As one of the most widely read female poets to date, Emily Dickinson has been analyzed for generations. Her poems address profound human issues such as death, religion, and, perhaps most subtly, gender. Although Dickinson's lifestyle was primarily housebound and domestic, it may initially suggest otherwise, her works, both in their content and in their very existence, reveal her as an early feminist. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayThe fact that Dickinson even attempted to write poetry, let alone share it with friends and family, is evident her more progressive views on female ingenuity and empowerment. During Dickinson's lifetime (1830-1886), the creative sphere was dominated by men until the mid-to-late 1900s. After all, women didn't even have the right to vote until 1920, when the 19th Amendment was ratified. Women like Anne Bradstreet had already attracted attention for their poetic efforts, but Bradstreet's works were very different from Dickinson's: they were extremely pious and focused on relatively tame and superficial subjects, like a predestined house fire or Bradstreet's undying love for her husband. In contrast, Dickinson, who refused to attend church, wrote several poems revealing her disillusionment with Christianity. “Some keep the Sabbath by going to Church --/ I keep it by staying at home,” she boldly declares in “324 [Fr 236]” (Belasco 1052). Instead of being simple declarations of submission to God or a husband, Dickinson's poems are philosophical and eloquent, using sophisticated diction and figurative language to communicate sometimes elusive messages and themes. An intriguing detail about the publication of Dickinson's poems is discussed in Martha Nell Smith's work. “Gender Issues in the Textual Edition of Emily Dickinson.” » Smith claims that certain segments of Dickinson's poems were altered or excluded by her male editors and editors, particularly those of a more polarizing or sexual nature. Armed with this knowledge, the reader can better understand why some of Dickinson's references to gender may initially seem convoluted or extremely subtle: she must have phrased them in such a way that they would pass under the scrutiny of her patriarchal overseers. In “199 [Fr 225],” Dickinson addresses the subject of marriage (Belasco 1047). She begins by clearly stating "I am 'wife'", which can be interpreted as showing how women's domestic roles controlled their lives and defined their self-perception (line 1). A few lines later, she states that "it's safer this way", that is to say that society is more accepting of women who choose to marry and settle down, as opposed to those who do not. not and are destined to become bitter and lonely “old women”. servants” (line 4). Perhaps the most telling line in this short poem is "How strange a girl's life / Behind this sweet eclipse", which most likely refers to the way women of the time were overshadowed by their husbands (lines 5-6). Dickinson concludes by once again repeating "I am 'Woman'" followed by "Stop right there!" (line 12). It's as if that's all a woman could hope to be at that time: a wife, and nothing more. Although she herself never married, Dickinson presents through this poem the gender issues that applied to most marriages at the time,and even to some today. “I’m nobody!” Who are you?" ("288 [Fr 260]") is one of Dickinson's best-known poems and has therefore been examined in many ways (Belasco 1051). From a feminist perspective, one can posit that Dickinson could have been alluding to women's lack of power and privilege by referring to herself – and therefore, her contemporaries – as "Nobody". that "to be... Someone" means to be "public" (lines 5, 6), during Dickinson's lifetime, men tended to exist more in the public realm, working outside the home and acting like one. breadwinners, while their wives stayed home to cook, clean, and care for the children If the reader chooses to read the poem with this fact in mind, Dickinson's work can. be considered a light-hearted, even sarcastic, view of the serious discrepancies between the identities and duties of men and women in the 19th century. Another reference to gender in this book. a selection of Dickinson's works can be found in “401 [Fr 675]” (Belasco 1053). Dickinson describes women as “gentle cherubic creatures,” explaining that “one would just as quickly attack a stuffed animal – or rape a star,” which seems at first glance to be a stereotypically sexist view (lines 1, 3-4). Later in the poem, however, she states that women possess "such refined horror/of freckled human nature" (lines 6-7). These lines might suggest that the enslavement of women is a “horror,” but so ingrained in society that it has become “refined.” This statement makes the previous lines somewhat ironic. Dickinson's personification of human nature as being "freckled" could also be intended to show that humans are imperfect, which has led to this imbalance between men and women. She concludes by saying, “Be so ashamed of yourself,” a message to those who allow this injustice to continue to happen (line 12). In “Locating a Feminist Critical Practice: Between Kingdom and Glory,” Cheryl Walker challenges the belief that Dickinson was a feminist. Walker cites Dickinson's "fear and dependence on others late in life, her choice of the conservative Judge Lord as a lover, her rejection of most women and admiration of powerful men, [and] her mental breakdowns" as proof of this assertion (Walker 10). . However, considering only Dickinson's personal life and not her poetry seems to be a serious oversight on Walker's part. Additionally, many people, both men and women, become addicted in their later years. It seems unfair to the reader to assume that just because Dickinson became weak and needed help in her old age, that she is not a feminist or even a feminist sympathizer. In mentioning Dickinson's supposed rejection of women, Walker does not seem to consider that Dickinson preferred to exist separate from the mass of society, men and women included. In fact, one of the few people she felt closest to was Sue, the wife of her brother Austin. It's also key to note that positions of power were typically held by men in Dickinson's time, so it makes sense that she would tend to look up to these men. If women had been less submissive and more autonomous, she would no doubt have admired them as well. Finally, to insinuate that the occurrence of “mental breakdowns” makes Dickinson less feminist is completely wrong; Mental health problems are on the same level as physical health problems in that they are not the choice of the people who experience them.. 2014.