Emily Dickinson’s Ecofeminist Awareness

Sun Xiaojing

【Abstract】With the establishment of ASLE in America in 1992， ecological criticism has been adopted to interpret literature.known as the earliest nature poetry， Dickinsons poems beyond doubt have been studied from eco-critical perspective since 1990s.Moreover， as a poetess with a unique and unconventional writing style， her feminist consciousness has been emphasized.This thesis attempts to reread her poems from ecological and feminist perspective.

【Key words】Emily Dickinson； ecofeminist awareness

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson（1830-1886）， a productive and outstanding poet， has written 1775 poems and 1049 pieces of letters， which was regraded as precious treasures not only by the American people but also the global readers.Since Sapphic， Dickinson who has the most number of readers and widest influence all over the world was the most marvelous poetess in the west countries.[1]

1.Rebellion in religion

In the 19th century， religion in America， namely Christianity， is a significant issue at Dickinsons age.American people are under the influence of puritanism.Her father is a stern Christian.Thus born and lived in a Calvinist family， she was unlikely to avoid religious impacts.In addition， Amherst College， Dickinsons school when she was a little girl， was founded with the purpose of spreading Christian doctrines.So she wrote many poems about religion and used a lot of religious images or language in her poetry writing.However， Dickinson was not an adherent.When she was a student at Amherst Collage， she declined to fast in the morning of Christmas Eve， which leaded to her dropout； she refused to keep the Sabbath going to church.

In her poem 236， she said： “I keep it， staying at Home - / with a Bobolink for a Chorister - /And an Orchard， for a Dome -”.In this poem， the narrator refers to wears wings like joyful birds instead of traditional surplice and would rather listen to the “never long sermon” more than tedious teaching by the preacher in church.Staying at home to hear the melody of birds is chosen.Dickinson was never an obedient believer.Due to her refusal to accept the Christian doctrines， she once said that she was refused to be accepted by angles in heaven in her poem 268.

Why - do they shut Me out of Heaven？

Did I sing - too loud？

But - I can say a little “Minor”

Timid as a Bird！

Wouldnt the Angels try me -

Just - once - more -

Just - see - if I troubled them -

But dont - shut the door！

Oh， if I - were the Gentleman

In the “white Robe” -

And they - were the little Hand - that knocked -

Could - I -forbid？（Poem 268）

According to Calvinism， human beings are driven out of the Garden of Eden because of having eaten the forbidden apple.Born with original sin， majorities of human beings are doomed to go to the hell.Only those ones who are for the Christianity and become members of church can be saved by God.It is the Christian believer who can eventually go to the paradise and enjoy the ultimate happiness there after life.In the above mentioned poem， the poet is refused by the angles due to her skeptical attitude towards church and rebellious behaviors of protesting religion.“Just once more”， it seems that she begs the angle not to shut the door to heaven and give her another chance because of fear for the bad aftermath.Apparently， she understands the reason why she was declined by Gods paradise.If she was in the white robe and became one obedient adherent， she may be accepted.

2.Subversion in patriarchy

The Savior must have been

A docile Gentleman -

To come so far so god a day

For little Fellowmen（Poem 487）

The above is the first stanza which describes Jesus image： the savor of the world.According to the Bible， God is a gentleman instead of a woman.Culture ecofeminism thinks that female culture， principle and spirit are the final key to the ecological problems.Besides， spiritual ecofeminism claims that old beliefs and religion should be abandoned.At the same time， the new beliefs or culture， which aims to revive Goddess and motherland should be established[2].Ecofeminists thought that religions， namely Christianity originated from the masculinist and patriarchal desire for control.Thus spiritual ecofeminists proclaim that male-oriented religious beliefs should be abandoned and new religion should be established.After having suffered a lot of hardships for his people， he came to earth to save human being with original sin.Under her pen， Jesus is a loving， kind， and great man who could sacrifice his own life to his people.What worth noting is that God is a man who controls everything of everybody.Aristotle once said that the relationship between man and woman is the controller and being controlled[3].Dickinson who has ecofeminism consciousness once expressed her challenge of men-dominated religion and culture in her poems.Patriarchal ideologies both in nature and culture should be subverted.Dickinson did challenge patriarchal ideas in her poems.Take her famous poem for example：

Title divine - is mine！

The Wife - without the Sign！

Acute Degree - conferred on me -

Empress of Calvary ！

Royal - all but the Crown！

Betrothed - without the swoon

God sends us Women -

When you - hold - Garnet to Garnet -

Gold - to Gold -

Born -Bridalled - Shrouded -

In a Day -

Tri Victory

“My Husband” - women say -

Stroking the Melody -

Is this - the way？（Poem 1077）

It portrays Dickinsons opinion on marriage.According to the Christian tradition， wedding is held in churches， which is closely related with religion.Becoming a wife is a divine title for every woman.A girl who is betrothed should be happy， however the lady in this poem has no swoon.Its said that women are created by God， which means the destiny of women are controlled by male.God or fathers have arranged the whole life for young ladies.To be a qualified and sacrificed wife is the most important goal.When a girl is born， she was expected to turn into a good wife of somebody in future.There seems nothing special expectation for a girls life.Thus Dickinson questioned herself and wondered whether marriage is the right choice.

3.Conclusion

Emily Dickinson， an ordinary woman in the 19th century may not mean to be a feminist or ecologist at her time.But her poems do have beauty of feminist and ecological awareness.Moreover， being single itself has a rebellious significance.Even though she hasnt systematic and obvious claims on ecofeminism； at least， she has noticed the oppression both on nature and women by patriarchy.

References：

[1]迪金森（著），江枫（译）.迪金森诗选[M].北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2012.

[2]Wendy Martin.The Cambridge Introduction to Emily Dickinson[M].Cambridge University Press，2007.

[3]张妮妮.身体、自然和地方—读Mies与Shiva的《生态女性主义》[J].妇女研究论丛，1999.

【基金项目】该论文为长江师范学院校级青年项目“艾米莉·迪金森及其诗歌的生态女性主义解读”（项目编号为：2014QN012）的阶段性研究成果。

作者简介：孙小静，女，长江师范学院大学外语教学科研部教师，主要研究方向：女性主义文学。