Emily Dickinson Selection 303

In the poem, “The Soul selects her own society,” Emily Dickinson creates an ominous tone using imagery and metaphor that reflect the speaker’s attitude toward those who have come in and out of her life. The idea that people choose a few companions who matter to them and thus exclude others from their lives is established through Dickinson’s skilled use of images including a solemn house as well as the closing of the door and tedious valves of the Soul's attention.
The use of imagery is important to the poem’s strong statement of the power of loneliness. The soul is shown living within a confined space; restricted by a door, gate, and mat. Dickinson portrays the external world as outside of reach; the speaker not being able to communicate with its nations and their rulers. However, not only does Dickinson identify the soul alone as “divine”, she also recognizes the souls as “Society” and “Majority.” Dickinson proclaims her equality with the world’s most pow...