Ed Reclusion

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Emily Dickinson: Reclusion Against Itself

Renunciation is the Choosing Against Itself (J 745

Emily Dickinson!s "eclusion# the "i$eting cent"al (non %e$ent of he" life#

is so o&t"usi$e as to &lock e$en itself f"om $ie' In he"# "eclusion $e"ges on

occlusion# &oth 'ith "ega") to its causes an)# mo"e *"o&lematically# 'ith

"ega") to the meaning in Dickinson of "eclusion itself Ea"ly accounts assume

some "omantic c"ash# fo" 'hich the"e has ho'e$e" &een essentially no

e$i)ence +o" 'oul) me"e &"oken%hea"te)ness# 'hethe" hete"o% o"

homose,ual# go $e"y fa" in accounting fo" the lite"atu"e Dickinson '"ote

Dickinson!s "eclusion# as "e*"esente) in he" 'o"k# must instea) &e seen &oth

in te"ms of t"a)itions of 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) an) in "esistance to them

In)ee)# in many 'ays "eclusion in Dickinson "e*"esents a ne'# -uite o"iginal

stance# in c"itical "elation "athe" than containment 'ithin the meanings of

"eclusion that come &efo"e he" Dickinson!s "eclusion ma"ks a shift# &oth

su&tle an) e,t"eme# in the histo"y of "eclusion an) its significance# 'hich

e,ten)s *ast he" o'n "et"eat "et"os*ecti$ely to the t"a)ition itself In this it

suggests ho' any act o" e$ent an) its te"ms may mean )iffe"ently 'ithin

)iffe"ent histo"ical )ist"i&utions

Dickinson!s *oet"y *"o$i)es a "eco") of he" "es*onses to a 'o"l) she

foun) at times allu"ing# &ut of 'hich she ultimately )isa**"o$e) as )ee*ly

fla'e) an) in)ee) ala"ming It is not# ho'e$e"# )isa**"o$al of "eality that


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makes Dickinson!s "eclusion tho"oughly o"iginal Disa**"o$al the sense of

an im*e"fect 'o"l) that "e-ui"es some so"t of "a)ical t"eatment to &e ma)e to

e-ual# o" e$en a**"oach# any image of *e"fection o" "e)em*tion ha)# afte"

all# &een the moti$e fo" 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) since its ea"liest "egimens

/ut he"s is not a "eclusion attesting to inte"io" su*e"io"ity as a final "esou"ce of

intelligi&ility Rathe"# Dickinson in "eclusion *"otests an) "e&ukes the lack of

)esign in the e,te"nal 'o"l) of *henomena an) e$ents# 'he"e meaning

shoul) "esi)e

/o"n in 102 in Amhe"st# 3assachusetts# Dickinson seems to ha$e

*asse) an o")ina"y gi"lhoo) in a *"ominent to'n family At a"oun) the age of

.0 in the yea" 1050# ho'e$e"# she &egan to )is*lay )istincti$e &eha$io":

sto**ing going out# )"essing in 'hite# s*eaking to $isito"s f"om &ehin)

sc"eens# stai"'ells# o" othe" "ooms )eclining to a))"ess the en$elo*es of he"

co""es*on)ence# f"om lette"s to my"ia) con)olence notes to messages to he"

siste"%in%la' ne,t )oo" An) she of cou"se &egan to '"ite intensi$ely# an) also

to not *u&lish# *oems 'hich she only ci"culate) in *"i$ate lette"s o" se'e) into

small fascicle &ooklets# foun) &y he" siste" a$inia on Dickinson!s )eath in

1006 hat this "et"eat coinci)e) 'ith the intensifying hostilities an) then

out&"eak of the Ame"ican Ci$il 8a" as )i) he" g"eat out&u"st of *oetic

*"o)uction I ha$e )iscusse) else'he"e1 he 'a"!s "ele$ance he"e is not

only# o" *e"ha*s is *"ecisely# histo"ical Dickinson!s "eclusion is &o"n in

"eaction against a 'o"l) manifesting itself as un*"e)icta&le# $iolent# an)

te""ifying 9he ha) sus*ecte) this fo" some time e" ea"ly lette"s t"ack he"

i""econcila&le anguish o$e" schoolf"ien)s! )eaths /ut the 'a"# one shoul)


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imagine# seeme) a final an) o$e"'helming e$i)ence that the 'o"l) in)ee)

