Emily Dickinson's Poem 'I' M Nobody ! Who Are You?

"How dreary to be somebody... How public...," (Dickinson, stanza 1-2). In the eyes of Emily Dickinson, the writer of the cited quote, the majority of the population embodies the distinct characteristics of what she refers to as a somebody in her poem, "I'm nobody! Who are you?". Somebodies are individuals who when grouped together have few varying characteristics between them. Though somebodies seemingly occupy most of the population, they are countered by what Dickinson calls nobodies. Nobodies are characterized for being solitary and introverted. These people do not need validation and are comfortable as they are. Though the traits that nobodies tend to have can be positively connotated, in today's

The textbooks and history are surrounded with “Somebodies”. People who had it all: the fame, the recognition, the distinctions… Except they did not. Emily Dickinson never truly received praise or credit for all her work. In fact, out of the thousands of poems she is now remembered for, only about twelve poems were published ANONIMOUSLY throughout her entire lifetime. Perhaps this is the reason why during her years of reclusion from the outside world, Dickinson wrote “I’m nobody!

In Success..., Dickinson reflects on the nature of success and how, ironically, it can be best appreciated and understood by those who have not achieved it and have no taste of it. As in "Faith"..., Dickinson powerfully presents her thoughts in a few lines. The poem deals only with one, ironic but universal, idea in its short length. It is the bitterness expressed at this irony (as found it Dickinson's juxtaposition of the words sweetest and sorest, separated by two lines) that is most felt by the reader. While the previous poem expresses the poetess' bitterness and sorrow with one aspect of her life, I'm Nobody! Who Are You? uses humor without irony to address another. In this poem, Dickinson style appears almost child-like in its of descriptions including frogs and bogs, as well as the lively energy expressed by the poem through its use of dashes and brief wording. Dickinson seems to be addressing her spinster, hermit-like existence (I'm Nobody) and her preference to it.

Open Mike Nights take place every Tuesday at six in the evening in Florida Discount Music. The bitter smell of coffee permeates the humid air and the clink of mugs and ceramic plates often accompany the snapping of fingers after a person finishes performing their piece of poetry. However once the next person begins, the place becomes as loud as a morgue at midnight with people anticipating the next reading. Some poems receive better responses than others, confirmed by the louder or more frequent snaps, but nonetheless, the authors continue to present their work to the audience every week. So, what would happen if a poem from a different time period shared his or her poetic genius to a modern group of people? Depending on the century, the

Ms. Dickinson may have had a clairvoyance and comfort about death. She definitely has an inventiveness for such a morbid topic, which everyone will universally experience in their own unique way. According to Biography.com, Emily and her sister Lavinia cared for their ill mother until she passed away. Emily also died rather young at the age of 55 from kidney disease. She could possibly be talking about herself in this poem (Biography.com, 2017).

I'm Nobody! Who are you? by Emily Dickinson reminds me of the song, "You belong with me" by Taylor Swift. These two works speak of the author being behind the scenes in life. The writers are unnoticed by society and watch life from the back of the room. Content to watch life play out for others, without the inconvenience of social rules and etiquette. Swift proudly sings "She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers" (Swift). Dickinson and Swift, in reality, are nothing alike, Swift is a brash famous woman, while Dickenson was a recluse. This work is excitedly unemotional while imparting wisdom. Dickinson's poem playfully speaks of human's social fears through voice, conventional symbols, and stanza.

In Emily Dickinson’s poem #340, or also known as “I felt a funeral in my brain,” there is a theme of change that can be derived from the imagery presented by the poet. The poem is voiced from the perspective of the deceased who describes their funeral as heard through the casket. The choice to utilize a funeral as a backdrop to this poem is intriguing given that there could be many other ways to depict a personal change. Even though other poetic styles like Romanticism and transcendentalism exists in this era, Dickinson chooses to this ominous subject medium. Dickinson’s choice of setting for this poem could be indicative of her surroundings, namely the death-riddled Civil War era. Whether this poem represents a positive change or a negative change, is left up to the interpretation of the reader. One certainty is that Dickinson takes the reader into a story of transformation. Upon further examination, I would like to explore why I perceive this poem to be a metamorphosis for a positive change that emerges from a cocoon of the macabre.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born December 10, 1830, into an influential family in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father helped found Amherst College, where Emily later attended between 1840 and 1846. She never married and died in the house where she was born on May 15, 1886.

Emily Dickinson uses imagery to give it more meaning. One example is, “ how dreary being somebody”. When reading that line readers could imagine a nobody almost glaring in discuss at a person who is popular also known as a somebody. Another example of imagery is “Are you a-nobody-too?”, when readers read this you could imagine on the sidelines, two outcast talking to each

In Emily Dickenson ’s I’m nobody! Who are you?, the amount of themes found throughout the poem are all sequestered to those being the ones originating from self-intricacy. Dickinson’s motivation to write the poem initiates from society’s compulsive feelings bombarding her consciousness. The poem implicitly suggests it is better to live in retention of one’s own ideas rather than to be part of a system that admires great thoughts with hidden displeasure.

I'm Nobody! Who are you? by Emily Dickinson reminds me of the song, "You belong with me" by Taylor Swift. These two works speak of the author being behind the scenes in life. The writers are unnoticed by society. They watch life from the back of the room, content to observe life play out for others, without the inconvenience of social rules and etiquette. Swift proudly sings "She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers" (Swift). Dickinson and Swift, in reality, are nothing alike. Swift is a brash famous woman, while Dickinson was a recluse. Dickinson's poem playfully speaks of human's social fears through voice, conventional symbols, and stanza.

What distinguishes Emily Dickenson’s satirical poem ‘I’m Nobody! Who are you?’ as great poetry, is the fact that it can be interpreted in two ways: either as as celebration of being a “nobody” - perhaps in defense of her status in 19th century society as nothing special, or a “nobody”, or as something more satirical, perhaps in response to an undisclosed question. Emily wasn’t recognized in society until after her death. Her poem celebrates the anonymity she experienced as preferrable to fame and notoriety.

Are you – Nobody – too?” (Dickinson lns. 1-2). Dickinson put a exclamation mark at the end of “I’m Nobody” to indicate that she accepts being a nobody. Her being able to accept being a nobody send a message to other nobodys that they should accept it.

“I’m Nobody! Who are You?” by Emily Dickinson presents the idea that it is better to be a meek nobody than a pompous somebody. “Nobodies” can stick together and relish in their anonymity together, but it is increasingly more challenging to find friendship and equality when a person is placed in the public eye.

The poem, ‘I’m nobody, who are you?’ is about one and a half centuries old. Yet, it hits the nerve of our time: The digital 21st century in which everybody is somebody on the World Wide Web. Emily Dickinson, the US poet born in 1830, was what we would now call a loner. She chose few, very close friends during her lifetime which she mainly spend alone, writing poems and letters to near ones. She carefully chose what to share and with whom, confiding her thoughts and feelings mainly to paper. What she wrote has depth and reaches out to millions, still. The “Nobody” in whose perspective her poem is written, reaches out to a possible soul mate, and the reader. “Nobody” is definitely not an insignificant, pitiable person, rather a self-confident one. “Nobody” seems to enjoy the anonymity of not even telling her name.