The Oft Misunderstood Bat

Bats are some of the most amazing animals in the world, and yet they are often misunderstood, and still frighten and fascinate people to this day. This odd fascination is something that seems to have gripped Emily Dickinson in her writing of "The bat is dun with wrinkled wings".

Dickinson begins talking about the bat, and her description from the very beginning shows her fascination with the creature. She talks about not being able to hear the song of the bat, then describes his incredible aerial acrobatics. In the third stanza she then goes on to describe the bat how it has often been seen, as a symbol of evil. She talks about being uncertain where he comes from (heaven or hell) and describes him as "malevolent".

In the last stanza is where we see her give the creature its due. She talks about him, in his own strange way, being a creature of good. She implies that despite the fear and misunderstanding, we should still be thankful for this creature being around.

I feel that in this poem, the bat can be seen as a symbol of someone misunderstood, and perhaps even Dickinson herself. During her lifetime, Dickinson was a recluse, and often misunderstood by others. Perhaps in a creature like the bat, she saw something she could relate to. Like the bat, she had no evil intentions or malice towards others, though people may have been suspicious of her or thought her strange. I think it is an interesting parallel to make, one that should make us all think about how we judge others.

This poem is one of my favorites, as the bat is my favorite animal. I feel that if many people took the time to understand them, their fear would turn to fascination. In the same way, we should take the time to get to know and understand indivuals who may at first seem strange or different to us. I think in the same way, our uneasiness would turn into respect and wanting to know more about them.