'as a &a)ly con)ucte) *lace

In the histo"y of thought# this is ha")ly ne's 9t Augustine# fo"

e,am*le# su"$eying the fall of Rome# ha) long since *"o$i)e) am*le te"ms fo"

sus*ecting the City of 3an his )is*laye) itself as at &est a scene of t"ial# at

'o"st a *unishment 'hich# if *"o*e"ly "ega")e)# coul) act also as *u"gation

;ollo'ing the *aths lai) out &efo"e him &y you 'e"e mo"e in'a") than the most

in'a") *lace of my hea"t an) loftie" than the highest a&o$e me> . Although

the meta*hysical 'o"l) 'as no longe" to &e *u"sue)# as in


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4ED Reclusion

Dickisnon!s "eclusion# )es*ite s*ecific *oems an) effo"ts to "ea) he" in such

te"ms e"s is not 'ith)"a'al f"om the 'o"l) to an inte"io"ity )etache) f"om it

as its anti)ote# o" at least in *"omise of one in a )iffe"ent "ealm In continuity

'ith the


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o'n te"ms It )oes not# on the 'hole# *"o$i)e fo" he" a secu"e enclosu"e o"

"e*"esent one Rathe" it &ecomes the scene of Dickinson!s anguishe) an)

ang"y "ecognition of the chaotic "eality in 'hich she )'ells his is a 'o"l) in

'hich# as +ietsche 'as soon afte" lou)ly to *"oclaim# no intelligi&le *"inci*le

can &e )etecte) ?et the failu"e of intelligi&ility )oes not lea) he"# as it )oes

him# to )ismiss its *ossi&ility an) seek some immanent fo"ce to take its *lace

as he )oes 'ith the 8ill to


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ho'e$e" the )esign )efaults# lea$ing he" fu"ious at the Designe" In te"ms of

the t"a)ition# Dickinson!s is not 9t John of the C"oss!s Da"k +ight of the soul

)ou&ting its o'n 'o"thiness +o" is he"s 9Eliot!s Da"k +ight )ou&ting the

"eality of =o)# to &e heale) 'ith "ene'e) $ision Dickinson )oes not )ou&t

=o)!s e,istence 9he instea) -uestions is 8ays# 'hich seem to he"

un@ustifia&le 9he &"ings to the fo"e the 'e))e) *light &et'een theo)icy an)

mysticism# 'he"e "et"eat into s*i"it is offe"e) as anti)ote to the 'o"l)!s

suffe"ing Dickinson in cont"ast "e@ects a solution to the 'o"l)!s )iso")e" that

is "emo$e) f"om it 9uch a st"ategy seems to he" eithe" a catego"y mistake

an ans'e" that fails to a))"ess the *"o&lem o" f"ank &et"ayal of the *"omise

to 'hich )i$ine ca"e# lo$e# an) )esign *le)ges itself

his is not to say that Dickinson has no -ualms e" $e"ses igag

&et'een effo"ts to fin) he" *lace 'ithin t"a)itions of "eclusion an) he" )ogge)

an) stea)fast "efusal to )o so# fo" this 'oul) gainsay he" o'n e,*e"ience of

the 'o"l) an) 'hat 'oul) &e "e-ui"e) to make it make sense 9*litting off

inne" f"om oute"# s*i"itual meaning f"om conc"ete 'o"l) of histo"y# is to he"

ultimately a manifestation of the *"o&lem of )iso")e" an) not its solution

he"e a"e moments 'hen Dickinson attem*ts this t"a)itional solution# casting

he" o'n "eclusion in its *atte"n his t"a)ition she kne' fi"st han) at the $e"y

least th"ough homas a Bem*is!s he Imitation of Ch"ist# he" 1057 co*y of

'hich is in a"$a")!s oughton i&"a"y o'e$e"# against Richa") 9e'all!s

$ie' that Dickinson foun) in it a *ositi$e mo)el fo" >"enouncing the 'o"l)#

&ea"ing the &u")en# shoul)e"ing the C"oss that is# the sim*le# ste"n life of

the )e)icate) "eligious#> Dickinson!s "elation is com*le, an) c"itical4


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"o))en 'ith st"aight "enunciation> (J 5.7 may "eflect a moo)# o" e,*lo"e

one# o" "egiste" a "es*onse to o" commenta"y on Bem*is itself 8hat homas

a Bem*is offe"s is a se$e"e an) uncom*"omising o**osition &et'een this

'o"l) an) the ne,t# 'ith "eclusion a li$ing in this 'o"l) as if al"ea)y )ea) to it

