Emily Dickinson was an American poet whose works were largely unknown in her lifetime but loved and revered by readers and scholars since their posthumous discovery. Born in 1830, Emily Dickinson wrote much of her poetry during her youth and adolescence but continued to write until her death in 1886. Dickinson attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary from 1847 to 1848 and led an avowedly reclusive life from 1855 until the end of her life. Her works have come to represent the American romantic era of lyric and indicative poetry, yet she has never been easy to categorize because of the unique style of her poems, which often incorporate a wide variety of language as well as unusual punctuation and capitalization of words.
Although Emily Dickinson’s official biography has it that she wrote only six poems, in fact she wrote over 1,000 pieces of poetry, of varying length and quality. Of those she wrote in her lifetime, only twelve were published. The first two were published in 1858 in The Springfield Republican, while two more were published in The Independent in 1862. The remaining eight were published posthumously by her friends Mabel Loomis Todd and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. In addition to these twelve published works, Dickinson’s friends circulated over a hundred of her poems among themselves in manuscript form.
Biographers of Emily Dickinson note that she wrote during two periods of her life: her early 20s and her late 40s. Her earliest known poem is dated to 1847, when she was only 17; however, these early works were often discarded over time as her expressions grew more complex. She wrote prolifically throughout 1840s and 1850s, evolving her own distinct style that would come to characterize her writing. During her lifelong reclusiveness, which lasted from 1855 to her death in 1886, Dickinson further honed her style and created the bulk of her now-beloved formal poetry.
Of the surviving poetry written by Emily Dickinson in her lifetime, the majority was composed between the years of 1860 and 1865. This period of intense creativity has been noted by biographers, who posit that her reclusiveness may have facilitated a surge in her writing but also prevented her from seeking wider publication. During this time, Dickinson penned most of her now-famous works and began to explore the form of the ballad, the sonnet, and the hymn, incorporating an expansive range of emotionally apt words and language in her works.
Since Emily Dickinson’s works were not published until after her death, many of her manuscripts, as well as the original versions of her published works, have been preserved and are currently housed in Dickinson’s home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Scholars, who are famed for their ability to interpret her works and assign historical contexts, continue to contribute to the legacy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry.
Why Was Emily Dickinson’s Work Unpublished?
The majority of Emily Dickinson’s work was left unpublished during her lifetime which has led to much scholarly works seeking to understand why. One popular theory is that Dickinson suffered from a fear of public analysis and criticism and was simply unwilling to have her work put into the cruel scrutiny of the world. Dickinson as a figure was always seen as quite a mysterious character, with her style of dress, socialization and even her writing leading to speculation about her intentions. However, it has been suggested that her refusal to publish her work was also linked to her strong Christian faith and her moral abhorrence of massive public attention.
The limited contact Dickinson had with society outside of her own family, friends and acquaintances often made relating to publishing her work a challenge. In her lifetime publishing meant in most part being exposed to vast public commentary that she would have feared and not wished to expose her work to. Therefore the combination of Dickinson’s natural secretive nature and the cost that could have been associated with the publishing of her work seemed to be the main factors in why there was no definitive decision from her to seek publication.
The reasons as to why Dickinson’s work was not published during her lifetime have been discussed amongst scholars and amongst her fans, who argue that there was in her case an endemic shyness that allowed her to evade coming into the public sphere. Documented testimonies from friends and family have served as great sources to confirm such a notion, further conforming to the hypothesis that the poet was simply adverse to the thought of having to share her work with crowds of judgemental strangers.
For all her mystery in life, Dickinson’s works have continued to capture the imagination of readers all over the world, allowing her to become one of the most renowned poets in history. It’s interesting to note that although Dickinson was unable to witness the eventual fame her works would achieve during her lifetime, her friends were aware that they were harboring a genius and were in fact responsible for the majority of her works being published thereafter.
Significance of Emily Dickinson’s Poetry
Emily Dickinson’s work is renowned for both its beauty and its complexity. Unlike many of her 19th century contemporaries, Dickinson eschewed the traditional use of imagery and metaphor in her verse and instead opted for a free-verse style akin to modernism. Unlike modernist poetry, however, Dickinson’s verse is often characterized by a great deal of emotion, which can be seen in the language she chooses to use as well as in the imagery and metaphors she employs. For example, her poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is an often-quoted example of Dickinson’s skillful use of extended metaphors to illustrate the inevitability of death.
