Jennifer Skakavac

Belonging: Emily Dickinson

This is my letter to the world:

This is my letter to the world, That never wrote to me, The simple news that Nature told, With tender majesty

Her message is committed To hands I cannot see; For love of her, sweet countrymen, Judge tenderly of me!

Jennifer Skakavac

Belonging: Emily Dickinson

Stanza 1: This is my letter to the world: The poem opens with an awareness of Dickinsons lack of acceptability. Dickinson refers to the world as human society and her bitter and petulant tone when she states that it never wrote to me expresses a sense of injustice and also enforces the awareness of Dickinsons lack of acceptability. The letter she wrote to the world is a metaphor that emphasizes her attempt to reach out to the world and belong. However, society has dismissed her and doesnt respond or react to her. This statement is ironic because Dickinson has deliberately isolated herself from mainstream society throughout her life. She fails to acknowledge that in order to belong, she has to accept society as well. Through her letter she is opening herself to society and thus opening herself into further judgement. However, there is a drastic change in tone in the next line when she states the simple news that nature told. She refers to nature with reverence and with warmth. The first stanza shows Dickinsons world is dominated by nature and the use of the word majesty implies nature is the powerful ruler of her life and not social convention. The personification of nature treating her with tender majesty suggests that she connects with nature more than with society, as nature is much more simple. She views nature in a romantic view and as a mother figure in contrast to society who doesnt care about her. Simple and tender have a soft positive connotation to it expressing that she doesnt feel judged by nature but at ease. Stanza 2: The second stanza reveals the extent of Dickinsons isolation. She states in a sombre tone that her message is committed to hands I cannot see. Her tone expresses that her poetry is quite intimate and she feels rather insecure about her position in life, as she is trying to express her thoughts but she fears long one is hearing her. She also fears misinterpretation as she cannot see the hands in which her messages are getting sent to. There is a touch of insecurity in these two lines as she expresses her vulnerability and unfamiliarity when she attempts to belong to society. She feels more accepted to nature and wants to nature and instil nature into her sweet countrymen. She states this in a patriotic and positive tone and feels she belongs to nature and the people who belong to it as well, as it judges tenderly of me. The last line confirms that she feels that she is being judged by society and thus explains her reasoning to why she has isolated herself from it. For love of her sweet countrymen also emphasizes that she wants to connect with nature through people that are also connected to nature and not mainstream society. Through this notion she criticises society heavily and feels that it is not making an attempt to allow her to belong. This poem can be seen as a desperate plea to belong to the community. The need to belong or to be accepted by others is clearly shown in the poem, but she does not show any indication of her changing in order to belong. Rhyme: The language of the entire poem is very simple as is the metre and the rhyme scheme (ABCB). It is almost childlike in its complexity, which reflects her simple need acceptance. Her desperation and pleading tone encourages the audience to judge her tenderly as she expresses her desire and struggles to belong to a society that never wrote to me.

Title

Representation of Belonging

Technique/Quote/Effect 2

Jennifer Skakavac This is my letter to the world Belonging is an inherent human need Social barriers can prevent belonging for individuals

Belonging: Emily Dickinson Petulant and bitter tone: This is my letter to the world that never wrote to me. Expresses her lack of connection and belonging to human society. Her expression emphasises that she wants to fit in and is therefore sulky, as society has never wrote to me. Childish tone and simple rhyming scheme. ABCB. Effect: Enforces an image of innocence and vulnerability to the persona and encourages the audiences to understand her desperation and failed attempts to belong. She is the majesty of nature: She feels a deep connection to nature and is in control, as opposed to human society Sombre and intimate tone: This is my letter to the world, that never wrote to me. Her message is committed to hands I cannot see Expresses her desire and attempts to belong. Through her failures, the persona stimulates a sense of insecurity and believes that her message is being misinterpreted. Dickinson feels that society is not accepting her and is not reciprocating her need to belong.

Belonging needs to be neutral and reciprocated

Compensation and replacement is issued when belonging to society cannot be achieved

Metaphor and personification of nature as a motherly figure: The simple news that nature told with tender majesty Dickinson feels that she is not being judged by nature as opposed to society. She is familiar with nature as it treats her tenderly and she is in control when she implies that she is the majesty of nature and her own life as opposed to human society. Patriotic tone in referral to her Sweet country men. Quote: For love of her sweet countrymen, judge tenderly of me. Enforces and extends the notion that she feels she belongs to nature more than society. She feels connected to people that are also connected to nature and feels a sense of control and lack of insecurity and vulnerability as nature and those that are affiliated with it judge tenderly of me. Enjambment between stanza 1 and 2: Evokes belonging as a long and painful process for someone who doesnt feel a sense of acceptance by the second party.

Belonging is a long and painful process

Jennifer Skakavac

Belonging: Emily Dickinson

I had been hungry all the years

I had been hungry all the yearsMy noon had come, to dineI, trembling, drew the table near And touched the curious wine.

'T was this on tables I had seen When turning, hungry, lone, I looked in windows, for the wealth I could not hope to own.

I did not know the ample bread, 'T was so unlike the crumb The birds and I had often shared In Nature's dining-room.

The plenty hurt me, 't was so new,-Myself felt ill and odd, As berry of a mountain bush Transplanted to the road.

Nor was I hungry; so I found That hunger was a way Of persons outside windows, The entering takes away.

Jennifer Skakavac

Belonging: Emily Dickinson