Isolation and Identity in Emily Dickinson’s The Soul Selects Her Society: A Psychoanalysis

Manu, Yohana Engelina Manurak (2025) Isolation and Identity in Emily Dickinson’s The Soul Selects Her Society: A Psychoanalysis. Skripsi thesis, Universitas Widya Kartika.

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Abstract

This research analyses Emily Dickinson’s poem The Soul Selects Her Own Society through a Freudian psychoanalytic lens, focusing on the themes of isolation, identity, and inner conflict. The research explores how the poem reflects the dynamic interplay between the id, ego, and superego, revealing psychological mechanisms that shape the soul’s decision to isolate. Findings indicate that isolation, as portrayed in the poem, is not merely social withdrawal but a conscious defence mechanism employed by the ego to preserve emotional and psychological integrity. The soul’s rejection of external influences symbolizes the ego’s resistance against both internal desires (id) and societal expectations (superego), thus affirming identity through solitude. Furthermore, this study connects the poem’s psychological themes to Dickinson’s personal life, suggesting that her reclusiveness was an intentional act of self-preservation. Her poetic style, marked by dashes, pauses, and cryptic language, mirrors the ego’s role in filtering thoughts and guarding the inner self. The analysis concludes that Dickinson’s poetry serves as a medium for negotiating internal conflict and asserting autonomy. This study highlights the significance of psychoanalytic theory in interpreting literature and suggests that Dickinson’s work offers valuable insight into the universal human experience of seeking selfhood through isolation.

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