As he '"ites in the fi"st cha*te"# >this is su*"eme 'is)om to )es*ise the

'o"l)# an) )"a' )aily nea"e" the king)om of hea$en> " again: hose >'ho

st"o$e to follo' in the footste*s of Ch"ist hate) thei" li$es in this 'o"l)# that

they might kee* them to life ete"nal> he 9*i"it >s*eaks 'ithin them#> teaching

>to )es*ise ea"thly things an) to lo$e hea$enly to fo"sake this 'o"l)# an) to

long fo" hea$en> " again# >ea"n no' to )ie to the 'o"l)# that you may &egin

to li$e 'ith Ch"ist ea"n no' to )es*ise all ea"thly things# that you may go

f"eely to Ch"ist>5 Just so Dickinson '"ites:

h"ough the st"ait *ass of suffe"inghe 3a"ty"s e$en t"o)hei" feet u*on em*tation hei" faces u*on =o) (J 7.

he feet stan) in the 'o"l) as tem*tation# &ut the face tu"ns a'ay f"om an) in

o**osition against the 'o"l)# to =o)

;o" Dickinson )oes g"as* Bem*is!s $ision of the 'o"l) as >s'iftly

*assing a'ay#> 'he"e >all things a"e t"ansito"y# all things a"e *assing# an)

you"self 'ith them> ence Bem*is u"ges >that you )o not cling to them# lest

you &ecome entangle) an) *e"ish 'ith them>6 In)ee)# the alte"nati$es to

"eligion can seem to he" no less unsatisfacto"y# e$en te""ifying he 'o"l)

'ithout =o) is fea"ful his too is "eflecte) in he" "eclusion An) yet# neithe"

can she a&an)on he" sense of a 'o"l) gone a'"y his lea)s he" once mo"e

to )is*utation# )ismay# an) often )isguise) assault E$en *oems 'he"e she


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)oes attem*t a "et"eat into an) as t"a)itional in'a") )e$otion mostly conceal

*itfalls:

he 9oul shoul) al'ays stan) a@a"

hat if the ea$en in-ui"ee 'ill not &e o&lige) to 'ait" shy of t"ou&ling e"

De*a"t# &efo"e the ost ha$e sli)he /olt unto the Doo" o sea"ch fo" the accom*lishe) =ueste" isito"# no mo"e (J 1255

>Desi"e to &e familia" only 'ith =o) an) his angels#> Bem*is '"ote# >an) )o

not seek the ac-uaintance of men> >he fu"the" the soul 'ith)"a's f"om all

the tumult of the 'o"l)# the nea"e" she )"a's to he" 3ake" ;o" =o) 'ith is

holy angels 'ill )"a' nea" to him 'ho 'ith)"a's himself f"om his f"ien)s an)

ac-uaintances>7 his *oem o*ens in a**a"ent ag"eement# as if em&"acing

the inne" sanctum Recluse) at home# the 9oul stan)s e$e" "ea)y fo" )i$ine

$isitation As so often in Dickinson# ho'e$e"# the g"amma" of )ecla"ation

*"o$es )elusi$e his *oem is '"itten un)e" the sign of the con)itional: >hat

if the ea$en in-ui"e> ()oes >hat> *oint to an) un)e"sco"e >if>F 3o"eo$e"#

although the 9oul may &e )e)icate) in he" 'aiting# the com*liment is not

"etu"ne) &y the >accom*lishe) =uest> e in fact# e$en if he 'e"e to come

calling# 'oul) not 'ait >/efo"e the ost ha$e sli) G he /olt> the )i$ine

isito" is gone

he"e is as 'ell a shift in *e"son that has fo" Dickinson la"ge

"esonance he >9oul> is gen)e"e) female &ut he" "ole as >ost> is gen)e"e)

male In)ee)# the line >e 'ill not &e o&lige) to 'ait> is itself am&iguous# as

to 'hethe" it is the 9oul o" ea$en 'ho is left 'aiting Anothe" "eclusion

*oem intensifies this gen)e" am&iguity:


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he 9oul that hath a =uestDoth sel)om go a&"oa) Di$ine" C"o') at ome &lite"ate the nee)

An) Cou"tesy fo"&i)A ost!s )e*a"tu"e 'henH*on imself &e $isitinghe Em*e"o" of 3en (J 674

e"e the 9oul a'aits at home as anyone hosting a >=uest> 'oul) )o >Di$ine"

