Demonstration of Dickinson’s fruitless attempts to belong is evident in her Highly personal “Letter to the World” that she emphasises “never wrote” back. Extension of this isolation further enhances her estrangement from the world, evident when she refers to the “Hands I cannot see.” Regardless of this Dilemma, Dickinson introduces her problem through the positive connotations of “Sweet Countrymen,” highlighting her estrangement and inability to conform to society’s needs. In spite of her rejection, enforcement of her innate need to belong allows Dickinson to seek solace in nature if not with society. Confusion may act as a mechanism leading to an individual’s realisation that they do no belong. Through exploration of Dickinson’s interactions with the world, her perceptions of nature change in realisation of how vast and mysterious the world – especially nature – is in her poem “what mystery pervades a well.” Unlike this is my Letter to the World,” Dickinson realises that her connection to nature may be as superficial
Emily Dickinson was a poet and person whom did not publish her work, kept her love life low, and lived her last years of life in seclusion because she wanted privacy, which gave us some of the best poetry today. Emily Dickinson wrote poetry for most of her life and never let anyone get their hand on it. Dickinson knew she was a great poet but still did not publish her work while she was alive. In a criticism article called “The Three Privations of Emily Dickinson” by Ricahrd Wilbur he says ‘And she did say to Helen Hunt Jackson, “How can you print a piece of your soul?” (969). In this quotes Dickinson is saying that everything she writes is a part of her.
The poem I chose was “Living in Sin” by Adrienne Rich. The title itself leads you to think that the poem is based on two lovers who are not yet “married under God” and are committing sin. Though in none of the lines does it say whether they are married or not, one is left with that impression by the title alone. Perhaps the author’s tone is meant to show you there is no “sweetest sin”. The woman in the poem speaks of her life as though it were a chore and the man, her lover, is but a bother.
“The Famine Road” deals more with what is expected of women rather than what they aspire to. Boland dedicates half the poem to a woman who is unable to have a child. From the impact, this revelation the doctor had made, on the woman, we see that it is expected of women to have children. She appears to be asking why this has happened, is there anything to be done about it? Only to be given nonchalant answers by the doctor.
Even more painful is the fact that she remembers very little about her previous life: “I [can] remember my name, my age, that I [am] a woman, but death swallowed the rest” (4). She attaches herself to different humans or “hosts”, her first being a lonely poet. Helen and this character have an unspoken bond. While the poet cannot see her ghost, they are learning from each other. This host’s life is similar to that of writer Emily Dickinson, in that they both are isolated poets who express darkness and death in a lot of their work.
Due to the complex and abstract nature of the concept of belonging, a true sense of belonging can be found in different circumstances for different people. As each individual has their own desires, needs and values, they find their place in the world and a genuine sense of belonging in various avenues. Many different individuals find the strongest sense of belonging through relationships, due to the fact that by nature these connections fulfil the human need for social interaction and enrich the lives of the person involved. Conversely, relationships which do not work and a connection is not felt can result in a negative outcome for individual, which can ultimately lead to a sense of not belonging and result in isolation and disaffection. Instead, these individuals may attain the same sense of belonging outside of relationships, through their connections to other things such as place and culture, or within themselves.
/ I thought even the bones would do (Plath 58-60)”. The narrator’s father has died, and feels as though death is the only option to relieve her pain of missing her father. Although the theme of abandonment may not be seen throughout all of Sylvia Plath’s poems, it is common in the few poems mentioned above. In the poem “The Bee Meeting” Plath writes “They are all gloved and covered, why did nobody tell me? /They are smiling and taking out veils tacked to ancient hats.
Miss Gee Auden tells the story in Miss Gee through a series of phases in her life which are used to create a big impact. As we read the poem ‘Miss Gee’ we begin with a conservative women who is very lonely and seems to have no relationships with anyone, whether that may be family, friends or something more intimate. Further on we create an image with Auden’s words about the temptations Miss Gee has and the struggles she faces in order to control them and if she does actually want control over them. Then at the end we interpret that Miss Gee has died, however the last few stanzas of the poem contrast greatly from the image we have in the beginning. Through a relatively short poem we invent a lifelong image of a person because of how Auden tells us the story.
“THIS IS MY LETTER TO THE WORLD” The poem, “This is my letter to the world” by Emily Dickinson, demonstrates an active release of insight to create a sense of belonging. The poem makes use of meta poetry, suggestive of her own poetry being her ‘letter’. In the first two lines, the contrast between “World” and “Me” allows the reader to experience the distance and lack of belonging felt by the speaker. The speaker conveys the lack of reciprocity or communication that she has hitherto received from society, adopting a hurt and bitter tone in the high modality statement, “That never wrote to me”. With wrote being suggestive of communicate, or therefore belonging.
Emily Dickinson Context Report Emily Dickinson, known as one of America’s greatest poets, is also regarded for her unusual life of self imposed social privacy. Living a life of simplicity and seclusion, she yet wrote poetry of great power; questioning the nature of immortality and death. Her different lifestyle created an atmosphere; often romanticised, and frequently a source of interest and assumption. Ultimately Emily Dickinson is remembered for her unique poetry written with short, compact phrases. She expressed broad ideas using paradox and uncertainty which shaped her poetry as an undeniable capacity to move and provoke.