Emily Dickinson: A Study on Human Understanding and Individuality

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Dickinson’s Work with Human understanding and the Individual (A detailed analysis of Emily Dickinson’s poetry, and how it related to human understanding and, Dickinson’s view of the individual) Sometimes known as one of America’s greatest poets, Emily Dickinson has made a name for herself in American literature books throughout the world. Dickinson’s work has become increasingly popular over the last century; only being truly discovered in 1955. Since then Dickinson’s work has been the study of many philosophers and literary critics; who strive to understand Dickinson’s poetry with little help coming from the now deceased author. Emily Dickinson was born December 10th, 1830 in Amherst Massachusetts. Dickinson lived a rather normal childhood In (Brain.) Dickinson explores the potential of human understanding, the brain, and compares it to many seemingly infinite places, or ideologies. Dickinson holds this same view in many of her other writing however it is fully expressed in (Brain.). The short poem, explains, “The Brain--is wider than the Sky/ For--put them side by side--/ The one the other will contain/ With ease-- and you--beside--...” (Dickinson, pg 415; Lines 1-4). In this short excerpt from Dickinson’s poem it can clearly be seen how Dickinson sees human understanding as boundless. In the text provided Dickinson adequately uses a paradox to express her ideology. Dickinson’s comparison of the human brain to the sky is not meant to be taken literal, but metaphorical. To take the statement literally, it would be found to have no true meaning; however metaphorically, it holds an incredible amount of meaning. What Dickinson is actually comparing is the ability of the human brain to hold knowledge to the vast accountability of the sky. To Dickinson the sky may seem infinite; however the brain is even bigger, because, nothing can bound knowledge. Dickinson makes a bold statement to the idea of knowledge being incredibly powerful, and uncontainable. This idea shows how Dickinson views human understanding as unboundable or more In (Soul.) Dickinson begins to explore the idea of individuality in her works of literature. The short poem can be regarded as Dickinson’s view of the individual and how society can affect the individual; but more importantly how the individual should react. The poem begins by Dickinson indirectly giving her view of the importance of the individual, in society by, expressing, “The Soul selects her own Society--/ Then--shuts the Door--/ To her divine Majority--/ Present no more--...” (Dickinson pg. 414; Lines 1-4). The opening lines, as stated before, actually indirectly give Dickinson’s view of the individual in society as being important. In her opening lines Dickinson, explains how the soul, which represents the individual, picks it’s own society and closes the door to others. What this can translate to is Dickinson, stating her opinion as fact. Dickinson’s opinion being that individuals should not conform to society, but rather become reclusive from it and pick an individual path way; one that express what the soul of that individual truly wants. Dickinson will continue the poem speaking about the importance that the individual never conform to others or to society; thus only further proving the point that, Dickinson believes that the individual is

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