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Mazinjanin eljka PhD Aleksandra Izgarjan XIX century American Literature May, 2011

Emily Dickinson's poems: Theme of religion Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in one of the most respected families in the town. Since her father, as well as grandfather, was an influential lawyer and a politician, she had an opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling social life. But Dickinson chose a different life path. While at college, she proved to be bright student who showed sharp intelligence and willingness to create something new (biographyonline.net). Also, she had many friends, traveled with her father and lived with relatives for extended periods of time (Martin, 7). Yet, as time passed, Dickinson became more and more reclusive. Gradually, she completely separated herself from the world that existed outside of her house. Because of that, Emily Dickinson is best known as a reclusive writer, concentrated on her inner world. Although in general that is true it does not mean that she is not aware and interested in the world that surrounds her (Paci, 201). On the contrary, Dickinson is deeply engaged with the issues of her day and what is more, her personal view on those issues shape her poetry. One of the questions that she concentrates on is the place of religion in her, in lives of other people and in the world in general. Religion is an essential part of Dickinsons life and education and it influenced her poetry as well. Much of that religious context is tied to Puritan heritage, since she could be said to carry what can be considered the blue blood of America when it comes to tradition and religion. Her ancestors were one of the first Puritans who settled in Amherst. They gradually broke with the Church of England and founded Congregational Church. Even when Congregational churches in nearby areas started abandoning Puritan traditions, the First Church of Amherest stayed true to its origins. Dickinsons family was one of those that attended Church regularly. Although she eventually stopped going to church, its influence was unavoidable and father played a crucial role

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by often reading parts of bible to his children. (Martin, 25-26). That influence can easily be seen in vocabulary that Dickinson uses. She often paraphrases the Bible, uses the terms of the established theology salvation, redemption, sacrament, lord, heaven, paradise, soul, despair, bliss. Her verse owes much to the protestant hymn book and the church music of her New England environment. (Paci, 209) She herself bears a stamp of her forefathers. She inherited Puritan traits of austerity, simplicity, practicality and as the most prominent property-an astute observation of the inner self. Her family was far from poor, but she did not lead a lavish life, for the Puritans abhorred luxury and waste (biographyonline.net). But although she is strongly affected by the influence of Puritanism, Dickinson did not succumb to the fierce religious revival. Calvinists believed that people are inherently sinful and that most of them are doomed to hell. In ordered to be saved it was necessary to publically proclaim faith in Jesus Christ, as true Savior (biographyonline.net). Dickinson refused to do that, even when her family and friends underwent conversion experience. She, like all the other people who refused publically proclaim their faith was constantly pressured from all sides, but in the end, she was the only member of her family who refused to make a public profession of faith (Martin, 26). For Dickinson, religion is not an intellectual statement of belief; it is much more than that. She is able to find God everywhere, in the beauty of nature, in the trees, flowers, her garden, smiles of her brother and sister, in an experience of esthetic joy. But most importantly, she is able to find God in herself.From her early days, while still at college Emily Dickinson came to realize that she could never accept religion as convention; that religion would have to be experienced not as teaching but as a way of life.(Paci, 210) Because of that, she discarded much of the tradition of Puritanism, Calvinism and Church as a whole. She is much more direct, free, informal, and much simpler in her faith than people of the society and the time that she lived in were (biographyonline.net).

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Some keep the Sabbath going to Church -I keep it, staying at Home -With a Bobolink for a Chorister -And an Orchard, for a Dome --

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice -I just wear my Wings -And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church, Our little Sexton -- sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman -And the sermon is never long, So instead of getting to Heaven, at least -I'm going, all along.(Dickinson, 324)

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church is one of the Dickinsons most familiar poems and probably the clearest example of her religious feelings.

