“They Shut Me Up in Prose” Poem by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson’s poem “They Shut Me Up in Prose” explores the tension between societal repression and the enduring power of imagination. Through metaphors of confinement, such as closets and cages, Dickinson critiques the expectations placed on women and creative individuals. Yet she emphasizes that the mind, like a bird, remains unconstrained despite external attempts to suppress it. By contrasting prose as a symbol of social limitation with poetry as a vehicle of freedom, Dickinson affirms creativity’s ability to transcend imposed boundaries.
References
Dickinson, E. (2002). In Martin, W. (Ed.). The Cambridge companion to Emily Dickinson. Cambridge University Press.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, November 15). “They Shut Me Up in Prose” Poem by Emily Dickinson. https://studycorgi.video/they-shut-me-up-in-prose-poem-by-emily-dickinson/