Biography: E.E Cummings

E.E Cummings, a successful and immortal poet of the 19th century, has once proclaimed "...artist, a man, a failure is a naturally and miraculously whole human being, whose only happiness is to transcend himself, whose every agony is to grow" (Unger 428). The spontaneity of trying to change oneself implicates the standard of transcendentalism, Cummings' most common theme and style encrypted in his works. His father, the main supporter of most of his decisions, played an important part in molding the young Estlin into one of the most prolific poet of all time.

Edward Estlin Cummings, son of Reverend Edward Cummings and Rebecca Haswell Clarke Cummings, sprung into this world on October 14, 1894 at Cambridge, Massachusetts (Unger 429). Young Estlin grew up in a cozy and familial house on Irving Street, for the Reverend has arranged for close relatives to surround his son, chiefly to promote inspiration for Cummings. Contrary to traditional belief, Estlin, with his father's approval and encouragement, began to express his interests by drawing, sketching and making notes and observations in a journal. As early as nine years old, Cummings has comprised countless sketches and beautiful poetry pieces. His conducive childhood experience had better prepared him for the prosperous academic achievements later on. Harvard accepted such a phenomenal talent. While in college, Estlin challenged the traditional literary style of his professors, Ludicrously experimenting with form, content and diction, Estlin subjectively turned in assignments that he intended to shock and appall readers. Explicit mention of women's breasts, a repercussion of his time in Boston's strip clubs, appeared in his articles in Harvard's literary magazines. Cummings finally emerged from Harvard with a Masters Degree in English and Classical Studies. Although Estlin's rebellion in college strained his relationship with his father, the Reverend still remained Cummings' strongest foothold and support.

His work included controversial references that are still relevant today. Taoism, precipitated in most of his poems, presented ideas of "intuition is the purest form of knowledge, just because it does not emanate from the intellect but rather is felt or experienced transcendence of the intellect while preserving intuition" (Parini 344). His experiment with form and diction became an obsession that characterized Cummings' work. I Carry My Heart With You featured one of Cummings' most brilliant poetic variations; the pronoun "I" spells i while the space between words usually widens. This effects owes attributes to Cummings' Japanese poetry study at Harvard.

World War I loomed around the corner and Cummings drafted into the U.S Army. Operating as an ambulance driver, he served valiantly until detained at La Ferte Mace in France as a prisoner of war. Fortunately, Cummings' father used his connections as a respected reverend to bail him out. After that incredible ordeal, he committed to writing The Enormous Room (1922). He criticized stupidity, especially the organized type of bureaucracy. A travel to Russia inspired him to compose Eimi (1933), which revived his experience of the Socialist movement in the Soviet Union.

Not only did Cummings established himself as a well-known poet, he worked in other areas of literature and art as well. His plays included Santa Clause (1946), which mocked the world's blind acceptance of science while Anthropos or the Future of Art (1968) revealed man's inferiority to nature. One would find reference to these plays in American Poetry. As a painter, he responded to the Cubism, Dada and Surrealism movements as he submitted drawings to the Dial magazine. Several of Cummings' self-portrait deemed priceless after his death.

Cummings continued to benefit and teach the younger generations even when his health declined in later years. He would proudly read his works to college students around the country, hoping to inspire them the way his father did him. Cummings lived with his wife Marion Morehouse and daughter Nancy Cummings in his childhood house on Irving Street; memories of learning and discoveries still lingered on his mind. This Cinderella story came to an end abruptly when Estlin encountered a stroke and passed away on September 3^rd, 1962.

Cummings let transcendentalism transcend into mankind through his works while exposing his passion for poetry. Earning his reputation as a bright star in the literature constellation, Cummings separated himself by taking risks of criticism and incorporated unusual techniques that ultimately resulted into success. He was truly an American, in account of his life as well as his accomplishments.

Works Cited:
Jay Parini. The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature (Volume I). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2004
Leonard Unger. American writers: a collection of litereary biographies (Volume VI). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons: Macmillan Library Reference USA, c1974
American poetry (Volume II). New York: Library of American, c2000