C"o')> is am&iguous It coul) )esc"i&e a 'on)e"ful g"ou* of $isito"s# o" one

*"o*e"ly )i$ine# as is suggeste) in the last line!s >he Em*e"o" of 3en> ?et

the t"ansition f"om stana to stana# although taking the fo"m of analogical

a"gument# is in fact hy*othetical an) con)itional he fi"st stana s*ells out

the eti-uette of hosting# not the actuality 'hile the secon) stana is again

un)e" the sign of con)itionality# in the t"ickie" fo"m of >'hen> 'hich ho'e$e" is

he"e e-ui$alent to if ;inally# the 9oul is clea"ly ma"ke) as male in gen)e": as

ost >imself>

Dickinson!s 'o"k offe"s a "ich fiel) of in$estigation into the im*lications

of gen)e" in *"o@ecting "elationshi*s 'ith =o) >he Em*e"o" of 3en> is

o&$iously male 8hat of the 9oul 'aiting to "ecei$e imF Dickinson

"e*eate)ly e,*lo"es the 'ays in 'hich "elationshi* 'ith =o) $a"ies 'ith

gen)e" he a**"oach to the )i$ine that "eclusion ho*es to enact 'o"ks one

'ay# Dickinson suggests# 'hen &oth =o) an) 'o"shi**e" a"e male his

allo's a kin) of i)entification that is not *ossi&le 'hen the 'o"shi**e" is

female +ot only g"ammatical i)entity# &ut social an) of cou"se se,ual "oles

alte" as images fo" an) in)ee) *aths of "elation to =o) his of cou"se also

o*ens a social si)e to Dickinson!s "e*"esentations In a *oem such as >I!m

+o&o)y#> he" most en)ea"ing "eclusion *oem# Dickinson cannily com*lains


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12ED Reclusion

that the alte"nati$e to seclusion is comme"cial e,*loitation: >Don!t tell hey!)

a)$e"tise you kno'> (J .000 C"iti-ue of Ame"ican mate"ialism# at @ust this

time comman)ing the attentions of he" contem*o"a"ies Eme"son an)

ho"eau# ma"k many Dickinson $e"ses in a g"eat "ange of economic image"y

he *oem >8hat 9oft Che"u&ic C"eatu"es G hese =entle'omen a"e (J

421 "egiste"s )is)ain fo" the eme"gent )omestic la)y 'hose Dickinson!s o'n

"eclusion at once echoes an) e,*oses ?et Dickinson!s conce"ns a"e most

*e"$asi$ely meta*hysical# 'hose te"ms continue to )efine fo" he" any

ultimate accounts an) @ustifications of social an) histo"ical life ?et gen)e"

"emains a cent"al catego"y of he" meta*hysical imagination an) )is*utes In a

*oem such as >itle Di$ine is mine#> Dickinson imme)iately mo$es f"om this

claiming of )i$ine title as he" o'n ('ith no )ou&t a fu"the" *un on '"iting an)

he" o'n status as *oet to the -ualification: >he 8ife 'ithout the 9ign> (J

127. e"e to &e# as she goes on to say# >Em*"ess of Cal$a"y> ie

"emo$e) f"om the 'o"l) is still to &e associate) 'ith )i$inity at one "emo$e

>itle Di$ine> suggests )i"ect claim to i)entity &ut 'ife is a )e"i$e) an)

me)iate) status Dickinson!s 'o"k inclu)es a se"ies of >'ife> *oems (often

'ith the 'o") in -uotation ma"ks in 'hich the meanings of the te"m is

conteste)# not only in social te"ms (an) of cou"se Dickinson ne$e" 'as one

&ut as these a"e continuous 'ith# &oth "eflecting an) const"ucting# the

"eligious histo"y of 'ifehoo) as a *a"ticula" )e$otion to =o) Dickinson!s o'n

consciousness of this t"a)ition is clea"ly atteste) in >nly a 9h"ine:>

nly a 9h"ine# &ut 3ine I ma)e the a*e" shine 3a)onna )im# to 'hom all ;eet may come#Rega") a +un

hou kno'est e$e"y 8oe


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11ED Reclusion

+ee)less to tell thee so/ut can!st thou )ohe ="ace ne,t to it healFhat looks a ha")e" skill to us 9till @ust as easy# if it &y thy 8ill

