Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was a prominent American poet who wrote extensively about complex topics such as death, religion, and nature. Her poetry, often characterized by its emphasis on the strange, enigmatic and metaphysical, was greatly influential in the development of modernist poetry and continues to be widely read and appreciated today. In exploring Dickinson’s work, it is worthwhile to consider the various topics and themes that she frequently addressed throughout her poetry.
Death, of course, is one of the most frequent topics in Emily Dickinson’s work and certainly contributed to her being remembered as an iconic figure in American literature. In poems such as “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and “After Great Pain,” Dickinson poetically addresses the process of death itself, contemplating both the physical and emotional aspects of mortality. In doing so, Dickinson gives us a unique perspective on mortality, one which offers solace for those facing death as well as for those grieving for those who have already passed away.
Religion is another major theme in Dickinson’s work and is perhaps the most controversial element of her poetry. Dickinson, who was raised as an active Christian and was an active member of the church, drew upon the Bible and the teachings of organized religion to explore the metaphysical. Her poems “God is a distant hushed thing,” “There is a certain Slant of light” and “It was not Death, for I stood up” all explore the dichotomy between faith and doubt, probing and challenging long-held religious dogma as well as human suffering.
Nature is another core topic in Dickinson’s work and is considered by some critics to be her central theme. Dickinson drew heavily upon nature as a source of inspiration and often used it as a metaphor for deeper spiritual ideas. Her poem “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass,” for example, poetically explores the idea of individual mortality and our relationship to nature. Other poems such as “The Sky is Low, the Clouds are Mean,” “I cannot live with You” and “A Still—Volcano—life” contain vivid descriptions of the natural world, offering moments of solace, beauty and peace.
Finally, Emily Dickinson’s poetry often speaks to the deepest yearnings of the human heart, exploring unrequited love, injustice, mortality and the triumphs and failings of the self. “I’ll tell you how the Sun rose,” “I died for Beauty, but was scarce,” “An Everywhere of Silver” and “The Chariot” are just a few of her poems which explore the mysterious duality of reality—the contrast between pain and joy, light and darkness, life and death. In these poems, Dickinson invites us to not only consider the nature of the physical world, but also the complexities of the human experience.
Innate Analysis
Throughout her work, Dickinson forays into some of life’s most profound topics, including death, faith, and love. Dickinson captures the contradictions of life where a single event can be seen from different points of view. She has a unique ability to draw together elements of the past and present, weaving together religious, philosophical and natural elements in a single poem. By combining these viewpoints, she allows readers to draw their own conclusions about the greatness of the universe.
Uniquely, Dickinson created an unconventional poetic style, that combined a focus on emotions and the physical world. The first two lines of “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass” seem to be a simple description of an ordinary frog, but by using her delicate style, Dickinson manages to open up a discourse about life. The poem uses nature and human experiences as a lens to explore its deeper topics. Dickinson is aware that life is difficult and encourages its readers to embrace the difficulties, instead of being overwhelmed by them.
Dickinson’s poetic style reflects a real sense of freedom, something that can have a uniquely positive effect on troubled minds. Her poems provide a framework for those who feel lost, to try and make sense of their experiences. Dickinson creates a world of possibility that is often overlooked, allowing for tangible and distinct interpretations of life, offering guidance for its readers.
Spirituality
The spirituality of Dickinson’s poetry has been widely noted since her death and continues to draw admiration today. By intertwining her work with her own experience of faith, she was able to explore a more abstract and difficult subject matter in an accessible and poetic form. Religion has been a topic of discussion in her work with Dickinson using religious texts to explore notions of life, death and spirituality in her poetry.
The complete absence of a personal god in Dickinson’s work is a key element to note. Instead, Dickinson’s exploration of the divine is expressed in nature and other cosmological subjects. The juxtaposition between the physical and spiritual space is a central element in Dickinson’s poetry and is often expressed through contrasting words such as death/life, suffering/ beauty, and sorrow/happiness. Dickinson’s thesis on divinity and its relationship with life is expressed in her work in an attempt to encourage people to reflect on the more philosophical aspects of existence.
By examining Dickinson’s exploration of the spiritual space, it is clear that she viewed it as an intricate and complex topic that must be explored and expressed. Many of her poems can be seen as soliloquies to the divine, with Dickinson often questioning the deeper implications of life through the lens of faith and spirituality. Dickinson was a devout Christian, yet it is important to note that her exploration of faith focuses more on the individual’s relationships with divinity and less on the traditional Christian doctrines.
Realism
Emily Dickinson’s poetry often speaks to the core of reality and human life, exploring the topics and creating new linguistic expressions for them. Dickinson’s realism and her portrayal of situations, aims to inform the reader of their own, often unknown, state of being. Her works discuss topics such as the individual’s isolation within a modern world and their inner struggles of living in the present. By exploring these topics and giving them unique voice, Dickinson helps readers to connect more deeply with themselves.
Furthermore, Dickinson’s work illuminates the effects of her tumultuous period of American history. From the Civil War to the industrial revolution, Dickinson created a new understanding of community and human identity. She captured the ramifications of this period by creating a search for understanding, yet never providing a definitive answer, highlighting the depth of the unanswered questions of the period.
By exploring these topics with a focus on the individual, Dickinson acknowledges the move away from traditional patriarchal values at the time, and her investigation of the world moves beyond the conventional ideals held by society. For Dickinson, the individual must grapple with their own identity, life and conceptualisations of the world, seeking inner truths as a form of solace. Emily Dickinson’s poetry helps us to reflect on our own place in the world and to connect with our innermost selves.
Influence
Emily Dickinson’s influence has become increasingly more profound since her death in 1886. From the founding of The Emily Dickinson Journal and the Emily Dickinson Society to the influence she has had on many prominent writers, Dickinson’s influence endures. Furthermore, her exploration of metaphysical and spiritual realms have captivated many following generations and her emphasis on the complexities of human mortality and emotions continue to lead new generations to better appreciate their lives.
In recognition of Dickinson’s poetry, she was officially inducted into the Academy of American Poets in 1966 and she is regularly chosen as one of the most influential and beloved poets in American history (through awards such as Poet Laureate and posthumous Pulitzer Prize nominations). Dickinson has not only had influence as an icon of American literature but has also served as an inspiration for some of the most prominent writers of the same genre today.
Themes explored in her work are numerous and her approach to the topics is often energising and refreshing. Her use of language, often described as simplistic yet powerful, continues to be a huge influence on the literary world today.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Emily Dickinson’s poetry demands contemplation and challenges readers to engage with difficult topics, such as mortality and spirituality. By expanding the understanding of how to address these concepts, Dickinson created a framework for her readers to approach the same topics today. From her exploration of the physical world to her own challenges with faith, Dickinson’s work can still capture readers with its captivating beauty and remain as a source of knowledge for a changing world.
Through her intricate and detailed works, Emily Dickinson offers a unique perspective on some of life’s most pressing questions. Her influence continues to have an impact on today’s literature, allowing Dickinson to remain an integral part of a new generation of readers and poets alike.