The recurring themes in Dickinson’s poetry, such as death and mortality, the power of nature, and the search for meaning, have made her oeuvre particularly appealing to modern audiences. For some readers, her exploration of internal worlds and her rich use of symbolism create an atmosphere that is introspective yet not oppressive. Her work has been praised for its unique voice and perspective and has earned her a prominent place in American literature.
Dickinson’s work is often seen as offering a window into the inner workings of the soul, revealing an intimate relationship between the spiritual and the physical world. Her poetry was not only about personal exploration and spiritual growth, but also about challenges to existing conventions, such as those of gender, faith, and social norms. The impact of her writing on subsequent generations of writers—both American and international—cannot be overstated.
Some of Dickinson’s most famous works address her own mortality, such as her legendary poem ‘Because I Could Not Stop For Death’. In this work, Dickinson shows her unique ability to illustrate lessons of life and death through lyricism, expressing the relationships between the two with dexterity and insight. Additionally, she often laments the lack of love she had in her life, and her longing for it. Dickinson’s work speaks to her readers in a way that is both comforting and captivating, encouraging them to dive into their own inner workings and explore the philosophical questions that she asks throughout her oeuvre.
Emily Dickinson’s Influence
Emily Dickinson’s influence on modern American poetry is vast and varied. She is often cited as a major influence for writers like Anaïs Nin, Sylvia Plath, and Adrienne Rich, who used Dickinson’s imagery and metaphor to explore their own internal worlds. Dickinson’s work has been a key influence in the development of poetry in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and her ability to capture powerful emotions has been praised by many literary figures.
In addition, Dickinson’s influence extends beyond writing. Her life and works have been the subject of numerous films, books, and television shows, further attesting to her lasting impact on the American consciousness. For example, her life was the subject of the 2011 biopic A Quiet Passion, while her work was the primary focus of the 2017 film A Quiet Passion. In addition, a 1994 musical adaptation of her works, entitled The Belle of Amherst, has been widely acclaimed.
In her lifetime, Dickinson received very little recognition for her work. However, since her death, she has been widely praised for her exploration of complex themes and for her unorthodox treatment of conventional language. As such, Dickinson’s influence has grown over the decades and is likely to remain as one of the key figures in not just American poetry, but in all of literature.
Dickinson in Popular Culture
Emily Dickinson’s works have found a surprisingly large audience in the modern era, with her works having been adapted and referenced in various forms of popular culture. Dickinson’s poetry has been referenced in the television series The Office, Gilmore Girls, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.L.D. She is also the subject of the musical The Belle of Amherst and the play Believe Me, a one-woman show about Dickinson’s life and works.
Dickinson has been portrayed in a number of films and TV series, such as A Quiet Passion (2016) and Dickinson (2018), a comic drama based on her life. Emily Dickinson’s influence is seen in the works of many contemporary writers, including Pulitzer Prize-winning poets Adrienne Rich and Louise Glück. Her poems have been adapted into song, by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to British post punk group the Fall.
Dickinson’s work remains respected and relevant to this day. Her works have been embraced by a new generation of writers, many of whom cite her as an influence on their own work. Her legacy as one of the great American poets will remain unchanged, as her works continue to be adapted and celebrated in popular culture.
Legacy of Emily Dickinson’s Poetry
Emily Dickinson’s work has had a profound impact on American literature and will continue to be studied and enjoyed for generations. Her unique style and perspective has captivated readers and scholars alike and has provided a window into the interior worlds of both Dickinson and her readers. Her works have opened up avenues for discussion on a myriad of topics, from mortality to gender to faith.
In addition, Dickinson’s influence has extended beyond just the literary world. Her work has been adapted into film, television, music, and theater, thus reaching even wider audiences. From Bob Dylan to Adrienne Rich, numerous artists have taken inspiration from Dickinson’s works, further demonstrating her profound influence. Her legacy will continue to shape the discussion and understanding of poetry for years to come.
The beauty and insight of Dickinson’s works has made them timeless. Her exploration of the human experience, her unique perspective, and her skillful use of language will continue to captivate readers and scholars alike. Her work is a testament to her creativity and her visionary approach to writing, and her words will endure far beyond the lifetime of the writer.