o thee ="ant me hou kno'est# though# so 8hy tell theeF (J 10

?$o" 8inte"s famously "ema"ke) that Dickinson!s *light 'oul) ha$e &een

"esol$e) if she coul) only ha$e &een &o"n Catholic his a**eal# ho'e$e"#

sol$es nothing in this te,t 9he ackno'le)ges the o&$ious: that a 'oman

"ecluse )"esse) in 'hite ine$ita&ly &"ings to min) the figu"e of the +un /ut

the o&$ious in Dickinson ten)s to &e o&scu"ing e"e she imagina"ily lights

he" ta*e" to the 3a)onna# a**ealing to he" as me)iating figu"e an) channel of

g"ace ?et he"e# as )iffe"ently in the ost *oem (J 674 'he"e =o) in fact

)oes not $isit# the 3a)onna in fact )oes not ans'e" =enuine healing looks

instea) >a ha")e" skill#> an)# e$en if Dickinson!s u&i-uitous con)itional the

3a)onna shoul) so 'ill things (assuming she e,ists the *oem en)s not in

g"ant o" e$en a**eal# &ut "athe" in inte""u*tion an) self%silencing12

3ost Dickinsonian a**"oaches a"e to =o) as clea"ly male# although

$a"ying in he" human gen)e"ing he e"otic *lays its full *a"t# as it )oes in the

t"a)ition an) "eclusion can &e figu"e)# as t"a)itionally fo" 'omen# as

ma""iage In Dickinson# ho'e$e"# ma""iage itself is a $e"y conteste) state

(although *oems such as >3ine &y the Right of the 8hite Election> (J 5.0

fulfill the t"a)itional schema As a t"o*e fo" "eclusion# it no longe" signals

)e$otion an) contact 'ith the )i$ine as against the 'o"l)# &ut a se-ueste"ing

f"om &oth =o) an) 'o"l)# &oth of 'hich ha$e &ecome se$e"ely com*"omise)

he"e can still &e an e"otics of inte"*lay# &ut less as fli"tation than "etaliation:

8e shun it e"e it comes#Af"ai) of Joy#


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1.ED Reclusion

hen sue it to )elayAn) lest it fly#/eguile it mo"e an) mo"e 3ay not this &el) 9uito" ea$en#

ike ou" )ismay at theeF (J 1502

A *oem of am&i$alence# Dickinson he"e offe"s a gene"al st"uctu"e of

e$asion11 9he )esi"es yet fea"s )esi"e# an) es*ecially its )isa**ointment

Cou"tshi* is *"o*ose) as one image fo" this e$asi$e )esi"ing that is#

cou"tshi* ne$e" consummate) ?et the *i$otal figu"e eme"ges in the en) as

"eligious It is =o) 'ho is mo)el cou"tie"# an) it is is o*a-ue una$aila&ility

that g"oun)s the )isa**ointment as 'ell as he" o'n "eci*"ocal &eha$io" ;o"

=o)# she sus*ects# is imself a Recluse e" "eclusion thus &ecomes an

image an) enactment not of access to the )i$ine &ut its im*asse =o) is not

fo"thcoming to he" an) no" is she to him 8ith)"a'al &ecomes 'ithhol)ing

a $e"y st"ange "en)e"ing of )i$ine "eflection# not as lo$e &ut as its &et"ayal o"

failu"e

ne of Dickinson!s com*laints# then# is that the *"omise of s*i"ituality is

not fulfille) Reclusion is then )efensi$e measu"e As she '"ites succinctly#

>he 3issing All *"e$ente) 3e G ;"om missing mino" hings> (J 05 /ut it

is also agg"essi$e# a site f"om 'hich to launch he" in)ignation at the failu"e of

"e)em*ti$e *"omise his is a failu"e not only of "e)em*tion to take *lace# &ut

of its $e"y st"uctu"e an) natu"e Dickinson is ang"y not only &ecause the

*"omise) "e)em*tion is not fo"thcoming# &ut &ecause it is faulty his is the

sense of he" ea"liest lette"s )u"ing 'hich she e,amines he" o'n "esistance to

con$e"sion in 'hat 'as the height of the 9econ) ="eat A'akening ;i"st

the"e# an) su&se-uently th"ough he" co""es*on)ence# she feels sta"k

o**osition &et'een the 'o"l)s as a ha"sh an) un@ust choice >I ha$e *e"fect


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1ED Reclusion

confi)ence in =o) an) his *"omises# an) yet I kno' not 'hy# I feel that the

'o"l) hol)s a *"e)ominant *lace in my affections> ( 1 she '"ites in one

ea"ly lette" ate" she '"ites: >I 'on)e" often ho' the lo$e of Ch"ist is )one

'hen that &elo' hol)s so> ( .6. ate" still she is still &ol)e": >Is =o) lo$e!s

A)$e"sa"yF> ( 7. homas a Bem*is might 'a"n to >Bee* you"self f"ee

f"om all 'o"l)ly entanglement the soul that lo$es =o) "ega")s as

'o"thless all things othe" than =o)>1.Dickinson can counte":

