#13
In the poem "Much Madness is Divinest Sense", Dickinson uses two phrases which cause a paradox when used together. The phrases go hand in hand to understand the meaning and reason for the use of them. The paradoxal phrases are "Much Madness is divinest sense"(line 1) and "Much Sense-the starkest Madness"(line 3). This paradox causes the reader to look closer at what they are reading. Therefore, they find what the true meaning of this poem is. Although it seems to be contradicting phrases used together seem wrong, they in fact are correct once realizing the point Dickinson is trying to get across. The phrases ultimately are addressing people who conform to society. By not conforming, a person may seem insane to society, but they see they are staying true to themselves. A person who conforms is mad because although society accepts them, they cannot accept themselves because they are being something they are not. This is the truth revealed through this paradox. Without the paradox, the poem would not have been as effective.
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