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The Alienation of Nature in Emily Dickinson’s Poems through the Prism of Taoism
LI Dong-qing
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2024.03.002
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731 China
In the poems created by the renowned American poet Emily Dickinson, those related to nature constitute a considerable proportion. However, Dickinson’s attitude toward nature is, in fact, contradictory. On the one hand, Dickinson perceives nature as gentle and kind, akin to a mother. Nature is regarded as “heaven” and embodies harmony. On the other hand, nature possesses its own operational principles and harbors inherent cruelty. According to Dickinson, humans should refrain from excessive interference in the natural order. This article attempts to analyze the similarities in attitude towards nature between Dickinson’s poetry and Taoist philosophy.
Emily Dickinson, alienation, nature, Taoism
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, March 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3, 186-193
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