Emily Dickinson: Romantic Or Transcendentalist?

Dickinson: Romantic? Or Transcendentalist? Emily Dickinson, while not acknowledged for her abilities during her lifetime, save for a select few, had been praised as one of the greatest poets of the nineteenth century. Many of her poems were saturated in themes commonly linked to the Romantic tradition, such as reality of the human condition, death, and identity. She also exhibits signs of Transcendentalism leanings in her writings. It could be concluded that while Dickinson’s writings showed convictions held by both writings styles, Dickinson herself did not associated herself with either. Dickinson was able to portray these tired account with a fresh perspective that allowed the solemnity and reality to be highlighted in a fashion that had
Dickinson’s “I heard a Fly buzz- when I died” delivered a poem about death, steeped in reality with such unique conviction that it opened discussions into morality, that some had deterred away from before, “and then the Windows failed-and then/I could not see to see” (Dickson lines 15-16). She introduces the fact of the inevitability of death, and how the act truly only effects the person directly connected to the act. It is a fact of the human conditions that reveals the ultimate truth, not the truth that the Transcendentalist’s look for through nature, but the truth of humanity in of itself. The presences of the fly, as a mention of nature, gives another element usually found within the Transcendentalist writings. This element of nature become a bringer of death, reality, and
She gave her poetry a life of their own, by pouring a little of herself into each one. Her hopes, fears, concerns, idle thoughts, and serious ponderings were all put to paper in hopes that maybe one day the paper will answer her back. Labels such as Transcendentalist or Romantic mattered little to the poet, regardless of how her poetry seems to align with their views and themes. Dickinson didn’t label herself, she allowed herself to be who she was without allowing others to change her view of herself. Her individuality, thematic prowess, and dedication to her craft allowed Dickinson to be an inspiration to generations, but she never knew how impactful her writings would one day. However, given the components exposed within the poetry Dickinson may have never associated herself with either group, but her writings has given her entrance into both