Uncovering Emily Dickinson

Much Madness is Divinest Sense is one of Emily Dickinson's greatest works. Not only do the words throughout the poem convey its meaning, but also the structure of the poem gives us insight into her thought process. In the first line of the poem, Dickinson leaves the reader to decide the context in which she uses the word "madness." Is she talking about insanity or anger, or perhaps a bit of both? Well, the great thing about poetry is that it is left open for interpretation. I choose to think that she is speaking about both anger and insanity.

After having reviewed the time period in which this poem was written, it is safe to say that Dickinson is addressing female inferiority in a male-dominated society. This is where madness comes into play. Dickinson is infuriated at the fact that the furthering of female education is looked down upon in a world that is only full of promises. It is very apparent in this poem that Dickinson, just like the men of this time, doesn't accept her own intellect. She wants so badly to speak out against them, to do something to further the female status, all the while feeling a constant burden to settle and accept her standing, or assent. Never in Dickinson's poem does she openly rebel against society, but through her poems the reader can see that she is doing so in an inconspicuous and slightly sarcastic manner. When we put the first two lines of the poem together, we see a whole new picture.