Emily Dickinson Essay
-
carter1990
- Posts: 34
- Joined: 28 Dec 2012, 20:15
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-carter1990.html
Emily Dickinson Essay
Emily Dickinson lived in a time of oppression, a time of social inequality, and a time of controlled information. Controlled information, controls thought, which controls outcome. Emily Dickinson spoke out against oppression whether it is for the sake of women's rights or inequality in general. She questioned the status quo and because of that she became a part of the canon. Throughout our history man has tried to control other men by means of disinformation, and creating a society in which speaking out against the status quo leads to ridicule. Emily Dickinson was in fact a trail blazer, speaking out against the powers that be. It was because of her non-conformity and ability to coat themes within her poetry that sparked a revolution. How did a well mannered recluse utilize the art form of poetry to inspire a society 100 years after her death?
Social order can be defined as a pseudonym for social disorder based off where someone is in the social class. Emily Dickinson grew up in a family that was very much financially wealthy. How is it that she grew to challenge the ideals of society? She was born in Amherst Massachusetts and spent her early youth at Amherst Academy. She was known for her enjoyment of nature and often taking time to herself. The majority of her relationships were done so through letters and she was a recluse. she spent much of her time locked up in her room. The question to ask here is how someone who is cooped up in her room make adequate arguments about society when she is not engrained in it. Some may argue it was because she had a few bolts loose that she wrote poetry the way she did. "In The prosaic sense of the word Emily Dickinson's life was almost alarmingly uneventful. Its excitements are reflected in letters and poems not in known actions. Possibly her most intimate correspondence has perished; it also probably that even the most intimate letters were themselves in some respects restrained." (Wells pg 93)
The fact of the matter is however, how are we able to adequately analyze Emily Dickinson's life when it is based off the perceptions of those around her and much of the text that is written about her is based off the scholarly works of those who are writing 50 - 100 years after her death. Some would say look at her poetry after all that was written directly by her. But it becomes increasingly difficult to analyze poetry without placing own opinion into it. It could be because of her personal experiences that helped to formulate her opinions of non-conformity. She was her own person and because of that it helped her to break down the common held notions in society.
It was Margaret Meade who said "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”. (Margaret Meade Quotes. A movement in modern day has started to occur, where the status quo is being challenged. One person cannot change the world but one can inspire the masses to do so. Emily Dickinson would have been jumping up and down in joy if she saw the movement that is occurring. People no longer bend over because their government tells them to. Many would ask how is that a women who has been dead for 100 years could be one of the reasons for a modern day movement towards freedom. How is it that a crazy recluse who didn't let anyone read her poetry until after her death could get such a following so many years later. Although Emily Dickinson was in fact a recluse she very much was a genius, evident in the themes in her poetry. In her poem "Tell all the Truth But Tell it slant" she speaks of how truth gets transferred from individual to individual. In lines 5 and 6 of "Tell all the Truth But Tell It Slant” she writes "As Lightening to the Children eased... With explanation kind". She is suggesting that information must be steadily given to a child. it was George Carlin in one of his stand ups who said "From the time kids are born children are told certain things that cannot question because they lack the knowledge to form a sophisticated argument against it". Dickinson and Carlin were speaking of the same thing how to talk to children. Both were in fact non conformists. But why is it that an essay is being written about Dickinson and not Carlin?
The natural changing of language could make it difficult to analyze poetry a hundred years previous but Emily Dickinson’s poetry has common themes we can all relate to. One of which is spirituality. In her poem “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” a very positive picture is painted of death. It appears she is saying that death is a gentleman trying to court Emily Dickinson.
“Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.”
Many see death as something that takes away our existence, we cease to move, we cease to have experiences but Emily Dickinson has a different opinion. In this poem Emily does not fear death and sees it as just an extension of her immortality, which is the polar opposite of what many people believe. It could be a matter of perception but to some the bible speaks of death as something that should be feared to push ideals on people. Emily Dickinson’s sense of spirituality is pretty prevalent throughout her poetry. “Emily Dickinson’s poetry is considered as a springboard to a more specific
account of spirituality. While not conventionally religious, she is arguably among the most spiritual of poets inasmuch as her themes of God, love, beauty, and especially death and suffering all depend upon the jarring juxtaposition of embodied human experience and transcendent human significance.” (Scheurich pg 103)
Her poetry transcends changing current events and relates to people 100 years after death, simply out of the fact that her themes are relatable to today. Although it is a matter of opinion as to whether her poetry is relatable.
Emily Dickinson is a part of the canon because of her recurrent themes that very much open the minds of individuals. The purpose of the canon was designed to express different forms of literature and themes that create well rounded individuals which in turn creates a well rounded society. Inspirational themes are coated within her poetry as well as distaste for the status quo. Feminists have taken hold of many of the concepts she was talking about in her literature. The feminist movement has been and will continue to be great for equal rights for women but it is still apart of group affiliation. Emily Dickinson was speaking of equal rights but she meant it from an individualistic standpoint. She was speaking of non-conformity whether male or female.
Works Cited
"Margaret Meade Quotes." Brainy QUotes. N.P., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
MikeTap4321 "George Carlin Kids And Parents." YouTube.
