In Emily Dickinson's poem "The Soul unto itself," the speaker says that the soul should stand in awe of itself-specifically, of its own power, sovereignty, and majesty. The poem portrays the soul as an "imperial friend," a self-contained and self-governing entity that is its own sovereign and ruler. Because the soul is supreme and answers to no other, it should respect and admire its own strength and independence, standing in awe of its own being
. This awe is directed inward, toward the soul’s own authority and complex nature, which includes both friendship and conflict within itself. The soul is depicted as powerful and secure, fearing no treason from within or without, and thus it commands a kind of reverence for its own existence and self- mastery
. In summary, the soul should stand in awe of its own sovereignty and the profound power it holds within itself