The poem is Emilys response to organized religion to keep her distance, although it is evident that in her poetry she is personally and deeply concerned with the questions that religion addresses. In her painful shyness, which later in life became a phobia, she declined to go to church in a small town where everybody went to church, so, according to some critics, this poem is her answer to the social pressure she must have felt.(neabigread.org)
In this poem, Dickinson clearly contrasts traditional and her personal way of praying. That contrast can be seen all through this poem and effectively conveys the virtues of prayer. (ir.lib.ibaraki.ac.jp). She says here that the roof of her Church is made of trees; it is not built by people but by God himself. In such temple she hears her sermons, in her solitary moments and private communions. Within this interior world Dickinson finds that God preaches to her all the time. It could be said that she is not in church only on Sundays but that she lives in her church and that same church lives inside of her. By reading this poem

Mazinjanin 4 one can understand that everything about her faith is vivid, close and real. It can also be seen that she does think of heaven, but not in the way that other people do. For Dickinson, it seems to be part of her, not just

a place of some other world or story that parents tell their children to make them obey. She does not even desire to get to heaven, so much as to go to heaven each day. When she sits in her garden, she believes she is there. Dickinson does not lay up treasures in heaven because she is too fascinated with the treasures offered in this world. In that world of hers she seems to encounter the infinite. Just because she does not go to church to pray, does not mean that she is abandoning her faith (ir.lib.ibaraki.ac.jp). Dickinson has the similar approach when it comes to hell. First of all, she refuses to accept the doctrine of original sin.The Calvinist approach to religion believed that men were inherently sinful and most humans were doomed to hell. (biographyonline.net)She refuses to believe that people are all born sinful. If someone commits a sin it is his choice, not something that people are all born with. Moreover, she refuses to believe in hell as such. Because of the fear of eternal flames people waste their lives which are potentially good and fulfilling so that by truing to book their place in heaven they create their personal hell. Again, hell is not a distant place or a myth but a state of a mind, body and a soul (Martin, 26).

Prayer is the little implement Through which Men reach Where Presenceis denied them. They fling their Speech By means of itin God's Ear If then He hear This sums the Apparatus Comprised in Prayer(Dickinson, 437) Dickinson does not claim to fully understand God, or even to have perennial faith in all His ways her poetry bears a continuing strain of doubt but she certainly did not fear Him (poetseers.org). Because of that she is able to communicate with Him in a way that is less formal but more open and direct. She talks to Him openly, as if they were sitting in the same room. But

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that is not case with other people. In the poem Prayer is the little implement Dickinson says that prayer is something that people use to communicate with God because they are not allowed to do that in a different way. They have been listening about eternal sufferings prepared for sinners and because of that they are not brave enough to express their thoughts openly but instead, they are trying to do that by prayers, all in hope that He will answer them. It can be understood that people to not take prayers as something divine but as a tool which they use to fulfill their goals. But as Dickinson says, it depends on Gods will or even good humor if He will respond to those prayers or not. Thus, the poem can be understood as a critic of a relationship that does, or more precisely, does not exist between people and God. Papa above! Regard a Mouse O'erpowered by the Cat! Reserve within thy kingdom A "Mansion" for the Rat! Snug in seraphic Cupboards To nibble all the day While unsuspecting Cycles Wheel solemnly away! (Dickinson, 61) Dickinson is very earth-centered and concentrated on things belonging to the natural world. Because of that, she chooses to invest the things of this world with religious significance. When she is describing natural world she uses language related to Bible and in that way she worships elements of that world. In that context poem Papa Above! can be read. In this poem Dickinson ascribes an importance to the mouse that usually would be seen as disproportionate to its place in nature. That mouse is worthy of Gods kingdom, and he is even to be given his own mansion where he can nibble all day in seraphic cupboards. It deserves the same place in heaven that a human soul does. For Dickinson, physical world is inherently spiritual so that material body is not subordinate to the spirit. The poem can also be seen as almost blasphemous because in a way it parodies Christs promise that he made to his disciples when he said that his Fathers house has many mansions (Martin, 67).

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"Faith" is a fine invention When Gentlemen can see But Microscopes are prudent In an Emergency. (Dickinson,185) Dickinson is also depicting a position of people standing in between religion and accomplishments of a modern society, where one of the major accomplishments is logical reasoning. She is questioning other peoples but also her own views on that subject. This can be seen in her poem Faith is a fine invention. This poem begins with one great paradox. She refers to faith as an invention. But how can faith be one? It should be something that one feels, experiences and not a product of some intellectual effort. At least it should not be. But in the world that she lives that is exactly the case. That is probably why she put quotation marks around this important word, faith. If one does not believe in Gods miracles in moment of his greatest despair, does he really believe in God? According to Dickinson, people concentrate on faith when everything happens as expected, when everything is fine. That calmness in their lives they see as proof that the Creator really does exist. But in a moment when something goes wrong they instantly turn to logical reasoning. There are moments when hope that faith gives is simply not enough. One needs to act, to find a solution. They need to fight, not just wait for a miracle to happen. Those are the moments when people recognize the importance of logic, science and levelheadedness. And in those situations people tend to disregard their faith. What this poem also reflects is all the complexity of a position of a person who believes but is also rational. Dickinson seems to be one such person. Existence of faith in her is undeniable, but she is not discarding microscopes, no matter does one see them as symbols of scientific progress, closer inspection or logical thinking (Brantley, 125-126). Whydo they shut Me out of Heaven? Did I singtoo loud? ButI can say a little "Minor" Timid as a Bird! Wouldn't the Angels try me Justoncemore

