Essay on Vision of Heaven in the Poetry of Dickinson

Vision of Heaven in the Poetry of Dickinson Emily Dickinson never became a member of the church although she lived in a typical New England Puritan community all her life. The well-known lines, Some - keep the Sabbath - going to church - / I - keep it - staying at Home - (P-236 [B]; J-324),1 suggest her defiance against the existing church and Christianity of her time in particular. And her manner of calling the Deity by such terms as Burglar, Banker (P-39; J-49), and a jealous God (P-1752; J-1719) clearly discloses her antagonism against the Christian God. In fact, she insistently rejected being baptized even when her family members and intimate friends at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary had chosen to bow in†¦show more content†¦And Dickinson herself knew the answer was to be found in the Bible, as she answered, For Prose--Mr Ruskin--Sir Thomas Browne--and the Revelations (L-261)2 when asked by Thomas W. Higginson what her favorite books were. Of course, there were many other prose writings which she could have mentioned, but she dared to select these three as the sources of her inspiration. Needless to say, the three were exclusively special for her. Therefore, by referring to the picture of heaven in the Book of Revelation, I will consider how Dickinsons poetry delineates one of the most important and sometimes enigmatic Christian doctrines, the idea of heaven. The following poem furnishes us with appropriate materials for discussion: I went to Heaven - Twas a small Town - Lit - with a Ruby - Lathed - with Down - Stiller - than the fields At the full Dew - Beautiful - as Pictures - No Man drew - People - like the Moth - Of Mechlin - frames - Duties - of Gossamer - And Eider - names - Almost - contented - I - could be - Mong such unique Society - (P-577 [B]; J-374) Written in about 1862, one of the anni mirabiles (most productive years) of Dickinsons life, this poem portrays a really mirabile visu spectacle of the heavenly kingdom in earthly images as John sees heaven in terms of earthlyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Emily Dickinson s Poem My Life Had Stood- A Loaded Gun 993 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Dickinson is a very famous and accomplished poet with over 1700 published poems. Several of her poems are similar in theme, and also similar in bringing out human emotions that we humans usually try to avoid. 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