Biblical Archetypes In Emily Dickinson's Poetry

As one of the greatest poets in American literature, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) has aroused large interest of study. The writer of this present thesis is always fascinated by her work's vast appeal, which partly owes to the influence of the Bible. This thesis just attempts to use the archetypal criticism to probe into the Biblical archetypes in her poetry. In this way her unique religious view is restated from a new angle .Introduction gives a brief description of causes of Dickinson's religious view, followed by the explanation of Frye's archetypal criticism and feasibility to apply it into the research. Born in a Calvinist New England community and influenced by Emerson's Transcendentalism, Dickinson expresses her struggle with her faith in her poetry and reflects an original view about religion. The Bible is for Northrop Frye the main source for undisplaced myth in the Western literary works, while the poet's close relationship with it becomes the basis of the analysis in this thesis.This thesis consists of three chapters.Chapter One explores archetypal themes in her poetry. Influenced by Transcendentalism, Dickinson converts her belief in God to disdain and doubt. As a non-Christian, she is never chosen by God and always finds herself cast out of Eden, which is the manifestation of "Paradise Lost". At the same time, she manages to establish her own paradise in nature, with God in her own heart and to create immortality in nature and poetry. That's Dickinson's unconscious repetition of the great theme — "Paradise Regained".Chapter Two is devoted to the study of the archetypal personae in her poetry. Dickinson first identifies herself with Jesus Christ, hoping to be loved and highly regarded by God after her sacrifice. Next, she wrestles with God like Jacob in her poetry, which 'shows her doubt on God and the struggle with her faith. At last, both Adam and the poet become gardeners in nature after being driven out of the Garden of Eden. In her own Garden, she is able to reach immortality.Chapter Three discusses the important archetypal images in her poetry. The travel image is used to imply that the poet always cherishes the hope of walking into Paradise and hearing "Saved" after pains and tribulations. Next, Dickinson's rejection of light and embracing of darkness manifests her refusal of Church and God. Then, it is about the images of thirst and starvation. Because of the parsimony of God, the starving-thirsting "I" is beyond Lord's Dinner. However she is capable of enjoying it in nature and creating it through writing. At last, all her experiences and devotion point to one word "Circumference", or immortality. It's her business to interpret this image and discover immortality through participating in nature's cycle.In all, Dickinson's allusion to the Bible in themes, personae and imagery reflects her unique religious view and also adds to her poetry's profundity and everlasting appeal. What needs noticing finally is the influence of her religious unconventionality and rebellion on such great philosophers as Friedrich Nietzsche.