Finding Emily

Here is a paper I wrote for my college English class about my favorite poet.

Emily Dickinson is often noted for her deep and insightful poetry. Within the words of her art, she reveals a deep insight into immorality and death, adding romantic twists. She lived a life of seclusion and simplicity, from which much of her passionate poetry emerged. She used few words but each was thought of carefully to provoke the human mind to think much deeper than it would have if she had used the common language of the time.

Emily was born on December 10^th, 1830. Her family was high on the pyramid of society and often their home was visited by guests such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Even from a young age Emily appeared to have a deep love for words, but because her father had a “pure but terrible” heart she was often unable to read the things which she truly desired too. Writings by Walt Whitman and similar authors often times had to be smuggled into her home.

Even though her father was strict, Emily was highly respectful of him and other men of authority. She often referred to herself as being vulnerable and constantly looking for the protection from others. This could easily be related back to the powerful authority her father held over her.

Religion was often a key influence to Emily’s poetry. She was raised believing the religion of Calvinism. This religion believes that men are inherently sinful and that most will be condemned to hell. Partially due to this belief, Emily kept herself isolated so she would be able to protect herself from any sin that she may commit, but she also struggled with the belief of “original sin”. Her poetry shows that her religion affected her deeply. Many times within her poetry she mentions being “shut out of heaven” and also she writes of many questions she has about a life after death.

Many would say that Emily was beautiful with a soft voice and dark eyes, but she also appeared to be agitated and intense. What was mistaken for unhappiness was actually insecurity in the presence of others. She was uncertain of herself around those that she did not know too well, but was said to be quick witted and intelligent. She had a good sense of humor but would only indulge in it with her close friends and sisters.

Emily pulled herself further and further into seclusion until, about the time she was in her late twenties, she was in almost a complete seclusion. However, due to her “physical” seclusion, Emily continued to stay in contact with the outside world through letters to her friends. Her seclusion also enabled her mind to travel into new areas of thought and inner experience.

During the Civil War, many of her family’s close friends and relatives were injured and killed. The years of the Civil War were some of Emily’s most productive years, not in publishing but in her writing. The death of close friends could have easily been the influence of her intense interest and slight fear of death.

Emily died at age 55 of Bight’s disease, which is caused by kidney degeneration. Doctors said that stress that had accumulated throughout her life had contributed to her premature death. It was not until after her death that one of her sisters came across a box that contained 1,700 of Emily’s poems. The first edition of her poetry was published in 1893. She would eventually be known as one of the “immortals” of English poets.

Even though much of her poetry dwells on the reality and somewhat pessimistic side of life, there are often times many mentions of a great joy, but after ever poem of great joy one can be found portraying a deeper doubt and insecurity. Even the critics of her poetry looked past her inconsistencies in style and form, and found the great power within. This power is what has made her poetry become successful and extremely popular.