Heather On The Moors And The White Rose In The Dell

There were two "Emily"s achieving remarkable fame for their special writing styles in the literary world in the nineteenth century: Emily Bronte and Emily Dickinson, who, in spite of different countries, growing environment and experiences, share striking similarities in their works and spiritual worlds. This thesis intends to explore the analogies between their inner worlds and the differences between their unique characteristics through comparative study on the historical background, growing environment, ideological origin and temperament of the two "Emily"s.Literary review of this thesis briefly introduce researches in and abroad on Emily Bronte and Emily Dickinson, pointing that respective studies of two "Emily"s are deep and detailed but comparative studies of them are few. Although two papers written by domestic scholars initiated the research, there is still plenty of room left for further exploration.Chapter One analyses the influence on the characteristics of two "Emily"s from their families and education. Their mothers both fail to fulfill the role as an educator in the daughters' growth, from whom "Emily"s cannot get correct knowledge of woman and ego. Fathers are upright, pious, zealous for public affairs and interested in literary and many other things. But they are both despotic and partial towards sons, so despite of getting training in art from father, "Emily"s have emotional resistance to them. Bronte and Dickinson who both suffer from autism coincide in disregard of traditional regulations of ethics and religion. They have close and intimate relation with their sisters and brothers, but the over-dependence on domestic communication leads to their inability to adapt to new environment and to deal with daily affairs. Their amazing talent is appreciated by their teachers who, nevertheless, cannot understand their thoughts ahead of the time. This kind of aloofness becomes a great hindrance for them to make close friends and lovers with mutual affinity, driving them back to the isolated inner world at last.Chapter Two analyses the literary influence on the creation of Bronte and Dickinson. Their language and narrative mode are deeply affected by religious literature especially the Bible which they have been familiar with since childhood despite the fact that they never acknowledge the authority of religious ethics. Gothic style is another element affecting their composition, the mysteriousness and horror of which combined with romantic passion is employed by them to explore the unconscious side of man's mind. They are also influenced by Shakespeare in writing techniques. In their works the language is expressive and appealing, and the plot is very dramatic. Moreover, their emphasis on nature, freedom, sentiment and individual value reflects that they inherit the spirit of British romantic poems as well.Chapter Three compares the literary spirits and temperaments of Bronte and Dickinson based on the former two chapters. The common ground of growing environment and literary influence between two "Emily"s results in the similarities of their characters and works: they both have contradiction, isolation and rebellious spirit expressed in the works. Contradiction is the most remarkable feature they share in literary spirit and temperament, the core of which lies in the problem caused by antagonism between individual identity and the social identity of female. As to this contradiction two "Emily"s differ from each other in response: Bronte is strikingly decisive, who divides it into two opposite sides and intensifies one end after choice; while Dickinson seems hesitate because of her wavering among several identities. The isolation displayed by the works is accompanied by their incomparable genius which is the product of their wisdom and ideas ahead of the time. With a sort of frostiness, Bronte as well as her works is not easy to get close to. Dickinson, however, longs for understanding and communication, so her isolation is melancholy hued. Both "Emily"s persistently stick to self-value. The insistence of Bronte is rather explicitly crazy while that of Dickinson is more inwardly inclined with more moderate speech and action. In face of unfair social value system, they respond with rebellion derived from their emphasis on self-esteem and spiritual freedom. Bronte directly cries out the discontent and anger with the destructive power of revenge permeated in her work, but Dickinson expresses the scorn for authority in an indirect way and mild language.The last chapter concludes that the works of Bronte and Dickinson shows much coincidence in temperament, which is resulted from the same period they live in, similar family education, growing environment and literary influence from previous works. Their varied characters also bring about difference in their works: one is proud and wild while the other is noble and elegant. With superior souls demonstrated by the resistance to secular temptation, insistence about individual value and courage to rebel against authority and pursue liberty, Bronte and Dickinson show a great inner power of woman, which ranks them among the excellent female writers of the nineteenth century.