Ambiguous Relationship with Religion: The Poems of Emily Dickinson

Abstract

Abstract

Emily Dickinson’s poems are atomic and immeasurable. These compact small poems enable human beings to understand themselves better. With her innovative, individual artistic capability she takes us to the world of butterflies, bees, liquor, death, faith and reason. For Dickinson the ’s elf? entails an identity that is formed by one’s judgment and understanding of the world. To her God is not there in the church but inside one’s self. In her world soul is able to select its own society and not subordinate to God. Emily separated herself from the concept of a Puritan God who only knew condemnation or salvation. Perhaps she most passionately challenges God in the poem ?Mine- by the Right of the White election!? (528) where the speaker clarifies her protest against the sovereignty of God and claims the earth and heaven for herself as her legal right. However Dickinson does not altogether deny the power of God in her life. In ?My Life had stood- a Loaded Gun-? (754), Dickinson shows how her life’s potential could only be realized by God’s touch. This ambiguous attitude to religion will be discussed in the thesis. INTRODUCTION: