Emily Dickinson Is Viewed by Term Paper

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The study of geology becomes a central underlying theme in many of her works due to the influence of Hitchcock. Dickinson adopted the view that the study of nature should be an intermingled spiritual as well as naturalist journey, and as a result, places strong emphasis on how to explore spiritual and romantic Truth, through the allegory of nature and geology.

Dickinson's poetic vision was not to advocate the strong use of scientific inquiry in daily life, but rather to perform the opposite function. She attempts to heighten the mysteries of the universe rather than to solve them. Her works attempt to counteract the strong role of scientific inquiry, which attempts to convince us that science can present a complete and undiluted picture of reality as a whole. Dickinson uses science as a vision, complete with technical language and concepts, to amplify rather than detract from the mystery of the world and the universe. In doing so she explores the limitations of science in describing human attributes, "Hope is a strange invention -- / a Patent of the Heart" (P 1392). In another line she writes, "the Arc of a Lover's conjecture / Eludes the finding out" (P 484). These lines are subtly used to demonstrate in their contrast of subjects in science and human emotions the limitations of scientific concepts such as inventions, patents and arcs. In a sense, Dickinson uses science as a masterful demonstration of what human beings are capable of understanding. Through many works, she demonstrates that there is a strong battle between the intellect and the heart, and that it is precisely through the intertwining of these two rather distinct and contradictory feelings that cause the human being to be such an enigma.

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She reminds us in one poem "Wonder -- is nor precisely Knowing not -- /a beautiful but bleak condition / he has not lived who has not felt -- " (P 1331). Wonder as well as skepticism are driving forces behind our human intuition and desire for understanding, and the essence of leading a fulfilling life depends on using both these foundational forces to our advantage.

The importance of science as a foundation for Dickinson's work is strongly supported. Her early childhood education as well as her college experiences, gave Dickinson a holistic grasp of the contrasting importance of science as well as human nature within the context of understanding existence. As a result, she fully takes advantage of her scientific knowledge to criticize and champion other important elements within her personal life as well as society as a whole. In essence what she accomplishes through her understanding of scientific inquiry is the ability to develop a philosophy hinged on using both emotion and intellect as the foundation for her life. This is the most important lesson that Dickinson conveys through her works, and one that we should all appreciate after closer scrutiny.

White, Fred D. "Sweet skepticism of the heart': Science in the poetry of Emily

Dickinson." College Literature Vol. 19. Issue 1 (Feb. 1992): p121, 8p.

Orsini, Daniel J. "Emily Dickinson and the Romantic Use of Science."

Massachussetts Study of English 7-8 (1981): 57-69.

LeBeau, Kara,. "Was Poet Emily Dickinson a closet geologist?" Geological

Society of America 21 (July 2002): 141-152.

Sewall, Richard B. "Emily….....

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