Commentary

Faculty Publications96 Shakespeare Quarterly, XIX (WinterLittérature Comparée, Paris, 1968. 1968) ; 'The Chivalric Cast of Milton'sRobert C. Steensma (Language and Epic Hero," English Studies, LXIXLiterature, University of Utah), "The (April 1968); "Style and PerspectiveLand of Desert Sweet: The Homein Anti-communist Polemic," Languagesteader and His Literature," Rendezand Style, I (Winter 1968).vous, 111:2 (Winter 1968). Henry A. Stavan (French, Univer-Gilbert W. Stevenson (English, Unisity of Colorado) , Senàc de Meilhan:versity of Wyoming) World and Word, Romancier, Moraliste et Homme deDorrance and Co. (Spring 1969). Lettres, part of the book series "Biblio- David H. Stewart (English, Idaho theque de Littérature et d'Histoire,"State University), "Linguistic Limits," published by Minard, Paris, 1968;Rendezvous, 111:2 (Winter 1968). "Une amie de Madame de Stael: Ade- Mary Rose Sullivan (English, Unilaide de Flahaut," Sciences Humainesversity of Colorado, Denver Center), (April-June 1968); "un exemple de"The Function of Book I in The Ring Wertherisme en France: Ourika etand the Book," Victorian Poetry, 3 and Edouard de la Duchesse de Duras,"4 (Autumn-Winter 1968-69). COMMENTARY Editor: I confess that I am not as learned as Miss Wylder—not to mention George Whicher or my friend Charles Anderson—or as well versed in the interpretations of Emily Dickinson's poetry. Still, it always amazes me to discover, when such an article as Miss Wylder's (Bulletin, March .1969) appears, how terribly naive I have been all these years in my own fascinated reading of such works as "My Life Had Stood—A Loaded Gun." In this poem I have always supposed the speaker to be the gun—or, rather, the poetess adopting the unusual metaphorical conceit of equating herself with a gun. The result is a powerful combination of masculine images and language with a purely feminine point of view. "I stood in comers like a loaded gun," says the poetess—that is, ready to serve but actually useless until claimed by the right "Owner." When "identified" and "carried away" by this person, the gun becomes a (subservient ) part of its master's life, serving him, guarding him, and killing his foes. The fancied superiority of the "Owner" is cleverly and movingly stated in the final stanza, in which the gun (and poetess) expresses humility over its lack of the human "power to die." To my mind, this must be rated the strongest stanza and the one most characteristic of Dickinson. Granted that this poem has profound meaning and charming emotional impact, I doubt the value of subjecting it to any close analysis as allegory. Tyrus Hillway Colorado State College ...