Sunday, January 21, 2007
Emily Dickinson
Katja
ENGL 48 B
Journal # 6, Dickinson
21 January, 2007
"From her twenties until her death Dickinson was free to devote much of her life to poetry; and by the late 1850s, when she had become a true poet, Richard B. Sewall explains, Dickinson "lived increasingly in her own chosen country, where she was free. Her home was the setting, with a family that learned not to intrude."" (168)
The editor of the Norton head notes touches on the remarkable life of isolation that Dickinson impressed upon herself. The Richard B. Sewall quote enhances the reader’s understanding of Dickinson’s eccentricities.
When I think of Emily Dickinson I think of repression, self-negation and social and emotional asceticism. Dickinson’s lack of physically close relationships stands in stark contrast to the considerable intellectual long-distance friendships she formed with writers, editors and family members. This backdrop of bizarre self-imposed isolation adds to the allure of Dickinson’s poems, because they seem to mirror a very rich inner life of vivid thought processes and deeply held emotions.
I think that Dickinson’s isolation was a form of devotion. Her self-promotion—some would call it illusions of grandeur—seems almost like a kind of worship, as it is righteous and true. Her religious doubt allowed her to really explore her faith in a way few people ever do, excepting those who have devoted their lives to God. The parameters of Dickinson’s life are similar to those of a nun or monk: the isolation, the devotion to one cause, the meditation on deeper levels of existence, prayer (in Dickinson’s life expressed as writing).
What is curious is the way she lived in the family home, yet somehow apart. I find it fascinating that anyone could accomplish that, and I can hardly imagine having a deep relationship with someone based on letter writing only. Dickinson wrote letters to her friends and family members who lived next door! Why did her family let her be? As a parent I would think it very strange—even suspicious—if my children demanded that much isolation. Dickinson’s family appears to have been in awe or perhaps fear of her. I must read a good Dickinson biography. Do you know any?
ENGL 48 B
Journal # 6, Dickinson
21 January, 2007
"From her twenties until her death Dickinson was free to devote much of her life to poetry; and by the late 1850s, when she had become a true poet, Richard B. Sewall explains, Dickinson "lived increasingly in her own chosen country, where she was free. Her home was the setting, with a family that learned not to intrude."" (168)
The editor of the Norton head notes touches on the remarkable life of isolation that Dickinson impressed upon herself. The Richard B. Sewall quote enhances the reader’s understanding of Dickinson’s eccentricities.
When I think of Emily Dickinson I think of repression, self-negation and social and emotional asceticism. Dickinson’s lack of physically close relationships stands in stark contrast to the considerable intellectual long-distance friendships she formed with writers, editors and family members. This backdrop of bizarre self-imposed isolation adds to the allure of Dickinson’s poems, because they seem to mirror a very rich inner life of vivid thought processes and deeply held emotions.
I think that Dickinson’s isolation was a form of devotion. Her self-promotion—some would call it illusions of grandeur—seems almost like a kind of worship, as it is righteous and true. Her religious doubt allowed her to really explore her faith in a way few people ever do, excepting those who have devoted their lives to God. The parameters of Dickinson’s life are similar to those of a nun or monk: the isolation, the devotion to one cause, the meditation on deeper levels of existence, prayer (in Dickinson’s life expressed as writing).
What is curious is the way she lived in the family home, yet somehow apart. I find it fascinating that anyone could accomplish that, and I can hardly imagine having a deep relationship with someone based on letter writing only. Dickinson wrote letters to her friends and family members who lived next door! Why did her family let her be? As a parent I would think it very strange—even suspicious—if my children demanded that much isolation. Dickinson’s family appears to have been in awe or perhaps fear of her. I must read a good Dickinson biography. Do you know any?
# posted by Katja @ 1:24 PM 
