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11 April 2020

I fear a Man of frugal Speech –

I fear a Man of frugal Speech —
I fear a Silent Man —
Haranguer — I can overtake —
Or Babbler — entertain —

But He who weigheth — While the Rest —
Expend their furthest pound —
Of this Man — I am wary —
I fear that He is Grand —
                                                                   Fr663 (1863)  J543

This poem asks to be read aloud. The hymn meter (alternating iambic tetrameter / iambic trimeter lines) is, for Dickinson, highly regular and the slant rhymes not too slant. The poem trips lightly on its poetic feet, contributing to the tone of its dry, ironic wit. The irony, of course, is in presenting the silent, thoughtful man as the man to fear.

I'm rather with Dickinson on this one. When I was a lass and even Dickinson's 33 years when she penned this, I too was a bit wary of the 'Man of frugal Speech' who weighed his words. It's much easier, even fun, to parlay with the ones who present themselves with an argument to confront or the ones who enjoy friendly banter. I would indeed be afraid I'd be deemed a haranguer or babbler to Dickinson's Silent Man. My own burbled-out thoughts – even if not babbling or haranguing –  might be found wanting.
              
The last line of the poem provides the rationale for the speaker's fear: The Silent Man might be frugal with speech because he may be 'Grand' – that is to say, per the essential Emily Dickinson Lexicon, 'noble' or 'lofty'. He thinks before he speaks; he weighs his words and the words of others. He, no doubt, is not the popular guest, although perhaps the most respected.
            Dickinson uses a metaphor of commerce in this last stanza. As one might weigh the goods before expending money on them, so one can weigh thoughts before expending words on them. The Haranguer and Babbler (and most of us) will squander words, spend them all at the drop of a hat ('Expend their furthest pound'), while the Man of frugal Speech ponders words: are they relevant? True? of Value?

Edward Dickinson: Emily's father, Amherst
College Treasurer, and US Congressman   
I wonder if this poem expresses some of Dickinson's feelings towards her father, Edward Dickinson. Perhaps the foremost citizen of Amherst and practically essential to its well-being, he was known for his rectitude, character, and  dignity. In a sermon that eulogized him after his death, Reverend Jonathan L. Jenkins said that "our friend and father was a silent man" (The Life of Emily Dickinson, Richard B. Sewall, p.68).

            Having been raised by a serious and taciturn man, Dickinson would know about the depth; she would know about the contrast between such a person and the ones with clever prattle. But despite the many words written about how oppressive it must have been in the Dickinson household, it must always be remembered that Emily Dickinson adored her home, hated to be away from it, and in her letters frequently expressed her joy and appreciation for the entire family as a unit – including her father.

19 comments:

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  3. I like the word "Haranguer". It comes from german. The latim absorbed the german word and in portuguese it became "arenga"(substantive), "arengador" (adjective). But people dont use that word any more.

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  4. I am enchanted with the singular indicative third person "weigheth". Very elegant!

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    1. I agree. And wouldn't it be terrible if she had followed 'weigheth' with 'expendeth'?

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  5. The expression "the rest (of)" is considered plural, I know that. But, I do not agree with semantic concordance. For me, as a linguistic and mathematician; language is syntax and there is no semantic without syntax.

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    1. It is only considered plural when appropriate: 'the rest are okay'; 'the rest is history', etc. But how does this comment apply to this poem and commentary?

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    2. I just see the expression "while the rest" used as plural, and utilise it to censure the grammar by and large.

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  6. The last line I think that it should be:

    "I fear that He be Grand", since the sentence is a subjunctive sentence.

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    1. Well, technically you are right, but ED is using her poet's ear and availing herself of her poet's license.

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    3. by not respecting the syntax makes her the most innovative poet

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  8. The more I read this poem the more I feel your suggestion is correct that she had her father in mind. An excellent poem!

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  9. For every silent grand person of deep thought and contemplation, I have known a silent boring person without an interest in deep thought nor in conversing. Perhaps the same can be said about the "haranguers" but at least they usually do not bore me. Still, a powerful challenge for discernment by the great Dickinson.

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  11. I don't remember where or when I first read this poem, but it stuck with me. It is such a reversal of what we are taught; to weigh our words, to be the strong silent type, that still waters run deep, etc. This poem releases us from all such "grandiosity". A babbler is an open book. And at least you know where a haranguer stands. We are more comfortable around them because, ultimately, they are more socially connected, more in conversation with us.

    I remember this poem a bit differently. In my memory it had more to do with trust, that you can't trust a man who is quiet. But, unless there is a similar poem to this (and, if so, a google search didn't reveal it to me) this must have been the poem I read long ago. But the general truth of it strikes me the same.

    I'd like to see a corollary poem to this one though. I have often noted that the silent people who SEEM grand, or arrogant, are in reality exactly the opposite, insecure. Many times I have thought someone was too cool and aloof, only to find out later that they were suffering with shyness. It's a terrible misconception because it drives away the very thing needed. Insecurity is off putting and breeds more insecurity.

    With apologies to ED...

    I wonder over one aloof —
    I worry for the Silent Man —
    The Talker — I might understand —
    the Babbler — entertain.

    But He who's quiet — While the rest —
    go where tongues may lead—
    will seem arrogant at first --
    when he's just afraid.

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  12. ED knows her father too well to say “I am wary - / I fear that He is Grand”. She respected him but did not fear him.

    She only capitalized masculine pronouns for God and Reverend Charles Wadsworth. Note the caps on “Man” and “He”.

    Also, Wadsworth fit ED’s poetic description perfectly, “I fear a Man of frugal Speech - / I fear a Silent Man.” (See the contemporaneous, compelling description of Wadsworth in Comment 21, F477, ‘He fumbles at your Soul’, October 6, 2023.)

    ED has good reason to "fear a Man of frugal speech". In her mind, Wadsworth abandoned her when he moved to San Francisco, leaving her in bouts of deep depression for more than a year. Still she forgave him (F658.1863.'Tis true—They shut me in the Cold—)

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