Dickinson's Comparison: The Works And Life Of Emily Dickinson

When examining the works and life of Emily Dickinson it is important to apply feminist theory. Her two works “I’m wife—I’ve finished that” and “My life had stood—a loaded gun” are easily viewed under this theory. These two poems will be critically examined to reveal the nature of her culture in the distant past. The feminist theory aims to view literature from the nature of gender inequality. In order to understand these works and life in her day, the reader must first look at the average lifestyle of a woman in the 1800s and then Emily Dickinson’s life.

In the 1800s, women had many constraints placed on them by society. An ideal woman was meek, obedient, and above all subservient to men. However, some of these norms had begun to change

Perhaps it was because Emily Dickinson rebelled against everything society in the 1800s stood for. Richard Sewall even called her “An avowed pagen” (55). Many people think she suffered from depression and yet in that time it went untreated. When reading her poems, the reader can feel the angst, the sadness, and the violent thoughts on her place in society. The reader can imagine a world without the ability to vote or own property. Dickinson lived a life where the only education available was the conservative Calvinists schools her dad allowed her to attend, that she did not even believe in. Most people look forward to picking a school to attend. In Dickinson’s time people were merely told where to attend and what to learn. It really puts in perspective the hopes and wants that were never fulfilled because society deemed it too radical. Imagine being called a spinster in modern times, it is not even an insult. Yet, back then, it was almost a sin to be unmarried by age 25. During this time, it was considered outrageous for a female to be an author or an artist. Today, a person can be whatever they set their minds. Back then, women only had three choices: wife, whore, or

At the same time, we also glimpse a soul crushed by loneliness wondering if it would have been easier to get married and allow herself to give up her dreams as a writer. In “My life had stood—a loaded gun”, we see a woman who feels trapped. A woman who is completely dependent upon a man to do anything. She is merely used as a tool. We see a women exploding with violent thoughts, yet one who still knows she is still a slave biding her master’s wishes. It is these two poems that really put women’s suffrage in the 1800s in focus. This was a time where women were just wanting to be acknowledged yet scared to show off what they can really do. Yet, it was this world ruled by men like her father that made Emily Dickinson’s poetry what it is today. Without that, she might have published her poetry sooner and allowed society to judge her on it affecting her whole life’s work. Also, bear in mind while this world seems distant and hard to believe in places around the world society is still run much like New England in the 1850s if not worse. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia are places where women’s potential sit waiting to explode like a