The Essays I wrote

Subconscious vs. Consciousness

Subconscious vs. Consciousness

The narrator in "One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted" by Emily Dickinson speaks on how the mind can haunt a person even more, if not just as much, than something physical can. There is a theme of conscious versus subconscious that can be discussed with Psychoanalytical Theory. If the subconscious takes over, you live in your subconscious from then on.

In her poem, Dickinson jumbles up the conscious and the subconscious. What ends up happening is that if the conscious is not strong enough and totally owned by the person, the subconscious can overtake it. This is what her poem is explaining; the subconscious took over the conscious because the conscious was not in control by the person, therefore the subconscious reigned and was able to create a haunting, fearful place that overcame the haunts of the corporeal world. A person cannot be afraid of the material world if they are being haunted by their subconscious as is stated, "One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted -/ One need not be a House -... Ourself behind ourself, concealed -/ Should startle most -/ Assassin hid in our apartment/ Be Horror's least." (Dickinson). The brain can create horror on a level that is currently impossible to happen in the physical world. How can a person be scared of something physical when the brain is the one haunting the person more than anything else can? Using ghost-like imagery to "haunt" the narrator and also the reader, Dickinson creates a fear that is visually external and real and material, but in fact, it is internal and all in the subconscious. The poem and the diction choices and the structure used create the feeling that the subconscious life is real but at the same time, logically, it is known that it is a made-up fantasy.

The subconscious is never restricted, never limited in its thoughts, ideas, and creations. In contrast, the conscious relies on the controller for the capabilities it can reach. Once the subconscious controls the conscious, the conscious is able to create and have such amazing ideas through the subconscious and also empowering the subconscious. Although, the conscious is no longer in the person's control. Then, whatever is created by the subconscious and how the conscious warps and presents it, that is now reality for the person because it is all relative and about perception. "The Body - borrows a Revolver -/ He bolts the Door -/ O'erlooking a superior spectre -/ Or More –" or more, which is alluding to the subconscious space. To the mental world where the person is trapped in. His or her body is acting to the situation the subconscious has dropped him or her in. The subconscious brain is different for every person. Not everything the subconscious creates might be haunting; it might not be haunting in any way. And how the person is immersed and the reactions he or she will have will vary from person to person as well.

In the poem, it states that, "Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting/ External ghost/ Than its interior Confronting/ That Cooler Host" meaning again that the brain is more powerful and can have stronger effects on a person than the physical world can. A person may exit a physical place, but it may not be possible to escape the mental world because, "The Brain has Corridors – surpassing/ Material Place" (Dickinson). Using figurative language like this, Dickinson pushes the emotion of fear of the unknown. Talking about fear of oneself and fear that one can cause oneself without knowing or having any power over, the poem utilizes the emotion to push the idea that the subconscious can take over without calling it out. The poem refers to it as "brain" and "oneself" and "The body" to make it more materialistic and personal. While by saying it's the subconscious it is making it more scientific, something that can be observed, cured, and dealt with. The person has lost control of their conscious to the subconscious, and he or she may be, in their mind, in a completely different world. The brain has the ability to create something beautiful as well. Something so beautiful, the person can reject the physical and real world and its reality in favor of the mental and subconsciously constructed one. This can lead to a plethora of similar problems to a subconscious that is haunting like depression, suicide, and also drug problems. This affects both the person and those close to them.

In a gothic style, Emily Dickinson's poem carries a message. And the message can be seen with a lighter tone and mind, in stark contrast to the heavy, dark, and horrific theme and character of Dickinson's work. Protect the sanity and the consciousness that is yours. Through that, it gives off a push for intellectual thought. It also gives off a sort of reflection or encourages a mindset that you can achieve through meditation or/ and a balanced mind. Through the poem's narrative and with this message of a stable mind, the poem encourages the reader to take control of his or her mind before his or her physical presence and surroundings. A connection to consciousness to subconsciousness can be made, however the poem, "One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted", warns that "Far safer, through an Abbey gallop/ The Stones a'chase-/ Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter -/ In lonesome Place –" to not lose control of the conscious (Dickinson). The subconscious may not be controllable, but it can be advantageous.

Through Psychoanalytical Theory, the idea shown in the poem, "One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted", of conscious versus subconscious can be expanded. The subconscious can take over the conscious; and a danger in the subconscious, is a danger in the brain, which can be frightening if it takes over the conscious because that can become reality.

Works Cited

"Emily Dickinson – One Need Not Be a Chamber to Be Haunted." Genius, /Emily-dickinson-one-need-not-be-a-chamber-to-be-haunted-annotated.