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Emily Dickinson Societal Norms

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Societal Norms, History, and Emily Dickinson
In the year 1863, American citizens were fighting for many things; soldiers were drafted into the Civil War, women were combating the pressure coming from societal norms, and people were battling sickness and disease with little to no medical treatment. Alas, several individuals found their peace in the Christian religion, focusing on that specific comfort rather than the problems the world was facing. Many people in this era were religious or were resorting to religion due to the massive heartache the war was creating. The 19th century also brought many authors to the surface, albeit most were male. Female poets in this time were often overshadowed by the males literary works. Emily Dickinson was one of many authors who were not as well-known …show more content…

Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” was unconventional and unlike other 19th century poems, especially one’s written by women; this particular poem exemplifies her Christian background, while the issues surrounding the war, society, and medical stagnation influenced her writing.
Dickinson’s poem is formatted in the traditional Elizabethan sonnet of love and creates a graceful flow (Winters 288). The complexity of Dickinson’s poem is formed by an ironic theme, …show more content…

She grew up in a religious home, learning about Christian morality and theology. This specific poem reflects her spiritual background,creating a deeper meaning to the words she chose to emphasize. Ralph Marcellino explains that “the word ‘immortality’ is often….practically synonymous with, or a euphemism for, ‘death’ (102). Dickinson’s definition of immortality alternatively had various meanings, the most likely one being the explanation of eternal life for the body and soul. Within her poem, she follows two main Christian concepts: at death the soul travels to heaven, and the soul is

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