What would one think of while they die? One of Emily Dickinson's most famous poems, "I heard a Fly buzz" describes the mental distraction caused by irrelevant details at even the most crucial moments--even at the moment of death. The poem then becomes even weirder and more ghoulish by transforming the tiny, insignificant, normally overlooked fly into the embodiment of death itself. Eventually, the fly's wing cuts the speaker off from the light until she cannot "…see to see" (16). However, the fly does not grow in power or stature; its final severing act is performed "With Blue--uncertain stumbling Buzz—“ (13).
This poem is also extraordinary for its detailed evocation of a deathbed scene--the dying person's loved ones preparing themselves for the end, the dying woman signing away in her will "What portion of me make / Assignable" (10-11). Around the dying, quiet always seems to coat the emotions and turmoil and the speaker likeness the stillness to “…the air between the heaves of storm” (3-4). The quiet stillness in the room seems to be even more magnified by the fly, which is normally ignored under normal circumstances. Although, it seems to be that the speaker is the only one in the room transfixed by the fly. The crowd around her is riveted on her, “the eyes beside had wrung them dry, and breaths were gathering sure for that last onset…” (5-7), and do not notice the fly or the dying speakers distraction.
Is it significant that the only sign of vitality and aliveness in the entire poem is the fly? Does that mean that even after the living have passed into the next life, that death is still alive and present near the body of the recently deceased? Could Dickinson be trying to show death as a living, breathing presence? If that were the case, would it not be a contradiction, even an oxymoron of sorts? Death is the end of something that used to exist; therefore it cannot live. However, with the way the fly is represented in the last stanza: “With blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz, Between the light and me, And then the windows failed, and then I could not see to see”, (13-16) it seems as if the fly is the personification of Death itself.
There is much speculation as to the meaning behind Dickinson’s last few lines in the second stanza of “I heard a fly buzz—when I died”. To scholars, “last onset” (7), is an oxymoron. “Last” means the end of something and “onset” means the beginning. To Christians, death signifies the beginning of eternal life. Death brings revelation, where God or the start of eternity becomes publicized. So what exactly is Dickinson referring to when she states “the king / Be witnessed in his power” (7-8). Is the king supposed to be God, Christ, or death? Is the king God, coming down to receive the soul of one of his children and take her with Him for eternity? Maybe it is God’s son who is guiding a fellow sister to the Father, the King? Or, perhaps it could be Death who is encompassing the speaker, drawing her down into the darkness.
What is it that goes through a person’s mind just before they die? Are they consumed with fear of the unknown? Are they transfixed by something usually so small and insignificant, like a fly in the room? Or are they at peace, knowing that no matter when they die or how they die, God will be there, waiting to take their hand and guide them to the beginning of eternity?
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