This is My Letter to the World - Emily Dickinson

Summary/Introduction

The persona claims to be writing to the world i.e. to society at large. This world is depicted as passive and not willing to contact her; suggesting it has shunned her and that she doesn’t truly belong to it.

Stanza 1

o The ‘letter to the world’ is a metaphor for the persona’s attempt to reach out and find a sense of community and belonging in the world.
o The use of the absolute term ‘never’ in ‘That never wrote to me’ highlights the extent of the persona’s alienation as there is no reciprocity at all in the relationship (between the persona and the world). Nonetheless, the persona reaches out to a dismissive world suggesting that belonging is a deep need for us.
o The persona has a connection and sense of belonging to nature as shown by the use of the noun ‘majesty.’ Firstly, majesty is a term of respect and reverence. Secondly, the word majesty has connotations of a kingdom to which everyone, the persona and the people of the world alike, belong.
o The personification of Nature in line 3 shows the close connection the persona has with it which is further underscored by the adjective ‘tender’ in line 4. The persona, not finding a sense of belonging in society, may nonetheless have found belonging in nature.

Stanza 2

o Extends upon persona’s isolation – she ‘cannot see’ the receiver of the message,
o Continued personification of nature and the repetition of the more casual pronoun ‘her’ shows the persona’s close connection with nature. Everyone, including the persona, is connected through nature which is part of our common humanity.
o The adjective ‘sweet’ used to describe the persona’s countrymen suggests that she does not judge them too harshly. Or, does it suggest that she is attempting to flatter them so as to gain their acceptance?
o Imperative in the last sentence ‘Judge tenderly of me!’ shows the persona’s desire to belong. The exclamation point emphasises the persona’s almost urgent need for belonging.
o Personification of nature again in third line as a female which may connote nurturing – in which the persona may have found a sense of belonging.

Links to Belonging

1. Belonging to society
o Persona does not feel a direct connection with the world. Nonetheless, the persona does feel the need to belong to the world and it seems this need is quite strong. The persona appeals to common humanity for acceptance.

2. Belonging to nature
o The persona, although rejected by the world, has discovered a sense of belonging in nature. Nature is nurturing and accepting to the persona and is also the common denominator between the persona and the world at large.

Exercises

a) Group the techniques discussed above (and any others you can think of) under the headings of ‘Belonging to Society’ ‘or ‘Belonging to Nature’. E.g. the ‘personification of nature’ technique would go under the ‘Belonging to Nature’ heading.

b) Using these lists, practice writing a paragraph that links the techniques to insights about belonging.