Educational Background and Broader Influences
Emily Dickinson, born in Massachusetts in 1830, was the daughter of Edward, a lawyer and legislator, and Emily Norcross, a homemaker and housewife. Her education was primarily self-directed, and she was largely isolated from the broader world. Despite this, her upbringing was full of knowledge and culture: her father was a Puritan and read classic and modern literature; her mother had a passion for poetry; and she was surrounded by a large family of accomplished individuals. Combined, these influences formed the foundation for Emily’s love of literature and desire to express her own views on life through her writing.
In addition to her family background, Emily was exposed to an eclectic array of literature and philosophies during her schooling, especially after she was enrolled at Amherst Academy from 1841 to 1847. This extensive educational foundation is thought to have influenced her to write poetry in which she could take a critical stance on religion and social norms, as well as express a wide range of emotions and experiences.
Inspiration from Nature and Life Experiences
Emily was a passionate observer of nature, and the changing of the seasons is a common thread in many of her works. She had a natural knack for finding poetry in things like the wind, sunsets, storms, and even death. Her close relationship with nature provided her with an array of raw muses that she could apply to her own life experiences.
As a woman living in the 1800s, Emily wasn’t always free to express her true opinion on various social and political issues. However, her observations – both of the natural and social worlds – allowed her to find solace in the power and beauty of words. These experiences gave Emily an outlet to express her internal thoughts and struggles, as well as a place in which the reader could understand her context without judgement.
Relationships and Social Structures
Friends and family were a vital source of happiness and encouragement in Emily’s life. She found solace in the presence and advice of her closest companions, which allowed her to grow and explore her poetic capabilities and form her own sense of contentment and confidence.
One major relationship that shaped Emily was that with the members of the Saturday Club – a group of intellectuals in Amherst, including Samuel Bowles and Daniel Chester French, who provided her with appreciated criticism and comments on her writing. Although her relationships with others were complicated, Emily was incredibly social and maintained strong friendships with a variety of people, which broadened her perspective on the world and opened a variety of possibilities to explore in her work.
Ultimately, Emily used her personal relationships and the social structures of her era to better understand the human condition and respond to the injustices that transcended the times. In this way, she was able to capture the powerful juxtaposition of her emotions with those of those around her.
The Need to Create and Be Heard
Emily was a passionate seeker of personal and spiritual healing, which she found through her poetry. Writing allowed her to explore her conflicted emotions which, at times, led her to reach new depths of self-awareness.
Furthermore, Emily was an insightful observer of her era and the complexity of the human experience, which she used to address the wider world in her poetry. She was determined to be heard and bravely spoke out on issues that often weren’t discussed in polite society. She was unique in her ability to remain unseen, yet have a powerful voice in the community.
In summary, Emily Dickinson wrote poetry to express her thoughts on life, nature and the world around her. She was heavily influence by her education, family background and relationships, nature, and the need to be heard. She was an expert in using the power of words to put her thoughts and feelings into writing and ultimately helped to shape the genre of poetry for future generations.
The Role of Religion in Emily Dickinson’s Life
Emily Dickinson had a complicated relationship with religion, and this is often explored in her work. As a child she attended Puritan churches and growing up she was surrounded by other Calvinists who shared the same values and beliefs.
While Emily was initially drawn towards apparently traditional Christian themes, her poetry later became more varied in subject matter and began to explore different faiths and philosophies such as pantheism. Emily was known to fiercely question God’s ways and used her writing to investigate religious doubt.
However, Emily’s non-conformist views on faith and her deep spiritual connection with nature are not solely reflective of a religious rebellion. Rather, these writings serve to show her developing sense of independence and self-awareness. Emily Dickinson’s poetry often serves to bring religion and nature into conversation and to challenge societal norms that would otherwise have otherwise been unquestioned.
Exploring Feminine Identity
Women in Emily Dickinson’s era were often relegated to the private sphere and viewed as inactive citizens with limited rights, freedoms or prospects of having a successful career. Emily, however, used her writing as an expression of her tremendous and influential presence, allowing her the freedom to explore her role as a woman and her identity as a budding writer. In one of her most famous works, ‘I’m Nobody! Who are you?’ she delights in escaping the eyes of others and delves into the power of being “Nobody”.
Ultimately, Emily adopted a new femininity that was represented through her work. She used her writing to discuss ideas that society was uncomfortable with and express her beliefs. In doing so, she gave readers a sense of her courage, insight, and emotional resilience in the face of the various limitations placed on her gender.
The Legacy of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is widely recognized as one of the most influential and notable poets in the American literary canon. Drawing from her individual experiences, as well as from the broader cultural influences that surrounded her, Emily sought to shape and share her vision of beauty.
The timelessness of her works lies in the fact that Emily laid the groundwork for the process of self-expression and reflection that is upheld by contemporary women writers and artists. Through her work, she continues to inspire a new generation of women to speak their minds and explore their power as individuals. In this way, Emily’s legacy is not merely her impressive collection of works, but a reminder of all the possibilities and paths that a woman can take to make her voice heard.
Themes of Identity, Mortality, and Love
A pivotal element of Emily Dickinson’s work is the exploration of identity. From a young age, Emily sought understanding of how the world around her was constructed and how she could best find her place within it. She often examined nature, mortality, and the intersection of the two, using her poems to reflect the complexity of her emotions when faced with the unknown.
Exploring mortality was a way for Emily to come to terms with the life she was leading and the direction of her future. In her later works, she confronted her mortality head-on and often explored death in both a literal and figurative sense.
Throughout her writing, Emily also explored the theme of love, from the pain of unrequited love to the solace of a secure home. Ultimately, Emily Dickinson wrote poems that allowed her to reveal a more personal side of herself. She explored her complex emotions and experiences with love, life and death, creating what would prove to be an enduring legacy.
Symbolism and Metaphor
Emily heavily relied on symbols and metaphors in her writing, creating vivid scenes that allowed the reader to explore themes of faith, eternity, and the perennial search for a meaningful existence. By twisting images and phrases, Emily added layers of complexity to her works, allowing readers to dive deeper into her personal experience.
The power of images and everyday objects are essential to Emily’s poems – rather than using them simply to paint a pretty picture, she used them to convey deeper meanings and challenge the established conventions of language. She breathed new life into objects and images, creating a vivid landscape for the reader to explore.
Emily Dickinson was a unique and innovative writer who used her poetry to express personal experiences in a voice that was influential, powerful and distinct. By taking risks with her writing, she subtly communicated her beliefs and promoted conversations regarding the biggest social and religious issues of her time.
The Literary Canon of Emily Dickinson
Though Emily Dickinson had a prolific writing career and produced many famous works, she was relatively unknown during her lifetime. It was only after her death that her life and work began to gain recognition, beginning when her sister, Lavinia, discovered her cache of poems.
Today, Emily Dickinson is widely recognized as one of the most important American poets of all time. Her work is seen as a cornerstone of literature and often serves as an introduction to poetry for younger generations. Through her honest and powerful writing, she explored the joys and sorrows of life, allowing the reader to connect with numerous themes of identity and mortality. Ultimately, Emily Dickinson remains an enduring influence in the world of poetry — a source of insight and inspiration for readers new and old.
