Research Paper On Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.” ― Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is considered one of the most unique 19th Century American poets. She is known her creative use of metaphor and innovative style. She was a profound woman who explored her own spirituality, and relationships deeply poetry. Authors who inspired her were those like John Keats and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Staying away from the elaborate and romantic style of her time. Instead creating poems of imagery, at times witty, and expressing her keen insight she had into the human condition. Emily Dickinson is widely known for being a by-stander to her own life. Towards the latter part of her life we see this the most. She seldom

Most researchers are conflicted to what exactly was the cause for Dickinson's withdrawal. Some believe she may have suffered from illnesses such as agoraphobia and epilepsy. No matter the cause, this seclusion caused Emily to produce amazing pieces of work. One particular person who influenced her writing the the most would be Susan Gilbert. Emily's strongest and most affectionate relationship was with Susan Gilbert, her brother’s wife, who also coincidently lived next door. Emily constantly sent letters/poems to Susan throughout the years and highly valued her opinion and feedback. She was everything to Emily, she was a friend, muse, and confidante. "With the exception of Shakespeare, you have told me of more knowledge than any one living - To say that sincerely is strange praise." Letter from Dickinson to Susan Gilbert Dickinson, about 1882. However, there is controversy over how to view Emily's friendship with Sue. How deep was their friendship? There has been much speculation over details of Dickinson’s life including her sexual orientation and romantic attachments. You can see evidence of this in some of Emily’s letters to her often containing expressions of affection and can be erotic in nature at times. The excerpt below is from one of the letters that Emily wrote to

During this time her home town Amherst, was in the midst of a religious revival. And the Dickinson household was affected. Most of her family and Susan counted themselves among the saved however Emily seemed to be unwavering, even claiming to her friends that “[she is] standing alone in rebellion.”. This revival was wanting individuals to come forward who were convinced that they were chosen by God because God would not simply choose those who chose themselves. He would only make his choice from those who were present and accounted for. Causing church attendance inescapable. So Dickinson refused to be confined by the Church. She described this period of time in her “rebellion” letter to Leonard Humphrey. She