The Soul Selects Her Own Society

Emily Dickinson was not truly well-known until years after her death when her poetry was finally published. This late fame did not however impact her influence on American literature. She is referred to as heroic, in The New York times article “My Hero, the Outlaw of Amherst” written by Holland Cotter, for helping people such as Cotter come to terms with his true self. Emily Dickinson’s powerful poetry derived from her reclusive lifestyle. The decision to remove herself from society was purely an act of defiance that inspires reader to embrace their individuality. In “The Soul selects her own Society-” Emily Dickinson’s rebellious nature and choice of seclusion are both evident. Dickinson clearly alludes to having no regrets in choosing to ‘shut the door’ on society. The second stanza most directly shows how affirmative she is when remaining unmoved as the Emperor, a metaphor for society, kneels at her doorstep. This suggests that a private life was Emily’s choice, rather than a mental illness. The universal truth of this poem inspires others to also channel their inner rebel by rejecting what is not appealing. Emily was compelled to write this poem due to …show more content…
Her poetry is a strong source of empowerment for others to enfold their true self, and not feel forced to comply with society’s standards and expectations. Emily can be characterized as heroic for giving a voice to those in attempt to live independently. If it was not for her separation from the outside world she would not have the personal experiences to speak from, and her poetry may not have been as inspirational. Emily acutely explains through her poetry that her reclusive life was a choice she strongly preferred, rather than a fear or mental illness she possessed. Whether it was through the poems thought provoking purpose or punctuation Emily expressed her distaste for conformity and content with her own life