Death Wins Again

Emily Dickinson's "Death is a supple Suitor," speaks of Death, as if it is an innocent, gentle caller who seeks to win the attention of his fair lady. Dickinson metaphorically tells a story of Death's win over the one he is pursuing by contrasting the processes of courting, as a gentleman would do, and dying, as Death would occur. Dickinson incorporates many details, which will be discussed, and presents us with two sides of the running metaphor, which speaks of Death as a suitor, and also as the one who takes away life.

The idea that Death wins, in both cases is portrayed when Death, a young man courting his love, triumphs in winning her life and taking her as his own. Dickinson uses the first two lines of her poem to introduce this compliant character.

Death is a supple Suitor

That wins at last-

Supple, being Dickinson's choice of characterization for the SuitorÐ'--a yielding man who is courting a womanÐ'--emits the idea that Death is misleading his bride to be, because as we all know, Death will yield or wait for no man or woman. His goal, as a "supple suitor" is to slyly woo her, and cause her to entrust herself to him. The ironic contrast is found in the thoughts that Death is something that humans avoid at most costs, yet in the end Death has taken her life. His wooing leads to her Death.

It is a stealthy Wooing

Conducted first

By pallid innuendoes

And dim approach

Dickinson's choice of words such as "pallid", which is a lack of color or intensity, and "dim" which similarly lacks color or vigor, contribute to connecting both sides of her metaphor. The "dim (and) pallid" innuendoesÐ'--subtle implicationsÐ'--characterize the "supple Suitor" and satirically also the devious approach that Death takes every day in the world, when lives are taken.

These "faint" choices of words that portray Death's subtle style are followed by a climactic representation of Death as he finally wins his bride.

But brave at last with Bugles

And a bisected Coach

Ms. Dickinson properly groups her choice of words when placing the subtlerÐ'--Stealthy, pallid, and dimÐ'--associations in the first lines of her poem, which associate with the gentleman caller. She then, fittingly groups the unruly wordsÐ'--brave, Bugles, bear and triumphÐ'--in the latter lines of her poem, therefore strengthening the idea of Death's abrupt and unexpected nature. Death, portrayed as triumphant, continuously demonstrates a "bravery" that Ms. Dickinson affords to him. By brave, she is presenting a new, more uncouth Suitor who is "with Bugles," which are instruments used to herald an event, or news.

Line 8 marks the only irregular