An Analysis of The Soul selects her own Society
by Barry Wright
Essay: An Analysis of The Soul selects her own Society
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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Emily Dickinson’s “The Soul Selects her Own Society” presents herself as absolute and her rights as
unchallengeable. The poem puts forward the idea of “friendship or love” which means choosing a significant
person and excluding other people. Dickinson reveals that she was shutting people from her life, but because it
had been so long, they are no longer interested in taking part of her life. Dickinson’s actions imply that the ability
to create and construct a world for oneself, such as choosing your own actions, provides an example of a god-like
achievement. Overall, Dickson asserts the importance of “the Self” theme which is shown my just speaking and
writing as a ratification of the will to explore and express “the Self” to others.
The poem is indicative of the poet herself and when she “shuts the Door-”, she locks herself behind a closed door
and chooses to remain in solitude Behind the door, she tries to find herself and her religion. She is “Unmoved-”
until “she notes the Chariots pausing- because Dickson is in a way, separated from the world due to her isolation.
The “Chariots” are coming for her as if they were people who were trying to be in her presence. Even when an
“Emperor be kneeling” in front of her, she is indifferent to a powerful figure’s actions. The “Emperor” is part of the
“divine Majority” and it means status or rank, which is an important idea. The soul is not won by status or rank.
Dickinson sees the “Emperor” as a threat because he is “Upon her Mat-”. He came into her life and has come to
change her. However, Dickinson is “Unmoved” by his presence and she must “choose one-” which could mean a
suitor. If the “one” is a suitor, the poem could mean that she has to choose whether to marry him or not. “I’ve k...