Alienation Unit: Much Madness is divinest Sense

"Much Madness is divinest Sense"
Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson's distance from society strikes again.  This time, however, the speaker engages society in an argument riddled with paradoxes.  One one hand, typical sense is viewed as, well, good sense; nevertheless, the speaker contends that madness is the sign of good sense.

The speaker sides with madness by claiming, "To a discerning Eye- Much Sense- the starkest Madness" (Dickinson, 830).  By using the word discerning, the speaker utilizes the connotations of prudence and wisdom to lend credibility to viewing madness as the key to sanity.

Unfortunately, the speaker points out that assuming this position lends more danger than the anticipated civil disagreement.  One one hand, validating the majority opinion by virtue of backing the majority grants one sanity.  However, dissenting from the majority opinion that sense begets sense labels one dangerous- a strong word with unprecedented connotations within the poem and the minority opinion.  Overall, the speaker contends that, because of her decision to embrace the beauty of the complexity of human consciousness (you're welcome, John Green) has delivered her to the chains of the majority.  Most importantly, the speaker is further alienated by her and her comrades' refusal to attack the opposition with the same ferocity.