he 'o"thlessness of Ea"thly thingshe Ditty is that +atu"e 9ings

An) then enfo"ces thei" )elightill 9yno)s a"e ino")inate (J 17

he conclu)ing cle$e" *un against o")ination tu"ns this 'a"ning of

'o"thlessness into a cont"a"y en)o"sement of natu"e!s )elights 9imila"ly a"t#

in the fo"m of music# is >Ea"th!s co""o&o"ation#> summoning us >to something

u**e" 'ooing us G /ut not to ou" C"eato"> (J 1402

As to those as*ects of the 'o"l) that she )i) in)ee) fin) unacce*ta&le#

meta*hysical const"uctions of anothe" 'o"l) seems to he" to fail to a))"ess

them e" 'o"k affo")s many *oems of meta*hysical c"iti-ue >hei" eight

in ea$en comfo"ts not#> she '"ites in one *oem

hei" =lo"y nought to me !'as &est im*e"fect as it 'as

I!m finite I can!t see (J 66

;"om he" finite *osition# she cannot >see> the >=lo"y> of hea$enly "e'a")

'hich the"efo"e >comfo"ts not> ;o" he"# the >im*e"fect> is &est# the 'o"l) she

inha&its o" 'oul) &e# if it only 'e"en!t so su&@ect to change# time# an) )eath

he only ete"nal *o'e" of 'hich she has )i"ect e$i)ence is that of )eath itself:


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14ED Reclusion

>hou only camest to mankin) G o "en) it 'ith =oo) night (J 155. his is

a =o) 'ho gi$es only to >take a'ay he o$e)> (J 00. e" *"aye"s then

take st"ange tu"ns

9ome 8"etche) c"eatu"e# sa$io" take8ho 'oul) e,ult to )ieAn) lea$e fo" thy s'eet me"cy!s sakeAnothe" ou" to me (J 111

ea$en eme"ges not as sal$ation# &ut as com*etito" that )"ains meaning f"om

ou" 'o"l) &ut fails to *"o$i)e any satisfacto"y othe":

+o the" can "e)uce

u" mo"tal Conse-uenceike the Remem&e"ing it &e noughtA Contem*o"aneous> e,*e"ience

f"om )i$ine *e"s*ecti$e as nought# she instea) comes to the $ie' that this is

in *"actice >Jeho$ah!s Estimate> in com*etition against he" o'n /ut 'hat

=o) offe"s is i""ele$ant an) ultimately only "e)ucti$e# not "e)em*ti$e# of

ea"thly life:

8hen 'e ha$e cease) to ca"ehe =ift is gi$en;o" 'hich 'e ga$e the Ea"thAn) mo"tgage) ea$en/ut so )ecline) in 'o"th!is ignominy no'o look u*on (J 1726


15/24

15ED Reclusion

his 'o"l)# as a *"ice to *ay (an) Dickinson!s uses of economic image"y a"e

es*ecially ace"&ic is a s'in)le An) to ha$e to gi$e u* the ea"th as mo"tgage

to hea$en finally "e)uces the $alue of hea$en itself

An) yet# fo" Dickinson# neithe" is this 'o"l) alone enough 8ithout

Ete"nity >not any ;ace cohe"e Hnless conceale) in thee> (J 14 Death

'ithout "ecou"se "en)e"s all a"oun) us >he s*ect"e of soli)ities G 8hose

su&stances a"e san)> (J 1127 >8ithout this the"e is nought#> she '"ites

an) although in the *oem it is ne$e" clea" 'hethe" >this> "efe"s to this 'o"l) o"

the ne,t one# the *oem a"gues that neithe" can &e com*lete 'ithout the othe"

>I coul) not ca"e to gain G A lesse" than the 8hole> An) yet# they "emain

mutually e,clusi$e In the en) she can only >'ish K a 'ay might &e G 3y ea"t

to su&)i$i)e> (J 6551

It is this image of )i$ision that *e"ha*s mo"e than any othe" go$e"ns

Dickinson!s figu"es of "eclusion:

Renunciation is a *ie"cing i"tue he letting goA


16/24

16ED Reclusion

conflicte)# "et"acti$e# an) to"n in its stances to'a") "enunciation an) 'hat this

)oes an) )oes not o&tain Es*ecially confusing a"e the te"ms of measu"e

he fi"st stana follo's t"a)ition in *"o*osing &lin)ness to the e,te"nal 'o"l)

as the *"ice to *ay fo" s*i"itual $ision As homas a Bem*is '"ites# >9t"i$e to

'ith)"a' you" hea"t f"om the lo$e of $isi&le things# an) )i"ect you" affections

to things in$isi&le> In$isi&ility in tu"n is sign of inte"io"ity he saints >cling to

