Emily Dickinson Biography: An Enigmatic Woman

Emily Dickinson is considered one of the greatest poets of all time. Therefore, it is curious that she published only six successful poems during her lifetime. She was an enigmatic woman, to the point that scientists still don’t understand much about her life, which is subject to all kinds of speculation.

One of these mysteries is that she wrote over 300 passionate love poems… for someone. No one knows who this great love was, especially since she never had a romantic partner. Emily Dickinson even died single and she was probably still a virgin.

Further, it is not clear whether some of her habits were eccentricity or if she was suffering from a more serious emotional problem. What is clear is that she was an extraordinary poet, who is now compared to other greats such as Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman.

Emily Dickinson had a happy childhood

Emily Dickinson was born into a very privileged family in New England. Her family had strong Protestant and Puritan traditions, which profoundly influence her life and poetry. However, she never fully defined her style. At times she seemed like a classical mystic. Other times she seemed like a heathen.

Emily spoke on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father, like many relatives, was an important person in the government.

Her family opened one of the first girls’ schools. It was rare at a time when girls rarely received formal education.

The future poetess went to primary school there and learned basic sciences. She also took piano lessons from her aunt and received other private lessons. These classes included gardening and horticulture, tasks she loved until her last day of life. She was also a fan of astronomy.

A strange young woman

After completing her basic education, Emily Dickinson left to study at a seminary for young people. She studied academically, but her main goal was to train religious missionaries.

Teachers suggested her to devote herself to this activity, but after much thought she decided not to. She graduated as a ‘non-convert’.

In fact, she left the priesthood due to health problems. Scholars know that she was a fan of poetry and liked to make up stories for her classmates from an early age. Once out of seminary, she returned to her parents’ home and remained there for the rest of her life.

Two men aroused great interest in her. One was Benjamin Franklin Newton, a smart and intelligent man, who entered her life to recommend lectures and flatter her intelligence. However, this possible suitor had tuberculosis and was perhaps kept away from her for this reason. He died shortly afterwards, which caused her great sorrow.

The other man was Charles Wadsworth, a pastor who was also a pianist. He was married and supposedly kept his distance between them to avoid being tempted. However, this has not been fully confirmed. She had great admiration for him, but he too died.

Eccentricities and Genius

Many biographers speculate that her love poems were dedicated to these men. However, a more plausible theory is that the object of affection was Susan Gilbert. She was her childhood friend and also her brother’s wife. This could explain why there is so much mystery surrounding her relationships and affections.

Emily Dickinson not only refused to publish her works, but even refused to share them with those closest to her. As a result, only six of her 1,800 poems were published while she was alive.

She spent the last 15 years of her life in isolation. First in her house and then alone in her bedroom. She also got into the habit of wearing only white.

During that time she went outside alone to tend her garden and spent the rest of her day indoors. She died of kidney problems on May 15, 1886.

Her younger sister and staunch admirer, Vinnie, found 40 volumes of poetry bound in notebooks Emily had hidden. Vinnie is the one who shared this extraordinary work with the world.