tries to give you a reward? Though it is offered in gratitude, it feels somehow like an insult.)
The final test will be after death, when you reject even the "blessing" of God. This recalls an earlier poem, fr634 in which ED writes of "confident despair". (According to Christanne Miller's book, fr634 would actually be a later poem than fr668, as it is from fascicle 31. I think this makes sense, considering the journey ED is on).
The idea of rejecting the idea of being "blessed" resonates with me. It so often seems to come from a place of comparison. When I hear people say they are "blessed", or worse, "There go I, but for the grace of God" I feel a twinge of shame.
This poem, showing the ever finer gradations of "shame", is full of a deep hermetic insight. All 4 levels are worth meditating on further. For me it is that second level that is the toughest. Ecstasy is tenacious!
It has been said ED read her dictionary just for fun and, no doubt, words like “Pelf”. ED Lex lists “wealth” as first definition, but adds etymology: Old French, “pilfer”. Sounds right to me.
ReplyDeleteReading Susan K and d scribe humbles. They see deeply, say clearly what they see. It’s an Exstasy for this TPBers. ED says “One More – "Ye Blessed" – to be told –” feels like Disgrace. So be it. You enrich our lives. Please keep pilfering.