Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Could themself have peeped And seen my Brain -- go round -- They might as wise have lodged a Bird : On 613 ("They shut me up in Prose--") A Feminist Reading of The Five-Forty-Eight The Scarlet Letter provides an in depth analysis on women’s rights and their value in the society during the late 17th century. By leaving “They” implicit, it allows the reader to connect that Dickinson is talking about the “man” or the patriarchal society. They shut me up in Prose – As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still” – Still! Could themselves have peeped –… Could themself have peeped -- And seen my Brain -- go round -- They might as wise have lodged a Bird For Treason -- in the Pound -- Himself has but to will And easy as a Star Abolish his Captivity -- And laugh -- No more have I -- “They shut me up in Prose– As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still”” (1-4). The poem I have chosen to break down my confusion about is “They shut me up in Prose.” In this title alone we see an interesting use of capitalization and word choice. From the Album Emily Dickinson - The Poetry Listen Now Buy song $0.99. Another message in which Dickinson attempts to convey within her writing is highlighting the patriarchal dominance in which she lived in at the time. Patriarchal society gives absolute priority to men and to some extent limits women’s human rights also” (Sultana 5). 123Helpme.com. At the beginning of the novel, Firdaus responses are in a passive, lethargic manner towards men whom she has encountered with like if she has not yet seen much self-worth. No plagiarism, guaranteed! Dickinson uses these disruption in her text to signify her viewpoints on conflictual issues that reside in society. 2. In this somewhat grimly humorous poem, Emily compares her childhood as a ‘little Girl’ with the way 'They' treat her as an adult. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Focusing primarily on the nineteenth century, literature of the period often characterized women as victims oppressed by society, culture, as well as by the male influences in their lives. Registered office: Venture House, Cross Street, Arnold, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG5 7PJ. Her poems often highlight these viewpoints. In "They Shut me up in Prose," Dickinson is saying, negatively and defiantly, that men may try to force her, a "Girl," to live in a prosaic or ordinary way but that this is not going work. One could argue that the men’s influence on society forged the distinctions between sanity and madness. During the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds women were oppressed by a patriarchal society. Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? Rather, she believed in the beauty that is the truth expressed in words, such as her own poetry. These pioneers of feminism paved the road for further reform, and changed the very fabric of our society. They knew that they were being discriminated against because of their gender, and they refused to take it. All of her values and morales are upheld by the dashes that Dickinson introduces into her poems. Dickinson often spoke out on this dominance, and in a poem called “They shut me up in Prose” she states. They shut me up in Prose— As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet— Because they liked me “still”— Still! Individuals should be able to make decisions about whether to enhance their attractiveness without being judged politically incorrect or professionally unacceptable” (709). A Feminist Reading of Galatea 2.2 All rights reserved. Although they were fighting for a worthy cause, many did not agree with these women’s radical views. Emily Dickinson, a radical feminist is often expressing her viewpoints on issues of gender inequality in society. Perhaps Emily felt constrained due to gender norms and roles at the time, and these constraints contributed to her "captivity." Through stating this does Dickinson not only connect the social confinements that women lived in during the time, but also the mental confinements, by controlling their thoughts from young ages to their own beliefs. The views of women in early literature were often silenced and their opinion’s disregarded by a dominant patriarchal society. My comments follow. Miss Dent, who has been trodden on for so long, finally takes action against Blake who represents all of the men in her life who have mistreated her. Standing up to a man, however, was not permissible in nineteenth century America. This can be seen in a multitude of Dickinson’s works, such as. Could themself have peeped- And seen my Brain-go round- They might as wise have lodged a Bird For Treason-in the Pound- Himself has but to will And easy as a Star + Abolish his-Captivity- … Could themself have peeped –. Richard Powers employs this standard for female characters in his novel, Galatea 2.2, made evident through the application of the feminist approach and the dialogical method; however, its semi-autobiographical nature blurs the reasoning behind Powers' conformity. Dickinson not only wrote this piece as a sort of call to action against the dominant patriarchy, but also a form of rebellion, questioning their beliefs on a broader scale. From a feminist perspective, this would be an eternity of living in a world focused around the patriarchy” (230-231). Because they liked me ‘still’ —. 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