Emily Dickinson Biography

An Emily Dickinson biography must reflect the deep commitment she felt to any cause or activity, whether the poetry that made her famous, the gardens to which she tended avidly, her deep spirituality or extreme recluse nature.

Because of her fiercely private nature, little is known about Dickinson beyond her poems and letters to friends. Dickinson was a private woman who spent her life caring for a sick mother and writing poetry. She never married or had any children and, for most of her life, she stayed confined to her family's property. 

Early Years
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born on Dec. 10, 1830 in Amherst, Mass. She is the first daughter, and second child, for Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson. In 1833 Dickinson's sister, Lavinia, was born. The two women remained close friends for their entire lives.

Dickinson's family believed strongly in education for men and women, which allowed her and her sister to flourish intellectually. In 1840 Dickinson and her sister were sent to the prestigious Amherst Academy. Though an excellent student, Dickinson was often absent from classes. It is not known whether these absences were due to poor health or early problems with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that centers around the fear of having a panic attack in a setting in which one can't easily escape.

After graduation Dickinson enrolled in Mount Holyoke Female Seminary College. Though an excellent student, she remained at the school for only a year, leaving for unknown personal reasons.

Adulthood
Emily Dickinson returned to her family's home after her year at college. She starts to retreat from the world during this time, preferring to maintain friendships through letters. She spends much of her days taking care of her family, gardening, reading and writing. In 1855, Dickinson took her one and only journey outside her home state when she, her mother and her sister travelled to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

In 1856, Dickinson's brother, William, married her best friend Susan. The couple moved in next door to Dickinson's family and the two women maintained a close but troubled friendship. By the mid to late 1860s, Dickinson confined her life almost entirely to her family's property. She began speaking to visitors through a closed door. She would drop a basket full of treats tied with a string from her window for local children to enjoy, never showing her face.

Later Years
In 1874, Dickinson's father died. She was so far into her seclusion at this point that she did not attend the funeral service held at her home and instead listened to it through her bedroom door. After years of being bed-ridden, Dickinson's mother died in 1882. Dickinson retreats entirely from the outside world in her last years. She died on May 15, 1886, from a kidney disease, which was then referred to as Bright's disease.

After Dickinson's death, her sister Lavinia found a cache of over 1,700 poems Dickinson wrote during her lifetime. Though only a handful of anonymous poems were printed during her life, the first book of Dickinson poetry was published in 1890. Initial versions of the book were criticized for the obvious and heavy-handed editing inflicted upon the poems. A more natural version of the book was soon released and received overwhelming acclaim.

Modern Reflection
In modern terms, Dickinson would be described as agoraphobic. Agoraphobia is a panic disorder that creates severe anxiety in public situations. People who suffer from a severe form of the disorder remain secluded from public life, often only having physical contact with their immediate family.