The Life of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, born Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, on December 10, 1830 to Edward and Emily Dickinson. Her father Edward Dickinson was a lawyer, who, after attending Amherst and Yale, returned to his hometown to help with his fathers failing law practice. Not much is known about her mother, other than she had a particular interest in the field of science, and that she was a passive wife next to her more dominating husband.
Early in Emily Dickinson's childhood, she had two other siblings. Her brother, William Austin Dickinson, had been born before her a year prior, while her sister, Laviana Norcross Dickinson, was born in 1833. Dickinson attended Amherst Academy from 1840-1847, after attending the primary school of Amherst, where they were taught a variety of subjects, such as botany and astronomy, which contributed to her development as a poet. She then attended Mount Holyoke female seminary from 1847-1848.
It was during her year long stay at Mount Holyoke female seminary that many suspect her reclusiveness began to show due to her many complaints of homesickness in her letters. It is unclear whether it was because it was her fathers decision to remove her, or whether it was because Holyoke simply didn't offer anything new, however her departure marked the end to her formal education.
Not much is known about her life after that, being as she became a recluse in 1862, and that for the majority of her life she stayed in Amherst. She died on May 15, 1886, with only two of her poems ever being published. It was her sister Laviana that found hundreds of her poems, and after her death were published in selections from 1890 onward. Dickinson's poems are known for their poignancy, being compressed, and being deeply charged,which have influenced a great number of 20th century poets and have gained her a cult following.
Early in Emily Dickinson's childhood, she had two other siblings. Her brother, William Austin Dickinson, had been born before her a year prior, while her sister, Laviana Norcross Dickinson, was born in 1833. Dickinson attended Amherst Academy from 1840-1847, after attending the primary school of Amherst, where they were taught a variety of subjects, such as botany and astronomy, which contributed to her development as a poet. She then attended Mount Holyoke female seminary from 1847-1848.
It was during her year long stay at Mount Holyoke female seminary that many suspect her reclusiveness began to show due to her many complaints of homesickness in her letters. It is unclear whether it was because it was her fathers decision to remove her, or whether it was because Holyoke simply didn't offer anything new, however her departure marked the end to her formal education.
Not much is known about her life after that, being as she became a recluse in 1862, and that for the majority of her life she stayed in Amherst. She died on May 15, 1886, with only two of her poems ever being published. It was her sister Laviana that found hundreds of her poems, and after her death were published in selections from 1890 onward. Dickinson's poems are known for their poignancy, being compressed, and being deeply charged,which have influenced a great number of 20th century poets and have gained her a cult following.