Her spirit rose to such a height — Ophelia

Ophelia's father sent her to test Hamlet's madness. She expressed her love but was rejected by Hamlet. Later Hamlet killed her father, and she was found drowned in a brook. From the wording of this poem, it seems that Dickinson did not approve Ophelia, for a swelling face does not look fair.

Her spirit rose to such a height
Her countenance it did inflate
Like one that fed on awe.
More prudent to assault the dawn
Than merit the ethereal scorn
That effervesced from her.

(F.1527/J.1486)

[1] Her spirit rose:: the death of Ophelia.
[2] countenance, did inflate:: Ophelia's face swelled due to drowning.
[3] fed one awe:: Ophelia's obedience to her father Polonius.
[4] prudent to assault:: Ophelia was arranged to pry into Hamlet's madness. the dawn:: the beginning of Hamlet's awareness and revenge.
[5] ethereal scorn:: Ophelia's love being rejected and scorned by Hamlet that she had no idea why.
[6] That effervesced from her:: the bubbles from her drowning.