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Emily DickinsonWe never know how high we are
Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1880A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Humbleness vs. Cowardice vs. Courage
“We never know how high we are” allows for multiple interpretations. In one reading, the theme is humility. Humans don’t know how high they are because they don’t tend to think highly of themselves. They are (or should be) meek and self-effacing until the moment arrives when they have to act courageously. A fair amount of humans won’t be called or put in heroic situations. If every human was a hero, it “would be a daily thing” (Line 6), and heroism would lose its exceptional stature. It’s positive that “Cubits warp” (Line 7) people. The cubits keep people in check and in the role the “plan” (Line 3) assigned them. This is not resignation or servility but awareness. Humans are conscious of the drawbacks of trying to be something they’re not, like a king. They know the terrifying power of rulers. It’s better to be modest than status-seeking or tyrannical.
A second interpretation centers on the theme of cowardice. More humans would be heroes if they weren’t scared of their potential and didn’t let cubits warp them. Warping manipulates nature and turns it into something else; cubits shouldn’t prevent humans from rising, touching the skies, and ascending to the level of heroes and kings. Humans should possess the capacity to transcend the physical world, yet most humans fear mystery of unknown heights.
As Dickinson implies in her poem “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” a fair amount of humans prefer to be “Somebody.” It’s comforting to be someone visible, quantifiable, and identifiable. Regular humans lack the courage to be “Nobody.” They’re not brave enough to free themselves from the chains of cubits and empirical measurements. Humans lack the strength to reject the standards and restrictions keeping them down.
In this reading, cubits don't advance the theme of laudable humility but point to a crutch. Physical limitations are an excuse for other sorts of restrictions. If humans realized that there's more to them than meets the eye, they'd be liberated and free to reach higher planes. Then again, if more humans contained the acumen to figure this out and the courage to do something about it, heroism might be a "daily thing" and lose its meaning.
Action and Motion
Emily Dickinson’s poem is action-packed, and the use of “we” implicates the reader in the action. The reader moves with the speaker since the speaker takes it upon themselves to speak for them and humanity in general.
Right away, Dickinson puts the poem in motion. The speaker and the reader are mobilized even though they’re unsure of their exact destination or coordinates. “We never know how high we are,” says the speaker (Line 1). The following line reinforces the theme of movement. People aren’t aware of the actions they’re capable of until they “are called to rise” (Line 2). With the first two lines, the speaker prepares the reader for ascension. In Line 4, the theme of action reaches another level. The speaker and the reader move up so far and high that their “statures touch the skies.” In the final line of the first stanza, the action theme pushes the speaker and the reader up into heady territory. It places them near the wondrous sky.
In Stanza 2, the action is more subtle. The word “Heroism” (Line 5) is a noun; it’s not an action verb. Yet heroism means bravery, and brave people tend to take action. Whether it’s fighting in a war or keeping a private stash of poems, heroes typically do something, even if what they do varies widely.
The word “recite” (Line 5) is a verb and type of action. To recite is to tell someone something. A person can recite a story, a poem, or a heroic deed. However, a person won’t recite tales of heroism every day because heroes are not a “daily thing” (Line 6). The action in Line 7—the “Cubits warp” people—explains why heroism isn’t commonplace, since “warp” is an action that involves intentionally distorting and misrepresenting someone or something.
People don’t commonly espouse the action depicted in the first stanza because the action in the second stanza holds them back. A king has to take countless actions to defend their kingdom and subjects. Such action produces “fear” (Line 8) in the average person, who might prefer a tranquil and humble life.
The Ambiguity of Heroes
There are several interpretations of “We never know how high we are,” but the theme of heroism remains constant. However Dickinson’s poem is looked at, the theme of heroes is central. Dickinson never specifies what makes a person a hero. In the first stanza, the speaker suggests that a hero enjoys a fine reputation and the capacity to climb to profound heights. Yet the speaker omits how this person acquired their stature or the belief that they could touch the sky.
Stanza 2 doesn’t clarify the theme of heroism. The speaker says that heroes aren’t ordinary and that a person’s physical limits prevent them from acting grandly, like a prestigious person or a king. At the same time, the speaker suggests that more people could behave heroically if they could cast aside the cubits and their apprehension about leading a life that can't be easily quantified or measured.
The lack of particulars leaves the idea of heroism open-ended. A hero could be someone as ostensibly grand and powerful as a king. Conversely, a hero could be someone who has the authority of a king without their concomitant visibility. Additionally, a hero might be a person who has the fortitude to struggle with their cubits and make peace with their humble lot in life. Fourthly, heroes might be an illusion. The reason why there are no heroes is that they’re a product of society. They’re a construct that rests on a person’s reputation, which doesn’t always accurately reflect a person’s true identity. Heroes are not “a daily thing” (Line 6) because heroes are just a “thing.” They are not necessarily worthy of specificity or detailed illumination since the public already invents them by reciting their deeds. In the poetry of Dickinson, the public is suspect and so are the heroes they admire.
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