=o) in thei" inne"most hea"ts> >he Bing)om of =o) is 'ithin you#> the"efo"e

>fo"sake this so""y 'o"l)# lea"n to tu"n f"om 'o"l)ly things an) gi$e

you"self to s*i"itual things# an) you 'ill see the Bing)om of =o) come 'ithin

you> ;o" >/lesse) a"e the eyes that a"e close) to out'a") things &ut

a"eo*en to in'a") things>14 9o Dickinson too en@oins >he letting go> of

imme)iate# *"esuma&ly conc"ete >Day> of

the e,te"nal 'o"l)# lest it >out$ie> the inte"io" $ision of >Day!s ="eat

hat this act of "enunciation an) "eclusion is *ainful# "e-ui"ing sac"ifice

an) se$e"ing f"om attachments an) hence is a >Choosing against itself> is not

an a"gument against "enunciation &ut a )efining element of it It is to >count

all ea"thly things as )ung#> in Bem*is!s 'o")s# an) >"enounce his o'n 'ill fo"

the 'ill of =o)> 15 ess clea" as the *oem *"ocee)s is 'hat in the en) has

&een gaine) >a"ge"> an) >9malle"> a"e in a sense the cent"al te"ms of

"enunciation as e,actly the *a"a)o,ical e,change &et'een 'hat seems

g"eate" the 'o"l) &ut is "eally smalle" than the s*i"itual life 'hich )eman)s

its sac"ifice ?et in the secon) stana they )on!t -uite line u* 'ith the te"ms


17/24

17ED Reclusion

*"o*ose) in the fi"st one# a confusion fu"the" confoun)e) &y unclea"

"efe"ences fo" the )eictic >that> Is >la"ge" function> the e,te"io" 'o"l) of

>Day#> 'hose lu"e is "egiste"e) in the $e"y th"eat to >out$ie> its >="eat

his 'oul) &e *a"allel in se-uence to the ea"lie" g"ammatical

o")e" " is it >Day!s ="eat that is >la"ge"F> /ut this might make

the e,te"io" 'o"l) only >a**ea"> smalle"# as a illusion o" mismeasu"ing "

again# )oes the >Co$e"e) ision> "efe" to >E,*ectation#> that is# 'hat is yet to

comeF /ut ho' can it then &e >e"e#> 'hich seems to "ecall the >a Binsmanshi*> &et'een the *"ison 'alls! > she )oes so at &est as concession:

8e lea"n to kno' the


18/24

10ED Reclusion

As this o Althea f"om e"e they )o# in an ela&o"ate "eflecti$e figu"e 'he"e the *"ison

&ecomes a mi""o" of the self# 'hose > "eflects >featu"es

as u" 'n> An) this "eflection is >esca*eless> Inte"io"ity is not f"ee f"om

its ci"cumstances# &ut se$e"ely ci"cumsc"i&e) &y them An) the "et"eat into

utte" selfhoo) &ecomes self%"eflection as t"a* he ci"cle image"y on the one

han) "e@ects Eme"son!s# 'ith its $ision of e$e" e,*an)ing selfhoo)# each

$e"sion outst"i**ing an) in fact a&an)oning the one &efo"e e"e the"e is

cont"action# not e,*ansion he self itself *"o$es a na""o' ci"cle in)ee) n

the othe" han) (o" is it the same oneF the *oem goes against the ci"cle

image"y of t"a)ition# 'he"e# f"om Is &oyhoo) an image meant to o**ose

gi"lhoo)F Is Dickinson!s *"ison he" female &o)yF In any case# its s*ace


19/24

1ED Reclusion

cont"acts "athe" than e,*an)s th"ough time# a >na""o' Roun)> Inte"io"ity is

not la"ge"# &ut smalle"

he *oem!s en)ing 'ith >i&e"ty> *oints Dickinson!s "eclusion *oems in

yet a fu"the" )i"ection ne 'ay the -uestion of "eclusion "ecu"s th"ough

*hiloso*hical histo"y is as a )e&ate &et'een the acti$e an) the contem*lati$e

life /eginning in Cheek of i&e"ty> seems

>+ot so "eal> as the *"ison!s "eflecti$e > In)ee)# in the last

stana# li&e"ty itself seems th"eatening a moti$e fo" "et"eat into the *"ison in

the fi"st *lace ;o"# if un&oun)e)# it is >oo 'i)e fo" any +ight &ut ea$en>

e"e e,tent &ecomes o$e"'helming# fo"mless# 'ithout )i"ection# an) hence

nee)ing "escue &y ea$en ?et ea$en in tu"n is figu"e) ominously as


20/24

.2ED Reclusion

>+ight> In its o**osition to the 'o"l)# it is mo"eo$e" e,*e"ience) as

im*"isonment In this 'ith)"a'n state the *oet "emains unce"tain of futu"e

"e)em*tion# an) un"e)eeme) in the *"esent# in its so high cost: a >slo'

