“I Heard a Fly Buzz -- When I Died”: From Being-towards-Death to Existentialism

Emily Dickinson’s “I Heard a Fly Buzz -- When I Died” is one of the more renowned poems within her oeuvre that addresses the theme of death. Meanwhile, Heidegger’s concept of “being- towards-death” in Being and Time stands as a central pillar of his philosophy of death, offering a unique perspective on mortality. This paper aims to explore Dickinson’s poetry through the lens of Heidegger’s philosophy of death. Initially, it briefly outlines Heidegger’s views on death, distinguishing them from universal notions of mortality; subsequently, as the core content of this article, it specifically analyzes the construction of “being-towards-death” in “I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died” through the application of Heidegger’s philosophical insights.