Zac Byrd

By Emily Dickinson

Much Madness is divinest Sense -

To a discerning Eye -

Much Sense - the starkest Madness -

’Tis the Majority

In this, as all, prevail -

Assent - and you are sane -

Demur - you’re straightway dangerous -

And handled with a Chain -

 

The poem Much Madness is Divinest Sense by Emily Dickinson can be interpreted as a strong voice of protest against the system that follows the rules of the majority.  This poem tells us that "much sense" meaning a normal person, is the "maddest" kind of person.  For Dickenson it is about personal freedom. This is apparent in this poem. This poem doesn't have any standard form of steady meter.  It doesn't have any specific setting and it doesn't show us any information about the speaker.  Also like most of Dickinson's other poems it does not have a title.  This rebellious nature of the structure of the poem shows Dickinson's support for new ideas that challenge set ones.  The structure, or lack of one, shows us we should keep thinking outside the box and challenges us settling for conformity.