Decoding Emily Dickinson's Reclusive Life

Based on the study of Fromm's theory, this thesis is an attempt to examine Dickinson's life and poetry, with the aim of exploring the mystery of her reclusive life.Upon examining Emily Dickinson's life experience, poetry and letters, the author of the present thesis has found that Dickinson's way of life is just the same way as Fromm argues in his Escape from Freedom. Her life and poems can be regarded as her meditation upon the phenomena which Fromm's theory covers. Just as Fromm argues that human beings have a deep longing for freedom, but at the same time fear nothing as much as that very freedom. Freedom for humans ends psychologically in solitude, isolation and fear. In order to overcome fear and loneliness, man has to escape. Fromm calls it "mechanism of escape". There are several ways to escape. But there is only one way that can lead to "positive freedom". It's identical with the full realization of the individual's potentialities, together with his ability to create something actively and spontaneously.Dickinson experienced the same process as Fromm argues. She wanted to seek freedom, to keep her individuality. But the earthly world confined her. Freedom for her, ended in solitude, isolation and fear. But she would rather be alone than lose herself. She preferred to give up the public world and chose to live in seclusion to create her own world. Her reclusive life was her intentional choice to achieve "positive freedom". In the world of her poetry, in active and spontaneous creation, she achieved spiritual freedom and self-realization.