Insane or not?
(An analysis of Emily Dickinson’s poem “Much Madness is divinest Sense–”) To be considered mad by the majority is to have the most sense of anyone. This is the idea that Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Much Madness is divinest Sense–” presents. She illustrates the idea that the most sense is found not in the majority, but in the minority where those are considered insane. On the other hand, those who follow society are those who are truly mad. This is true in many cases, but occasionally is not. Emily herself even lived an accurate portion of this poem to some extent. In the poem “Much Madness is divinest Sense–,” Emily Dickinson says that those who are considered mad by many have the most sense, and while this is often true, it is not always the case.
In Emily Dickinson’s poem “Much Madness is divinest Sense–,” she says that to follow the crowd is to be mad, whereas to go one’s own way is to have sense. This concept is interesting, but she successfully backs it up stating “‘Tis the Majority” (Dickinson 635) as in the majority determines what is considered sensible and what is considered mad, therefore the majority is in the fault. When people contradict the flow of societal norm, they are regarded with…show more content… Madness at its best is often complete sense that is not widely recognized, whereas some of the most commonly believed things are utter nonsense. To take Emily Dickinson for example, she was thought insane by many people because she was a hermit in essence, rarely leaving her home, and not socializing unless completely necessary. When she died, her poems were originally thought to be a madwoman’s scribblings, but are now viewed as some of the most renowned writings ever to be discovered. So in essence, she herself lived up to the line, “In this, as All, prevail–” (Dickinson 635). Though she was considered mad herself, she became an idol, even if it was after death and