The inner world of Emily Dickinson depicted in films
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Abdullah al Mujahid
Archer K. Blood American Center Library arranged documentary films on Emily Dickinson at the conference center of arts faculty building of Dhaka University recently on the occasion of the observance of Dickinson's death anniversary. The masters and honors students of American literature gathered in the venue enthusiastically to catch a glimpse of the films. Professor Niaz Zaman of English Department was the chief guest along with the officials of the library.
Emily Dickinson was an American popular poetess. She earned overwhelming popularity for her unusual diction and themes. But the bare truth is that the readers and interested overseas people know little about her.
She confined herself inside a room and took furtive look only through windows. She did not even think to get her works published rather found pleasure to tear them down after writing. Two films depicted the life picture of a recluse poetess and provided better understanding for her readers.
The fist film "The master, the poet collection" presented Emily in an indoor meeting. She wore a dotted white dress. Her apathy for formality and grasp for individualism got evident expression. When the viewers saw her with Lavina, her sister and Hugginson, editor of a newspaper, she seemed to be thoughtful and sunk in herself . The meeting, however, appeared lively only for the sharp tongue of Lavina. Hugginson's recitation of a sweet poem (Faith is a fine invention…) could not make her eyes reflect the joy. Here lies her firm individuality. Her poems are not written in bound notebooks rather on the detached pages. Her poems never stopped because intrinsic poetic genius lived in her. The pleasure of writing added with feeling of solitude made her renowned. The title "poetess" as if hankered after for her touch and not that she craved for it.
The second film "A curtain lifted" gave a broader view of her. A presenter discussed her life . She led us to the place where she was born and bred. Even her Amherst College was not listed out. Her father was a lawyer and their splendid house came to the screen. The bedroom and diary created extra charm. The expected long snap of a vast green world of her surrounding is synonymous with her poems. The film did not forget to acknowledge the Emersonian influence on her.
The clanging of the church bells gave the message that she was associated with religion. Perhaps, her sufferings were the pains of the creative process or due to the Freudian phenomenon of unfilled demand for love suppressed in the mind. Hence, she extended her hand to religion with individualistic Emersonian soul to fill the gap of human relations.
The readers of Emily can realise the inner world of her by seeing the movies.
The writer is a student of English at Dhaka University and can be reached at ed_muja417@yahoo.com
Archer K. Blood American Center Library arranged documentary films on Emily Dickinson at the conference center of arts faculty building of Dhaka University recently on the occasion of the observance of Dickinson's death anniversary. The masters and honors students of American literature gathered in the venue enthusiastically to catch a glimpse of the films. Professor Niaz Zaman of English Department was the chief guest along with the officials of the library.
Emily Dickinson was an American popular poetess. She earned overwhelming popularity for her unusual diction and themes. But the bare truth is that the readers and interested overseas people know little about her.
She confined herself inside a room and took furtive look only through windows. She did not even think to get her works published rather found pleasure to tear them down after writing. Two films depicted the life picture of a recluse poetess and provided better understanding for her readers.
The fist film "The master, the poet collection" presented Emily in an indoor meeting. She wore a dotted white dress. Her apathy for formality and grasp for individualism got evident expression. When the viewers saw her with Lavina, her sister and Hugginson, editor of a newspaper, she seemed to be thoughtful and sunk in herself . The meeting, however, appeared lively only for the sharp tongue of Lavina. Hugginson's recitation of a sweet poem (Faith is a fine invention…) could not make her eyes reflect the joy. Here lies her firm individuality. Her poems are not written in bound notebooks rather on the detached pages. Her poems never stopped because intrinsic poetic genius lived in her. The pleasure of writing added with feeling of solitude made her renowned. The title "poetess" as if hankered after for her touch and not that she craved for it.
The second film "A curtain lifted" gave a broader view of her. A presenter discussed her life . She led us to the place where she was born and bred. Even her Amherst College was not listed out. Her father was a lawyer and their splendid house came to the screen. The bedroom and diary created extra charm. The expected long snap of a vast green world of her surrounding is synonymous with her poems. The film did not forget to acknowledge the Emersonian influence on her.
The clanging of the church bells gave the message that she was associated with religion. Perhaps, her sufferings were the pains of the creative process or due to the Freudian phenomenon of unfilled demand for love suppressed in the mind. Hence, she extended her hand to religion with individualistic Emersonian soul to fill the gap of human relations.
The readers of Emily can realise the inner world of her by seeing the movies.
The writer is a student of English at Dhaka University and can be reached at ed_muja417@yahoo.com