e,change of o*e G ;o" something *assi$e"> Content he"e is

in)istinguisha&le f"om "esignation o" )es*ai" he a**eal to ea$en is so

costly in its "e-ui"ements that it consumes the $e"y *"omise of "e)em*tion it is

meant to in$oke

Dickinson!s *e"ha*s most e,u&e"ant "eclusion *oem is:

I D'ell in isito"s> simila"ly seem


21/24

.1ED Reclusion

to )is*lace o" inco"*o"ate )i$ine $isitation# as fo" e,am*le the >Di$ine" C"o')>

of >he 9oul that stan)s A@a"> his time# the 'aiting 'as not $ain As to

>ccu*ation#> might this suggest the he (J 5 hus# in act o" >A"t#> it &ecomes *ossi&le fo" >na""o' an)s G

o gathe" ouse#>

'he"e she "emains his house figu"ation st"uctu"es the e,te"io" 'o"l) E$en

the >9ky> is "e*"esente) as >=am&"els#> a featu"e of +e' Englan) "oofing

An) the Ce)a" >Cham&e"s> "emain >Im*"egna&le of Eye> Does imagination#

like s*i"it# &elong to the in$isi&le an) not $isi&le 'o"l)F > 'he"e

>Instea) of going to ea$en at last G I!m going the"e all along> " again# in a


22/24

..ED Reclusion

"ehan)ling of the image"y of guest an) host# Dickinson '"ites: >he Infinite a

su))en =uest G as &een assume) to &e %% G /ut ho' can that stu*en)ous

come G 8hich ne$e" 'ent a'ayF> (J 12 he human 'o"l)# like the home

he"e# can &ecome an image fo" g"eate" )omains# "athe" than the *"ice *ai) fo"

them e"e continuity &et'een 'o"l)s# &et'een e,*e"ience an) meaning#

seems *ossi&le# as against the )iscontinuity of the "eclusi$e t"a)ition

)eman)ing eithe" 'o"l) o" =o)

hese in)ee) may &e a Dickinsonian "esolution# 'o"ke) th"ough the

$e"y image of "eclusion 'hich is so often the scene of t"emen)ous conflict

DickinsonNs e,*e"ience "emains on the 'hole# ho'e$e"# one of )iscontinuity#

"u*tu"e# antithesis an) counte"claim &et'een histo"ical an) meta*hysical

"ealms conflicts 'hich she inte"nalies in he" life an) 'o"k Reclusion

"emains a *ie"cing $entu"e: to"n &y self%)i$ision# &y mutually e,clusi$e an)

hence agoniing choices# in conflictual image"y an) com*le, accusation:

I took my an)> may again e$oke '"iting 3o"eo$e"# he" taking *o'e"

in he" han) may contest no"ms of he" *e"io) in 'hich 'omen 'e"e assigne)

to )omestic an) not *u&lic s*aces In one sense "eclusion is sim*ly anothe"


23/24

.ED Reclusion

name fo" the nineteenth%centu"y cult of )omesticity ?et# in this an) in)ee) in

any case# he" >


24/24

1Emily Dickinson: A oice of 8a" (+e' a$en: ?ale Hni$e"sity ?$o" 8inte"s makes this c"anky "ema"k in In Defense of Reason (+?: he 9'allo' he *ath of )uty looks$e"y ugly in)ee)# an) the *lace 'he"e I 'ant to go mo"e amia&le it is so much easie" to )o '"ong than "ight#so much *leasante" to &e e$il than goo)# I 'on)e" that goo) angels 'ee*# an) &a) ones sing songs> I shoul)"esist mentioning# &ut can!t# that these Dickinson lette"s a**ea"e) "ecently in a ci"cula" 'a"ning stu)ents againsti""e$e"ent lite"atu"e1;o" a fulle" )iscussion of Dickinson!s meta*hysical c"iti-ue an) its )ilemmas# see 8olosky# >3eta*hysicalRe$olt> in Emily Dickinson: A oice of 8a" (+e' a$en: ?ale Hni$e"sity Commune 'ithyou" o'n hea"t# an) in you" cham&e"# an) &e still#> citing

Documents

Ed Reclusion