Emily Dickinson Introverts Analysis

Emily Dickinson is known to be a poet of exclusion; in modern terms, we may refer to this as an introvert. Introverts are people typically "drained by social encounters and energized by solitary, often creative pursuits. Their disposition, frequently misconstrued as shyness, social phobia, even avoidant personality disorder, but many introverts socialize easily; they just strongly prefer not to (Whitbourn).” The psychological studies of exclusive individuals have become familiar in today’s secular world. More and more individuals have become accepting, or understanding of the unique differences that exist among individuals. Emily Dickinson, however, did not live during a time as progressive in mental health studies as ours today. Many have

speculated about why Emily Dickinson was reclusive. Some believing she was an agoraphobic or had epilepsy.

Even in her youth, she was diagnosed by her physician as having a "nervous prostration" (McDermott, 2000). Even in modern society, we struggle to understand the introvert entirely, yet Dickinson has provided the reader with a personal look into the preverbal “window of the soul,” which just so happens to belong to the most introverted poet in our knowable history. What I aim to emphasize in this analysis, is that Emily Dickinson had a higher belief system, a more intimate view of a relationship. Perhaps stemming from the two types of religions existing in Emily Dickinson's life, Puritanism and Transcendentalism, “which had a significant influence on her poetry. Puritanism allowed Dickinson to remain in her faith in God while Transcendentalism released her from limiting notions of humanity empowering her to view herself as an individual with a distinct identity (McIntosh).” Though, beyond this, she exposes the introvert, vividly allowing the reader to see the

individual.
In Dickinson's poem, A Soul Selects Her Own Society the reader can begin to understand the level of devotion Dickinson had to her own soul; withstanding society around her to include the defiance of succumbing to societies social standards; in essence, Dickinson was a social deviant. “In sociology, deviance describes an action or behavior that violates social norms, including a formally enacted rule and informal violations of social norms (Macionis).” In stanza one of Dickinson’s poem, Dickinson emphasizes keywords using alliteration. Dickinson has the “soul” doing the choosing and uses "divine majority", to continue the image of the soul, the use of the word divine deepens this value, allowing the reader to assume a higher status as one would do in connecting to a higher being. The thought of this status connects the reader to the sincerity that Dickinson places on the value of who the soul chooses to associate. The “divine majority” allowed to enter becomes the only majority needed as the door closes. Separating the divine majority and keeping them to itself. Obtrude no more (4) – this line exemplifies the importance that the divine majority have in the speaker’s life. Much like the introvert, friendship is important, yet introverts do not surround themselves with people. They “prefer a few intimate friends to lots of less-intense friendships, and deep discussion with one person to a party full of festive chitchat (Levine).” The second stanza gives the reader a sense that social class or authority do not win the soul. Dickinson seems to use words that show status: emperor, kneeling, low gate, chariot, mat. Though, looking further into the second stanza, the reader could also assume that Dickinson was not a solitary individual because she had to be, or because she held a diagnosis proving she was due to illness. It seems that she had suitors, of high status that would come to her door. She could have chosen to open the gate, but this individual did not move her soul. Therefore, her soul was not responding to them – it remained unmoved. Here we also get a peek into the devotion of the soul. Dickinson omitted the verb and subject, stated clearly in line one, "she notes." It is the soul who is unmoved by the emperor's kneeling before her.

The final point I would like to draw relates to line length and meter.

In each stanza, the first line has more feet and syllables than the following three. The second and fourth lines have fewer feet and syllables. In the last stanza, each line has only two syllables, the second and fourth lines are shorter than in the preceding stanzas. This short line calls attention to itself; these lines sound definite and final, a lasting effect on the idea voiced in these lines. Dickinson solidifies the exactitude, the finality of the soul's choice. The abundant field "ample nation" she has to choose among is juxtaposed with the narrowing of her souls “one” choice. "Introversion is the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one's own mental life (Martian).” Introverts are “typically perceived as more reserved or reflective (Martian).” Some psychologists have categorized introverts as “people whose energy tends to expand through reflection and dwindle during interaction (Helgoe).” When reflecting on Dickinson’s, The Soul Selects Her Own Society, the reader can connect to the devotion a woman has to the feelings of her soul. Even more, they are also allowed to peer into the soul of an individual woman, an introverted person who’s belief and faith holds more sway over her actions than any sect of

society.