Emily Dickinson was a reclusive and enigmatic figure, and as a result, relatively little is known about her personal life. Born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dickinson was the second of three children born to Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson. Her mother was a strong influence in her life, and Dickinson often referred to her as "my darling mother."
As a child, Dickinson was home-schooled by her mother and received a traditional education that included literature, history, and the sciences. She was also deeply religious, and her faith would remain an important part of her life throughout her time as a poet.
In her early adulthood, Dickinson worked as a teacher, but she eventually left this profession to focus on writing poetry. It is believed that she wrote over 1,800 poems during her lifetime, although only a small number of these were published during her lifetime.
Dickinson's personal life was marked by a series of tragedies, including the death of her father in 1874 and the death of her brother Austin in 1895. Despite these losses, Dickinson remained close with her family and often corresponded with her sister-in-law, Susan Gilbert Dickinson.
In addition to her family, Dickinson had a number of close friendships, including a particularly close one with Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a literary critic and abolitionist. Higginson became a mentor and confidant to Dickinson, and the two corresponded frequently.
Despite her close relationships, Dickinson was known for her reclusive nature and her preference for solitude. She rarely left her home in Amherst and rarely received visitors. However, this solitude allowed her to focus on her writing, and she became one of the most highly regarded poets in American literature.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson led a relatively private and isolated life, but this did not prevent her from making a significant contribution to literature. Despite the challenges she faced and the tragedies she experienced, Dickinson remained dedicated to her craft and left a lasting legacy as a poet.
