Belonging is an integral desire of human nature; it is the perceptions held by an individual, which enables them to build connections with themselves, and with others. An individual’s perceptions of belonging evolve in response to their interaction with their world, due to the greater understanding they gain as a result. Not belonging to society by choice, however, can be viewed as an act of self-liberation and a pathway to individualism. This idea is illustrated in Emily Dickinson’s nineteenth-century collection of poetry, where she demonstrates how her reclusive lifestyle, disassociating herself with her society, has resulted in the development of a stronger self-identity. Ultimately, the idea of shaping a sense of belonging by purposed seclusion from society is expressed in the texts.
A sense of belonging can be developed from one’s choice to cease interaction with their world, and instead to concentrate on the satisfying of personal desires. Through Dickinson’s poetry, she illustrates her resilience after experiences of rejection from society, and her aspiration to be accepted in posterity. In This is my letter to the world, this notion is conveyed when she incorporates a grieved, self-pitying tone when discussing “the world / that never wrote to me”. From the rejection that she has received in response to her desire for social recognition, Dickinson displays her lack of concern for society with the absence of any criticism or anger. Rather, she expresses an emotional determination to develop a stronger self-identity. In addition, the “hands I cannot see” act as symbolism for the degree of isolation that Dickinson feels from society. A sense of ambiguity is created as she emphasises a trust in her work to posterity, whilst also emphasising her choice to separate