This poem shows Dickinson's view on the play. It costs a stranger (a Jew) a lot, his flesh, to dwell among others (Christians), and philology wins in the court. Herself was a stranger in Amherst, and she played word.
A Word made Flesh is seldom 1
And tremblingly partook
Nor then perhaps reported
But have I not mistook
Each one of us has tasted 5
With ecstasies of stealth
The very food debated
To our specific strength－
A Word that breathes distinctly 9
Has not the power to die
Cohesive as the Spirit
It may expire if He－
"Made Flesh and dwelt among us" 13
Could condescension be
Like this consent of Language
This loved Philology.
(F.1715/J.1651)
[1] word, Flesh:: a promise, a pound of flesh; a word that made flesh to lose.
[2] tremblingly partook:: the bond between Shylock and Anthonio.
[3] Nor then perhaps reported:: it seemed that no report of such case before.
[4] I not mistook:: the narrator, Dickinson's own belief.
[5] each, had tasted:: some sort of hatred every one has tasted before; Jew to Christian in the play.
[6] ecstasies of stealth:: feeling of the revenge.
[7] food debated:: the content debated, like the debate in the court of Venice.
[8] our specific strength:: Shylock was alone being defied by the flesh and blood of other Christians.
[9] A word, distinctly:: the word flesh distinctly without other coherent things, including blood.
[10] not the power to die:: the bond did not say about the death.
[11] Cohesive:: the blood along with the flesh.
[12] expire:: to terminate the bond.
[13] Made Flesh:: Shylock's cost to end the bond was like his flesh made away from his body.
[13] dwelt among us:: Shylock was forced to "become a Christian" in the play and lived among other Christians.
[14] condescension:: Shylock lost the case for people's consent on word's meaning.
[15, 16] Language, Philology:: Portia won the case by the structure of language. Dickinson emphasized on philology, not justice.