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Justseeif I troubled them But don'tshut the door! Oh, if Iwere the Gentleman In the "White Robe" And theywere the little Handthat knocked CouldIforbid? (Dickinson, 248) On crucial issues of the day, Dickinson remained relatively isolated. Despite remaining true to her own convictions, she is left with a sense of exclusion from the established religion and these sentiments inform much of her poetry. Although her poetry expressed intense inner experiences, this separation from established religion is a factor in her uncertainties and fluctuations in sentiment, evident in many poems (biographyonline.net). Why do they shut Me out of Heaven is one such poem. Marks of Dickinson seclusion are obvious in this poem. Emily here says that she had been cast out of heaven. As it is already mentioned she does not believe in heaven, at least not in a way that was usual. Instead, it can be understood as an everyday life, society, company of other people, Church. She had been cast out of it and she does not even understand why. Maybe she had sung to loud? Maybe she questioned and doubted even God, but even if she had, Christian thing to do would be to give her another chance. But that is not what happens. She is cast out and it seems that that is forever. Dickinson even uses the metaphors that refer to priests, or even angels and in that way she emphasizes the sense of isolation, because even those that are thought to be most merciful and understanding and sympathetic decided to permanently shut the door in front of her. Perhaps she wanted to propose a world or at least a community, which would not cast out those who think differently and which would be ready to give another chance. Maybe that even could be one Christian community. But Dickinson did not live in such world. She decided to live her life alone. That life of hers is certainly lonely, but she craves aloneness more and more, and seclusion somehow forms a close relationship with her art. That art is her sanctuary, an expression of her spirituality and religion. If one would want to sum up Emily Dickinsons religious beliefs he would be faced with one difficult task. But some basic facts can be concluded. Dickinson is a person who never respected any kind of dogma. At the same time she is both a traditionalist and a person ready to

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embrace a new era in human society. She doubts everything and is ready to criticize everyone, including herself. Because of her questioning religion and Church as an institution and because she had chosen to celebrate God in her own way she is often seen as a person who lacked faith. But that is not the case Religion is very important part of both her life and art. When it comes to classification of her religious beliefs it can be concluded that they are a combination of Puritan tradition and Transcendentalism. But one should have in mind that Dickinson probably would never place herself in any of these two groups or in any other group in the world. From her poems we can conclude that for her faith is something truly personal that has nothing to do with categorizations and definitions. Because of her view on the world and religion that was unacceptable for the time and place that she lived in, Dickinson became an outsider of the society. That seclusion made her create her art.

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Works cited

Biography Emily Dickinson.26 June.2006.Web.15 May.2011 available at

http://www.biographyonline.net/poets/emily_dickinson.html

Brantley, Richard E. Experience and faith: The late-romantic imagination of Emily Dickinson. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2005. Print

Dickinson, Emily. Religion, Reader: XIX Century American Literature. Ed. Aleksandra Izgarjan. University of Novi Sad: English Department, 2011. Print

Martin, Wendy. The Cambridge Introduction to Emily Dickinson. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007. Print

National Endowment for the Arts: The Poetry Of Emily Dickinson.n.d.Web.15 May.2011 available at http://www.neabigread.org/books/dickinson/audiotranscript.php

Pacic, Brankica. The Big Ten Major Nineteenth Century American Writers, Univerzitet u Nisu, Nis, 1991.

Poet Seers: Emily Dickinson.n.d.Web.15 May.2011 available at

http://www.poetseers.org/early_american_poets/emily_dickinson/index_html/

Sprague, Rosemary. Imaginery Gardens, Chiton Book Company, Philadelphia, 1969. Print