This week in American Literature, we had to pick a poem and analyze it. I chose It's all I have to bring today (26) by Emily Dickinson. When I made the connection between the clover that she talks about and the Holy Trinity (the number 3 shows up a lot in that poem) I began thinking about how big of an issue religion was for Dickinson. She struggled with it quite a bit, and felt pressured to join the church as all her family and friends professed their faith and became full-fledged Christians. But Dickinson never did, and that suggests a strong sense of self. There's an anonymous saying that goes, "Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone."
That's what I think Dickinson did, and that's what I think a lot of the people we're studying for National History Day had to do. Even if some people had had the same viewpoint for a while, it takes courage to be one of the only ones expressing it. Starting the bandwagon moving is the hardest step. Looking at the women's rights movement, the notion had existed since the founding of the country with Abigail Adams. That means it can't be that foreign of a concept. But the people who decided to do something about it are the ones who stood up and turned it from a concept into a cause.
It takes a lot of strength to stand against what everyone else is doing. Dickinson wrote many poems about that struggle, and it's not hard to see it taking place in the time period we're looking at for NHD (1870 - 1917). The year Dickinson's father, sister, and future sister-in-law joined the church, she wrote in a letter, "I am standing alone in rebellion." This is the same sentiment expressed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony when they wrote "But standing alone we learned our power..." This idea, that strength and courage reside in standing up for what you want regardless of how popular that is, seems to be one that many people still struggle with today. And based on how long that's been true, I'd say it's not about to change.
Are you comfortable with standing alone? Is it easier with other people? Or are you more likely to purposely stand against the social norm?
I personally don't think that anyone is fully comfortable standing alone. It's hard to be alone against a ton of other people because you're so easily overpowered. Due to this theory, it would be much easier to stand with other people because you have a community for support and encouragement. This boosts confidence and definitely creates a safer environment.
ReplyDeleteFor your last question, it's highly debatable. Many people stand against the social norm because it's what they believe and they believe it's the best thing to do as they follow their beliefs. However, some people do it on purpose, obviously. It's all depending on the situation.