FREE ESSAY ON EMILY DICKINSON - THE GOAL

EMILY DICKINSON - THE GOAL

Emily DickinsonOs The Goal discusses her theory that each human being lives each day
striving to obtain one specific goal. She theorizes that each individual longs to fulfill
one specific achievement whether expressed to others or is still (l. 2) and locked into
the individual's heart.
Dickinson says that it is an inevitable part of human nature to live this way, whether we
believe so or not, and have not been able to recognize the specific theme of our life as
it is admitted scarcely to itself (l. 5). She speculates that we attempt to cover our
ambitions from others because we lack credibility's temerity (l. 7) and are scared that
we are less accomplished than we should be to even imagine so great of expectations. She
also brings out that not only are we wary of sharing our dream to others, but we
ourselves approach it adored with caution (l. 9). 
Even though we ourselves doubt our ability to achieve the extent of our dream, Dickinson
says that the further away and the less attainable, the more desirable of an objective it
becomes. She says that we chase after our goal like someone chasing after the rainbow's
raiment (l. 11) which we continue to pursue for its beauty and the pot of gold, even
though we know that it is only an appealing myth and the end of the rainbow does not
truly exist at all. 
She compares our faith in achieving our goal as someone reaching a brittle heaven (l. 9)
and living their lives in blind faith that they will ultimately achieve that goal. We all
live our lives in part expecting to achieve utopia and to see the face of God at our
death, but occasional we question the rationale of this heart's desire. We do however
have to believe on the basis that without that belief, living a moral life and having a
supernatural relationship would be ludicrous without that end reward of sitting at the
feet of our maker. Likewise, we should live our lives with a mortal goal and faith that
we will achieve it. If we approach our earthly desires in this manner, we will be more
disciplined, and will seek to achieve this goal with all costs. 
Dickinson says that we should be inspired by the saintsO slow diligence (l. 15) who have
gone before us all working towards their goal of spreading the gospel and doing good
works. Likewise we should constantly be striving for our goal, no matter how unrealistic
they may appear, in slow and persistent diligence so that we will be more capable to
achieve it. Dickinson says that it is very possible to live life to its fullest striving
every day towards this goal, and have it still be ungained (l. 17). She says this not to
discourage us in our quest, but rather to inspire us to influence all the people who will
proceed us with similar goals. She says that like we have observed the saints and their
diligence, others may observe our work and be inspired and more enabled to achieve their
goal because of our quest.
She also mentions that our ultimate reward for living a determined, focused life will be
when we die, having achieved our goal or not, because eternity enables the endeavoring
again (l. 19-20). Whether you interpret this last line to mean that your earthly desire
will be fulfilled coincided with spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment, or that the
grandeur of heaven will be so magnificent that your seemingly unattainable goal in life
will appear petty, Dickinson is successful in her attempts to encourage others to
greatness.