Emily Dickinson: Advocate for Revolution

At first, I did not see the connection to the Civil War in “Revolution is the Pod”, but after several readings I began to get the idea that Emily Dickenson wasn’t necessarily describing battle scenes of the war or picking sides based on political issues, but rather she was supporting revolution. Therefore, she was ultimately taking the side of the South but because she believed in revolution, not because she believed in slavery.

In the poem Dickinson claims that “revolution is the pod” and “when the Winds of Will are stirred” or when the spirit of revolution is aroused “excellent is bloom”, meaning revolution is excellent. Dickinson in claiming that revolution is a good thing and should be allowed to bloom to its full excellence. She continues in the poem to say that a pod “left inactive on the stalk” or left “un-bloomed” will eventually die and is blown away by the wind. I equate this to the spirit of revolution. If it is not acted upon the spirit will die just as the inactive bloom dies.

I think that Dickinson is advocating revolution in general in this poem, meaning not only is she supporting the South’s revolution but she probably would have supported the American Revolution as well. She would have been a Patriot rallying behind the spirit of revolution. It seems as if in supporting revolution she is rooting for the underdog. She is rooting for the side that may not be the strongest militarily speaking, but they have the greater spirit. Thus, she’s not making a political statement in this poem by siding with South, I think she just enjoys seeing the little guy triumph and that is why she is siding with South and their revolution.