Life and achievements
Early life
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, on December 10, 1830. She was the second of three children in a family of rather distinguished and highly educated individuals. Her father, Edward Dickinson, was a lawyer and politician, while her mother, Emily Norcross Dickinson, was a very reserved lady. The early part of Emily's life was spent in the family home, which her grandfather built.
While growing up, Emily Dickinson was considered a rather intelligent and curious child. She was enrolled in the Amherst Academy, where she was an excellent student in Latin, literature, and science. She then went to Mount Holyoke Female Seminary but only studied for one year because of her health and longing for a home. These early years were critical in forming her literary and academic interests.
The poet's early introduction to literature and the surrounding environment shaped her poetic work. She could read books from her family's library, including works of Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thus, this extensive reading and her formal education provided the foundation for her unique poetic voice.
Nevertheless, due to her family background, Dickinson secluded herself from society at twenty-two. She withdrew to her house and sought comfort and creativity in her garden, writing letters to friends and other writers. This time of withdrawal from the public eye has helped her practice and create the style that would later be characteristic of her.
Her family, especially her siblings Austin and Lavinia, were important in her life. Even though her father frequently travelled for work, her mother was always present, though not very attentive. The poet had friends with whom she could communicate and share her ideas and feelings; many were poets and philosophers.
Legacy
Emily Dickinson is now recognized as one of America's greatest poets. Her concise style of poetry, which breaks the conventional rules of punctuation and focuses on themes such as death, nature, and love, is still relevant today. Her work remains famous, engaging, and beautiful even today and is still studied and analyzed.
Despite publishing a relatively limited number of her poems, Dickinson is one of the most famous poets of the posthumous period. Her sister Lavinia found the poems after her death, and thus, they were published. These first editions were frequently abridged, but further attempts were made to keep her writing as close to the original as possible, enabling people to see the genius of her writing.
This paper seeks to establish that Dickinson's poetry has inspired many writers and poets. She has expressed deep feelings and thoughts in simple yet powerful language and has influenced many readers and scholars. Her poetry is characterized by its uniqueness and ability to portray the essence of people's lives.
Apart from her writing, Dickinson's life has interested biographers and historians. Her reserved character, close friendships, and the secrecy of her relationships have contributed to the creation of her charisma. Her life and work have been portrayed in films, books, and plays, making her a popular figure to this date.
Apart from her contribution to literature, Dickinson left behind her home in Amherst, which was preserved. The Emily Dickinson Museum, comprising her house and the adjacent Evergreens, is a place of interest where one can learn about the life of the poet and writer and view the different works of art she produced during her lifetime. People come in from other parts of the world.
Overall, Emily Dickinson's poetic work can be characterized as progressive, profound, and timeless. Her poetry remains relevant today and presents the world and its people in a fresh light. Thus, Dickinson, who passed away, created a life for herself and became one of the greatest American poets.
Milestone moments
Dec 10, 1830
Birth of a Poet
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, on December 10, 1830, into a well-off family.
Both her parents were also educated; her father, Edward Dickinson, was a lawyer and a politician, while her mother, Emily Norcross Dickinson, was very reserved.
The environment of intellectual stimulation and social pressure during her early years influenced her and paved the way for her to engage in writing.
As a child, Dickinson was considered to be a brilliant girl with a significant number of questions.
She attended Amherst Academy and was a good student in most subjects, especially literature and science.
This education proved to be very influential in forming her literary voice. She got many books from her father's library, which shaped her thinking and writing.
Nevertheless, in her early twenties, Dickinson started to pull out from her family's social life.
This isolation enabled her to concentrate on her writing, and she was able to produce about 1800 poems.
Her writing was short and to the point, with unconventional punctuation and focused on themes such as death and nature.
Although she had only published a few poems in her lifetime, she was recognized and zed as one of the greatest American poets after her death.
Sep 10, 1847
Academic Pursuits
Emily Dickinson started her formal education at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in September 1847.
Mary Lyon established the seminary to offer young women a proper intellectual and moral education.
Unfortunately, Dickinson's stay at Mount Holyoke College was brief; she could not attend the college for only one year because of her poor health and homesickness.
But it did influence her a lot. She experienced a disciplined school environment, which cemented her love for literature.
While studying at Mount Holyoke College, Dickinson was characterized by her erudition and nonconformity to the school's religious enthusiasm.
This period was crucial to her spiritual and intellectual growth and formed her worldview.
The seminary's specific rules and religious environment did not suit Dickinson's personality and freedom; she began to think critically and ultimately rebel against the church's doctrines.
After returning home, Dickinson pursued her education and read many books on literature, science, and philosophy.
This self-directed learning helped her develop a unique reflective and creative poetry style.
Even though she spent only two years at Mount Holyoke, this period influenced her writing and her further literary career.
Feb 10, 1855
Philadelphia Influence
The trip to Philadelphia in February 1855 can be considered one of the significant events in Dickinson's life and poetry.
While her father took her on a business trip, she encountered Reverend Charles Wadsworth, a Presbyterian minister.
This meeting was crucial for Dickinson, and Wadsworth played an essential role in her life. She is mentioned in her letters as her "dearest earthly friend."
Her poems and letters to Wadsworth depict her love affairs, especially her one with him.
Although they never became lovers, their relationship became the subject of some of her most intense and philosophical compositions.
During this period, she signified deepening her interests in love, death, and pursuing happiness.
It also helped Dickinson experience more of Philadelphia's culture, which enhanced her intellectual and creative side.
It gave her new ways of thinking and ideas that she applied to her poetry.
Her friendship with Wadsworth, even if they mostly communicated through letters, remained a significant part of her life and her writing, stressing the significance of the mental and emotional bonds in her art.
Jun 10, 1862
A Cry for Help from a Literary Person
In June of 1862, Emily Dickinson sent four poems and a letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a well-known writer and a military officer.
Higginson's article "A Letter to a Young Contributor," published in The Atlantic Monthly, encouraged her to write to him.
This started a rather extensive and essential exchange between the two.
Higginson's reply to Dickinson's letter was positive, but he felt her work was somewhat unorthodox.
At first, he was not very open to the idea, but he realized she was talented and offered helpful criticism.
The two of them carried on their letters for years, and Higginson became her friend and advisor.
He went to see her in Amherst in 1870, strengthening their relationship.
Higginson's effect on Dickinson was immense. He opened her up to the world of literature while fully understanding her desire to be left alone.
He was her mentor and helped her write poetry, although she did not have many of her works published.
Their letters show how Dickinson worked on her poetry and how she tried to perfect it even while being in seclusion.