F Block--Sarah on 288

Sarah Fleming

9/8/11

Poem 288

In the entirety of Emily Dickinson’s poem 288, there is not a single period to be found.  The neglecting of any so-called common punctuation, such as the period or comma, fits in perfectly with the proclamation that she is Nobody and in that sense is unique—ending a sentence with a period would be too dull, too ordinary.  Instead, Dickinson relies solely on an abundance of exclamation points, frequent question marks, and short dashes that all contribute to the quirky rhythm of the poem.  The dash and the exclamation point in particular shape the tone and give it an oddly rhythmic and fragmented feel.  Dickinson’s use of these two punctuation marks not only alters the tone but also gives insight into the poet’s perspective and meaning.

The use of dashes gives the poem a peculiar rhythm that combines the rushed feel of thrill and the hesitancy of a speaker unsure of whether to continue or not.  As the poem begins, it seems that Dickinson, the self-pronounced Nobody, feels uncertain of whether or not she should confide in the reader, pausing before asking, “Are you — Nobody — too?”  (2) This sense of secrecy and hesitation continues into the rest of the first stanza, blending somewhat with incredulity at the prospect of finding another Nobody.  The significance of the dashes changes as they become more frequent.  As Dickinson transitions into her thoughts on the ideas of being a Somebody, she writes, “How dreary — to be — Somebody!  / How public — like a Frog —”  (5-6) Here, dashes provide a paused nature that fragments the lines into shorter phrases; this gives the poem a more choppy and broken up feeling.  It is as if Dickinson is speaking as she thinks, blurting out short bursts of ideas and then pausing to order her thoughts before continuing.  As she goes on, she begins to feel more comfortable with her fellow Nobody and gains momentum, speaking for longer durations before pausing.  Throughout the poem, these dashes simultaneously convey a sense of secrecy and one of spontaneity.

The exclamation points used in this poem are put to a variety of uses, all of which provide the poem with an upbeat yet powerful tone.  Exclamation points are, by nature, indicative of strong emotion.  Dickinson’s frequent usage of such emphatic punctuation illustrates her enthusiasm and thrill of finding a second nobody to whom she can divulge her thoughts.  All of her ideas are punctuated with an exclamation point, indicating her excitement about what she has to say; it also seems as if she is somewhat shocked and thrilled herself about what she is saying—as if she is first realizing her ideas as she says them.  The exclamation points also suggest the poet’s defiance and pride.  She proudly states, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”  (1) The exclamation point implies that Dickinson is proud of being a Nobody and embraces her non-identity despite social norms and expectations.  This defiance grows as she continues, rejecting common ideas of identity and its undoubted public nature.  She confesses her idea to the reader: “ How dreary — to be — Somebody!”  (5) In just one line, Dickinson dismisses the idea of being Somebody—something that is rarely second-guessed or questioned—as dull and ordinary.  In addition, the use of the exclamation point serves as a warning.  Upon discovering a second Nobody, Dickinson cautions, “Don’t tell! they’d advertise — you know!”  (4) This remark indicates the fear the poet has of being discovered as a Nobody and publicized, thereby depriving her of her Nobody status.  Dickinson feels strongly about protecting her status as a Nobody and uses exclamation points to make the tone both fearful and vigilant.  The exclamation marks in the poem convey a variety of emotions of the poet, all of them passionate and strong.

The poet uses both dashes and exclamation points to contribute to the tone of the poem, each serving several uses, some of them contradictory.  It is not simply the individual punctuation marks that provide the poem with a sense of contradiction, however: the combination of the two poses even more of a problem.  Dickinson’s usage of the dash and the exclamation point presents a clear dissonance in tone.  While the exclamation point indicates an undoubted sentiment of excitement and even pride, the dash gives the impression that the poet—or speaker—is somewhat undecided as to whether she can trust the reader or not.  This odd juxtaposition of the hesitant dash and the excited exclamation point creates an interesting discontinuity that carries out into the general meaning and interpretation of the poem as well.