Emily Dickinson's Poem: Growing Up In A Religious Society

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Growing up in a religious society constricts certain free thoughts of individuals from finding light because they don’t adhere to the doctrine of the religion. It is this instance that many find themselves feeling restricted by God’s word or his rules on how they live their life. It is the common practice to believe in the other side as heaven however some believe that heaven is just a security blanket for the religious ideology. In religious societies it becomes almost impossible for individuals with opposing views to express such views without harsh backlash by the masses. Especially if you’ve grown up surrounded by a traditionally religious family, your unchristian views might be met with anger and disappointment. In such a household it …show more content…

I don’t agree that shaming someone for believing differently stands as any way to create the equality in society we’ve discussed for over a century. Dickinson finds herself challenging the words she grew up alongside as I found myself doing as well. I found out early on surrounded by religion that it becomes difficult to express your denial with believers, especially when those believers are your own family. In Dickinson’s Poem we experience the ending moments of an individual finally figuring out their own truth but at a time much later than wanted. With their family “gathering firm for that last onset” the individual is forced to luup further than their family’s hopes of heaven and find what they truly believe awaits them after death. I find myself searching my own beliefs for wait awaits me after death as I’d rather be sure of what I believe is to come before I lay on the bed for death’s arrival. For myself, I understand how difficult it is to disagree with the beliefs of those who love you because you feel as if you’ve somehow been led astray but Dickinson expands on the idea that with the freedom to express our ideas we can find a common ground to share. Dickinson uses this description of the ending of life to portray the religion surrounding the individual dying obscures the truth of what awaits …show more content…

Dickinson’s poem became an outlet for her views on religious restrictions and the consequences associated with possessing objecting views on the popular religion held by society, especially in one 's own ending times. Those who hold differing opinions then societies religion should be able to express such views without the repercussions of being outed by their community or family. Dickinson in writing “ I heard a Fly buzz--When I died--” examines the ending of a life and what religion ultimately gave this person in the end, Portraying that if all that awaits us in the end is darkness no one should allow society to stop them from voicing their own opinions. In this idea of condemning those who fail to believe what the majority believes, most hide their true feelings on the subject in fear of being outed from the common dealings of society. Dickinson demonstrates in her poem the feelings of those who chose not to conform, and how because of society many valid feelings must be kept under wrap. A society that doesn’t allow opposing views or opinions diminishes the quality of life for others and condemns them to succumb to the weight of family pressure instead of finding their own

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