Web. 27 March 2012
.
Scheurich, Neil. "Suffering And Spirituality In The Poetry Of Emily Dickinson." Pastoral Psychology 56.2 (2007): 189-197. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
Wells, Henry W. "EMILY DICKINSON: An Interpretive Biography (Book)." American Literature 28.1 (1956): 93. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
Social order can be defined as a pseudonym for social disorder based off where someone is in the social class. Emily Dickinson grew up in a family that was very much financially wealthy. How is it that she grew to challenge the ideals of society? She was born in Amherst Massachusetts and spent her early youth at Amherst Academy. She was known for her enjoyment of nature and often taking time to herself. The majority of her relationships were done so through letters and she was a recluse. she spent much of her time locked up in her room. The question to ask here is how someone who is cooped up in her room make adequate arguments about society when she is not engrained in it. Some may argue it was because she had a few bolts loose that she wrote poetry the way she did. "In The prosaic sense of the word Emily Dickinson's life was almost alarmingly uneventful. Its excitements are reflected in letters and poems not in known actions. Possibly her most intimate correspondence has perished; it also probably that even the most intimate letters were themselves in some respects restrained." (Wells pg 93)
The fact of the matter is however, how are we able to adequately analyze Emily Dickinson's life when it is based off the perceptions of those around her and much of the text that is written about her is based off the scholarly works of those who are writing 50 - 100 years after her death. Some would say look at her poetry after all that was written directly by her. But it becomes increasingly difficult to analyze poetry without placing own opinion into it. It could be because of her personal experiences that helped to formulate her opinions of non-conformity. She was her own person and because of that it helped her to break down the common held notions in society.
It was Margaret Meade who said "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”. (Margaret Meade Quotes. A movement in modern day has started to occur, where the status quo is being challenged. One person cannot change the world but one can inspire the masses to do so. Emily Dickinson would have been jumping up and down in joy if she saw the movement that is occurring. People no longer bend over because their government tells them to. Many would ask how is that a women who has been dead for 100 years could be one of the reasons for a modern day movement towards freedom. How is it that a crazy recluse who didn't let anyone read her poetry until after her death could get such a following so many years later. Although Emily Dickinson was in fact a recluse she very much was a genius, evident in the themes in her poetry. In her poem "Tell all the Truth But Tell it slant" she speaks of how truth gets transferred from individual to individual. In lines 5 and 6 of "Tell all the Truth But Tell It Slant” she writes "As Lightening to the Children eased... With explanation kind". She is suggesting that information must be steadily given to a child. it was George Carlin in one of his stand ups who said "From the time kids are born children are told certain things that cannot question because they lack the knowledge to form a sophisticated argument against it". Dickinson and Carlin were speaking of the same thing how to talk to children. Both were in fact non conformists. But why is it that an essay is being written about Dickinson and not Carlin?
The natural changing of language could make it difficult to analyze poetry a hundred years previous but Emily Dickinson’s poetry has common themes we can all relate to. One of which is spirituality. In her poem “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” a very positive picture is painted of death. It appears she is saying that death is a gentleman trying to court Emily Dickinson.
“Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.”
Many see death as something that takes away our existence, we cease to move, we cease to have experiences but Emily Dickinson has a different opinion. In this poem Emily does not fear death and sees it as just an extension of her immortality, which is the polar opposite of what many people believe. It could be a matter of perception but to some the bible speaks of death as something that should be feared to push ideals on people. Emily Dickinson’s sense of spirituality is pretty prevalent throughout her poetry. “Emily Dickinson’s poetry is considered as a springboard to a more specific
account of spirituality. While not conventionally religious, she is arguably among the most spiritual of poets inasmuch as her themes of God, love, beauty, and especially death and suffering all depend upon the jarring juxtaposition of embodied human experience and transcendent human significance.” (Scheurich pg 103)
Her poetry transcends changing current events and relates to people 100 years after death, simply out of the fact that her themes are relatable to today. Although it is a matter of opinion as to whether her poetry is relatable.
Emily Dickinson is a part of the canon because of her recurrent themes that very much open the minds of individuals. The purpose of the canon was designed to express different forms of literature and themes that create well rounded individuals which in turn creates a well rounded society. Inspirational themes are coated within her poetry as well as distaste for the status quo. Feminists have taken hold of many of the concepts she was talking about in her literature. The feminist movement has been and will continue to be great for equal rights for women but it is still apart of group affiliation. Emily Dickinson was speaking of equal rights but she meant it from an individualistic standpoint. She was speaking of non-conformity whether male or female.
Works Cited
"Margaret Meade Quotes." Brainy QUotes. N.P., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
MikeTap4321 "George Carlin Kids And Parents." YouTube.
Web. 27 March 2012
.
Scheurich, Neil. "Suffering And Spirituality In The Poetry Of Emily Dickinson." Pastoral Psychology 56.2 (2007): 189-197. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
Wells, Henry W. "EMILY DICKINSON: An Interpretive Biography (Book)." American Literature 28.1 (1956): 93. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
I would like to connect with you please message me so we can discuss different books 
