Emily Dickinson... The History of her Writings
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 to Edward and Emily Norcross
Dickinson. Austin was her older brother and a younger sister named Lavania. Her father
was a lawyer, Congressman, and the Treasurer for Amherst College, while her mother
was very dependent on the family for support.
Emily's parents shared no emotion with the family, nor did the family share the
problems with each other. This was very unfortunate, however it provided Emily plenty
When Emily was twelve, her family moved to a house on Pleasant Street where they
lived from 1842 to 1855. Emily was already writing letters, but composed most of her
poetry in this home where she enjoyed living.
Emily only left her house on Pleasant Street to attend Mount Holyoke Female
Seminary for one year. Emily decided to leave Mount Holyoke after two semesters due
to her inability to accept the religious convictions of those at the school. She was also
unable to cope with the social life that Mount Holyoke offered. Although, her stay was
brief, her teachers thought her writings were sensational.
After leaving Mount Holyoke, Emily returned home to Amherst. She would travel
very few times upon returning home and gradually she would withdraw from the outside
Emily and her family move to the Dickinson homestead, but this was very difficult for
Emily because she had grown accustomed to the old house where her writings and
personality evolved for fifteen years.
Emily began to wear only white dresses and did not leave her home or garden for
years. Emily continued to write letters to many of her friends even if they lived close to
her house. Emily enjoyed when her friend Helen Hunt Jackson, a popular writer, would
Emily fell in love several times in her life, but would never consider marriage.
However, her close friend Susan Hunting...