Review of 303 by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was one of the most original and innovative poets of her time. Upon her death nearly 2,000 poems were found, bundled in a dresser drawer. Only seven of these poems were published in her lifetime, which has been theorized to be due to her voluntary self-seclusion. Dickinson's self-seclusion began moderately in 1848, when she returned home from Mount Holyoke College where she had attended a year of schooling.

It was during this time that Dickinson chose an exclusive few that became her own private society. She seldom left her father's home, except for one trip to Philadelphia and a few to Boston for medical treatment of an ocular problem. It was also during this time that Dickinson had some relationships with men who had a significant impact on her life, including Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and eminent literary man.

In 1962, Dickinson sent a letter to Higginson accompanied by four poems asking his advice on whether she should publish her works. Higginson advised against it. This was also a very difficult year for Dickinson in that she lost several friends to medical ailments as well as relocation. It was during this time that Dickinson began her total seclusions, allowing only her immediate family to see her. This became the most productive period of her life as she wrote over 800 of her poems during this time.

One of such poems, written shortly after the cautionary advice of Higginson against the publication of her works, was 303 "The soul selects her society." I feel this poem was an explanation of Dickinson's voluntary seclusion.

Dickinson begins her poem "The soul selects her society; Then - shuts the Door." I feel that Dickinson was not simply saying, I don't want to see anyone anymore. I think her the soul means her true self, or her private self. By selecting her society and then "shut[ting] the door" I feel that Dickinson is saying, the true self selects those who she/he can confide in or trust and the puts up protective barriers. I believe that what Dickinson was suggesting was it was not so much that she wished to isolate herself from the rest of the world, but that she was her only true confidant. The poem continues saying "To her divine Majority; Present no more." I believe the reference to the majority, is to say that Dickinson is a minority or nobody. In poem 288, she also makes a reference to being nobody. I feel that in this poem the lines "Are you - Nobody - Too?; Then there's a pair of us?" suggest that the nobodies are the minority and so the somebodies are the majority she speaks of. "Present no more" would indicate that she no longer was intending to be in the company of the somebodies.

Dickinson continues with the line "Unmoved - she notes the Chariots - pausing; At her lower Gate." The Chariots represent some sort of royalty or superiority, probably another reference to the majority. The fact that she was unmoved by it, shows a rejection of social courtesy. The redundancy of the word unmoved in the next line "Unmoved - an Emperor be kneeling; Upon her Mat" shows again has she is emphasizing the rejection of the societal civility. I feel that she is saying that the great society, or that the majority of somebodies has been kneeling upon, or rather walking on her passiveness which is represented by the mat.

"I've know her from an ample nation; Chosen One" speaks again about the majority of somebodies. I feel she is talking in third person here, again saying that she knows herself from the greater people and she is her own society, her chosen one. The ending of the poem "Then - close the Valves of her attention --; Like Stone" I feel is finalizing her decisions to seclude herself. I think that "close the Valves" is a medical reference for the heart, and perhaps this was a way of exclaiming that she was no longer going to try and fit I the to society, diverting her attention and her efforts away from this attempt. "Like Stone" I feel was not so much of a dreary reference, as to that of a tomb, rather it is saying more that it is written in stone, that this is her final decision.

The general summary of the poem would highly suggest that this poem was a way of explaining her choice of seclusion. Dickinson is saying that a person has a right to chose whom they want to keep company in, the people who will understand and individuals true self, and allow them to be and grow as that. She is saying that she deems herself as the only one who knows herself well enough to keep her own company. She is a nobody and there for somebody can not truly understand her. This is her final decision. This is also supported by Dickinson's actions within her life. At the time, she does diverge into seclusion and concentrates no longer on fitting in, but puts her energy and being into her work.

303 by Emily Dickinson

The soul selects her own society

Then - shuts the Door

To her divine Majority

Present, no more

Unmoved - she notes the Chariots - pausing

At her low Gate

Unmoved - an emperor be kneeling

Upon her Mat

I've known her from an ample nation

Choose One

Then - close the Valves of her attention -

Like Stone