Dickinson’s poem is a lyric poem because it’s short and expresses the personal opinions of the poet through her speaker. The poem is also parabolic because the story about the upper-class women teaches the reader a lesson about religion and humanity.

Initially, the speaker doesn’t express their disapproval of the upper-class women, but their tone is satirical within the opening metaphor: “What Soft—Cherubic Creatures / These Gentlewomen are” (Lines 1-2). The speaker is playing with sexist ideals that present women as submissive, innocent symbols of virtue.

The speaker’s satirical tone continues as they juxtapose the gentlewomen with plush and stars to demonstrate their softness and ethereal status in the world: “One would as soon as assault a Plush— / Or violate a Star” (Lines 3-4). Plush fabric is luxurious and soft, and a star, similar to an angel, carries a heavenly, idealist connotation. The speaker creates a hierarchy in which the gentlewomen outrank mystical stars and lavish fabric, to the point that one would harm one of these items rather than a gentlewoman.

The speaker’s tone grows confrontational when they refer to the gentlewomen’s “Dimity Convictions” (Line 5). Dimity is a sheer, thin fabric, so the speaker questions the strength of the gentlewomen’s beliefs. More so, dimity sounds like "dim" or "dimwitted," so the speaker casts doubt on the gentlewomen’s intellect. The lack of “[c]onvictions” (Line 5) creates “A Horror so refined / Of freckled Human Nature” (Lines 6-7). As these gentlewomen affect such a pure aura, the speaker is stating that the gentlewomen cannot confront the imperfections, or “freckle[s]” (Line 7), that inevitably comprise reality.

The speaker’s tone becomes provocative when they announce that the gentlewomen’s “Deity” would make them feel “ashamed” (Line 8). That is, the gentlewomen think they're better than their god. At the same time, the tone is elusive. A deity is a god, but the speaker doesn’t specify the god in question. The speaker only states that the attitude of these gentlewomen puts them at odds with their god. This juxtaposition adds to the irony of the poem because it goes against expectations. The speaker presents the gentlewomen as angelic, yet their ethereal qualities make them antagonistic to their god.

The speaker than states, “It’s such a common—Glory— / A Fisherman’s—Degree” (Lines 9-10). These two lines provide critical hints about the deity in question. In Matthew 4, Jesus Christ befriends two fishermen, and they become his disciples. More so, Jesus, unlike the gentlewomen in the poem, embraces life’s imperfections. He keeps company with all sorts of people, including people with sicknesses that he heals. The allusions to Christ continue with the word “Redemption” (Line 11). Christians believe God sent Christ into the world to redeem humankind, or save them from their sins. Christ endured crucifixion for all people. Unlike the gentlewomen in the poem, Christ didn’t discriminate. The speaker’s contempt for the gentlewomen matches the gentlewomen’s contempt for common humanity. The speaker’s tone reaches its antagonistic peak when they directly address the gentlewomen. Here, the poem turns into a personal letter or conversation between the speaker and the gentlewomen, with the speaker informing them, “Redemption—Brittle Lady— / Be so—ashamed of Thee” (Lines 11-12). The speaker bluntly tells the gentlewomen that Jesus would be embarrassed by their way of life.

In a way, the speaker teaches the gentlewomen and the reader a lesson. They show that an angelic, submissive identity isn’t automatically a sign of goodness or godliness. Instead, the speaker presents these heavenly gentlewomen as symbols of stuffiness and vanity without strong spiritual lives.