Selected Poems and Letters of Emily Dickinson Book

Upon one's first experience reading the poems of Emily Dickinson, it is easy to label the reclusive author's works as being purely introspective accounts of her daily life. However, not many recognize the strong themes of social resistance that are hidden just below the surface in much of Dickinson's poetry. She often includes symbols that signify female oppression as wells as allusions to her frustration at living in a male-dominated society. By studying Dickinson's work in-depth, it is possible for the reader to gain an understanding of Dickinson as one of America's first woman advocates of free-thinking as well as a promoter of feminist rights.

By gaining knowledge about the culture in which Dickinson lived, it is possible for the reader to gain a new perspective on her poetry. Indeed, feminist references can be found in almost every one of her poems if examined closely. Through creative use of language, Dickinson expresses her frustration with her situation, and asserts her beliefs that an afterlife is uncertain and that one should work to find happiness here on earth. She also reveals her stance that women should not be afraid to care about nurturing their own individual souls outside of the church's official doctrine.

In "To Flee from Memory" Dickinson makes a powerful statement about the suffering that women endure, and her desire for change. She begins with an allusion to the stifling society she lives in, "To flee from memory/Had we the Wings/Many would fly/Inured to slower things/Birds with dismay". Dickinson seems to be lamenting her role as a woman. She compares herself to a bird without "Wings" that is forever land-bound and is desperately seeking the freedom of the open sky. She comments that women are "inured" by men to accept what society sees as an acceptable role for them. In the last stanza, she seems to stress the importance that in order to evoke change men must "escap[e]/From the mind of man". Dickinson perhaps deliberately separates the two meanings of "man" here. The first pertains to men as individuals who are "cowering" in the face of a new way of thinking and the second makes "man" synonymous with "society". Only when men have forgotten traditional religious and historical teachings can society move forward. At the present, however, all the misery that women willingly endure hinges on their belief in the Calvinist teaching that in heaven they will finally gain their "Wings".

Dickinson explores this opinion further in "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church". Just as in "To Flee from Memory", references are made to Calvinist belief systems and the church's overwhelming focus on the afterlife. This poem, however, does not focus so much on deriding the church's teachings, but rather explores how women can find divinity in nature that is just as wondrous as that which they would encounter in heaven. By looking around at God's creation, Dickinson devises new concepts of worship that do not include the following of Calvinist doctrine. Her full thoughts on organized religion are disclosed in the second stanza of the poem where she writes, "Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice--/I just wear my Wings". Like "Memory", the mention of "Wings" could be a symbol for personal freedom. When Dickinson is alone in nature, she is able to create a personal connection with God and does not feel pressured to conform to a chauvinist society. In this environment, she is able to proudly "wear [her] wings" with no fear of retribution from others.

Dickinson entrances her reader with cheerful descriptions of birds and trees which keep the poem from becoming too dreary, yet she does not let anyone forget her true intent. She closes "Sabbath" with the line "Instead of getting to Heaven, at last--/I'm going, all along". Her skepticism of the existence of an afterlife is perfectly clear here, but a notable accomplishment on Dickinson's part is how she manages to convey her disapproval of the Calvinist doctrine without distancing herself from God. By questioning her religion, yet refusing to demonize the church, Dickinson opens up her work to a wider, mostly female audience who might be afraid of God's wrath if they choose to liberate themselves. She shows it is possible to enjoy a solitary divine experience, and that God invites everyone, (even women), to enjoy his creation and bask in their individuality on a daily basis.

The fact that Dickinson's works were published post-mortem did not in any way diminish the profound impact that Emily Dickinson has had on future generations of American poets, both women and men. Although our modern American culture often encourages us to admire those who are extroverted and are not afraid to voice their opinions, it is important for us not to dismiss Emily Dickinson due to her introversion. Conversely, she is the true embodiment of the American revolutionary spirit. Dickinson did not sacrifice her ideals for anyone, and rejected accepted thought patterns in favor of a new radical approach ultimately bettered the way women were viewed in society.