Question 5

Emily Dickenson wrote about problems and thoughts of women in her time, their struggle to subjugation to men, and marriage. She paints the images of real, honest women, but remains critical of the expectations that are put onto them.

Explanation:

Emily Dickinson lived in the 19th century, during a time in which women had barely any rights and were not supposed to be independent. Women were supposed to marry and live agreeable life in accordance with their husbands.

However, Dickinson was nonconformist, almost seen as rebellious – she wanted independence and never did marry.

This attitude of hers is evident in her poems. For example, in the poem Poem #732 (“She rose to His Requirement”) she writes about the mildness of women who subdue to patriarchy and are intimidated by the dominant men. It is the poem that speaks of the hardship of the women and their status in society. “I gave myself to him” similarly takes the viewpoint of the married woman who bows down to her husband, and paints the marriage almost as the pure financial transaction and the mutual agreement – but also the risk. We do not see much of the gain for the woman, as she talks of depreciation and ownership.

Her poems paint the critical image of the marriage and dominance of the men, and, as such, try to accent the problems of women in society. Indecently, Dickinson does not paint independent, strong women – she rather presents them as mild and regretful, fighting in their sphere, trying to comprehend their emotions. She has produced the real image of women of her time, along with their struggles and inner problems, but she also sends the critical and analytical message that makes the reader think about women’s role and position.

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3 years ago