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Summary Emily Dickinson: Debunked
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Some misconceptions about Emily Dickinson debunked.
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Emily Dickinson the Myth behind the Literary LegendMyth In Actuality
Dickinson was a recluse Up until her late twenties she was very socially active and even after she remained in contact with
those close to her (e.g. Susan Gilbert and Austin Dickinson). She also was fond of letter writing leading
to written communication with Thomas W. Higginson. She would also be seen gardening in her garden
from time to time. Reclusive but not a recluse.
Dickinson was never one for love Although never married Dickinson’s poetry is full of references to love and passion and the difference
between the two (white hot love). Some suitors were suspected to visit her and possible love affairs
are explored through letters. Suspected relationships with Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Charles
Wadsworth. Correspondence burned upon death after wish from the poet so exact relationships are
hard to prove. Not the white-dressed, innocent virgin pop culture would paint her to be.
Dickinson was obsessed with death Although true it wasn’t due to an obsession or desire to die it was mainly due to her surrounding of
death in life. As a Calvinist death is a big part of religious tradition and the pinnacle of one’s life s they
ascend back to their Lord in Heaven. Also, during her life death followed Dickinson from the death of
her cousin at age 14 (which possible traumatised her) right up until her own death.
Dickinson would only wear white as a In all the daguerreotypes and photos, we have of the poet none of them see her in white. In her early
symbol of her nature writings we see mentions of different fabrics of many colours. Also, the white dress that is commonly
associated with her was for informal domestic wear and perhaps is the equivalent to modern comfort
clothing to write in.
Dickinson was homosexual Again, this cannot be proven due to the burning of her correspondence upon her death, so no romantic
relationships are provable. The claim goes that Dickinson and Susan were closer than friends, but
many critics put this down to wild fantasy. Many see the present-day motifs in Dickinson’s poetry
leading to her popularity but maybe this leads us to associate her modern values with her mistakenly.
Dickinson was agnostic/atheist/did not Dickinson was brought up in a staunch Calvinist home and attended Mount Holyoke Seminary for 10
believe in God months. However, at the seminary she was branded by staff as a non-conformist but, John Green and
other critics believe that through her poetry we can see phases in her life were her faith ‘waxes and
wains’.
Dickinson shut out the world Amherst is very close to Springfield, the home of the Union’s main armaments factory. The American
Civil War corresponded with one of Dickinson’s most prolific periods of writing her poetry shows
elements that allude to her deep knowledge of what was going beyond her window that looked over
the cemetery. Also, her father’s deep political roots would probably make the state of the union a
frequent dinnertime conversation topic in the family homestead.
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