Angie Ngo

Mr. Miller
English 3(H)
17 December 2013
Emily Dickinson Responses
1. Poet Emily Dickinson recognizes that when one is dependent on other members of society, it
forms a sense of obligation to conform to social normality. It is due to these expectations to
adapt to the majority that self-reliance and self-actualization become lost among the doubts
and insecurities that inflict upon us. #1214 reflects on the etiquettes, embarrassments, and
awes that come with interaction between people. She reveals how it chains down the truth of
our being. In the poem, she mentions introducing ourselves to flowers. Later in another
line, mentions us being amongst ourselves. The word ourselves refers to both people as
individuals and people as members of society. Dickinson deliberately references the word
ourselves in such manner to state who we are when in solitude alters in order to obtain
acceptance. To Dickinson, the heart and mind is what yields the ecstatic Nation that is
ourselves. Furthermore, Dickinson suggests, Oneis the population Numerous enough,
which clearly exhibits her opinion that one needs not rely on another.
2. Dickinson mentions the natural world in her poems to display differences and create
connections between nature and civilization. From this, Dickinson urges us to follow nature
closely; there is much nature can demonstrate that can apply to, not just life, but the self.
Dickinson exclaims in poem #299, Falter! When the Sun, which has a tone of confidence in
the power of the sun and the power in herself. Her statement praises the great strength of the
sun and presents her aspiration to become as resilient. In poem #295, Dickinson states, the
south wind has a pathos of individual voice. As the south wind is certain and does not

change directions for anything, Dickinson uses the wind to communicate to the audience
that one should be as liberated as the wind. Poem #1214 briefly indicates that when we
introduce ourselves to plants and flowers, we introduce our whole selves, which implies that
nature is an understanding entity. Finally, in poem #63, hope is a thing with feathers
compares the concept of hope to a bird. She creates imagery of the metaphorical bird
bracing through the seas and storms. The seas and storms represent the obstacles of life.
These difficulties in our lives are natural occurrences, as are seas and storms. Without those
struggles, there would be no way of knowing the true strength of the hope that we hold.
Dickinson unveils the realities of humanity by using the beauty and simplicity of nature to
point out the flaws in humans.
3. Dickinson writes about the behavior of society and its tendency to suppress the true Genius

of individuals. In poem #435, Dickinson states demureyoure straightaway dangerous

and handled with a chain. Such is a reflection of society and its tendency to reject any sense
of divergence, attending to that victim of society as if he or she were a ferocious beast. It can
also represent the way the majority pressures the minority to be a part of the majority. Such
explains why people often do not state their opinion. People fear rejection, and will try to
avoid it at any cost. Dickinson warns in poem #709, reduce no human spirit to disgrace of
price as a reminder to keep from giving ourselves in exchange for money. Money has
always been an indicator of social class and among high social class is power and respect.
She understands that there are people who are desperate enough to do anything for money,
regardless of its effect on others. Dickinson exhibits the instances where people would do
anything in order to have the sense of inclusion in society.