Prose By Emily Dickinson Analysis

In the first line, Emily Dickinson mentions the ambiguous “They” were trying to limit her to write just in prose. The line after, she compares being stuck in “Prose” to being stuck in the “Closet” since “They” liked her still. “They” represents society. Society places heavy constricts on females since childhood. The line, “Because they liked me “still”— (4),” reveals how young girls are expected to be docile, submissive, and obedient. Hence, they are “still”, since it is supposedly improper for them to rebel against their husbands or the male society. Thus, they are stuck in a closet, and their opinions are never heard. This relates back to the first line because women aren’t supposed to take men’s jobs. Writing poetry back then is considered a male art form. …show more content…
This line may also be Dickinson’s way of showing how poetry gives more freedom for the writers, since the traditional rules of prose don’t apply. It is also interesting to note how Prose, Girl, and Closet are capitalized. This may be the speaker’s way of emphasizing how she, the girl, is fighting against society’s closet by breaking through prose by writing poetry. Another interesting point is that still is in quotations, which conveys a sarcastic tone as demonstrated later on. In the second stanza, Emily Dickinson mocks society. Although society tries to keep her “still,” she is able to break free from captivity. The lines, “Still! Could themself have peeped—/ And seen my Brain—go round— (8-9), show how if society read Dickinson’s mind, it would realize that she isn’t trapped at