Sexuality In The Works Of Emily Dickinson And Walt Whitman
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Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman can be considered the founders of Modern American Poetry. Dickinson and Whitman’s work has numerous differences; starting with Emily’s poems are short and simple, while Walt’s are long and complex, another difference is the introversion and extroversion of the two poets voices in the poems; Dickinson being the quiet one, While Whitman is the brash one. The poets also share similarities: both write of reflection on the experiences, and they both write of everyday objects and people, while addressing the larger issues of life within that context. One of the most intriguing similarity they both share is how the two poets seem to have questioned their sexuality at some point in their life.
Whitman’s works are very…show more content… In fact, her poems give much thought and meaning is a few short words, and allows the readers to paint their own picture of how it should be. Poem 435 (1862) is a perfect example of this, “Much Madness is divinest sense-to a discerning eye-Much sense-the starkest madness-Tis’ the majority” (Dickinson). The sight of such insanity is considering, accepting, and comprehending that we are all a slightly mad; Dickinson was secluded and it seemed she did not like having people around. . Poetry was the key to expressing her inner feelings in ways that otherwise would have never been…show more content… Two men, and a women have been identified as possible lovers to Dickinson: Emily’s sister-in-law, Susan Gilbert, was written hundreds of letters by Emily, which can be seen as the cause of the sexuality commotion. Though there is no proof of homosexuality, it is easy to see why something like that, which was so frowned upon in her time, could have driven her into a private world. This letter, written by Emily to Sue is one of the most controversial because of the romantic language used throughout the letter,
“Have one prayer, only; dear Susie, that is for you. That you and I in hand as we e’en do in heart, might ramble away as children, among the woods and fields, and forget these many years, and these sorrowing cares, and each become a child again — I would it were so, Susie, and when I look around me and find myself alone, I sigh for you again; little sigh, and vain sigh, which will not bring you home