How to be a nonconformist by Marianne

Being a nonconformist and an original thinker has always presented its challenges. These challenges were greater in Victorian society where everyone was expected to know their station in life and abide there. Few moved out of the mainstream. Emily Dickinson’s poems “The Soul Selects her own Society” and “Much Madness is divinest Sense” portray the isolation caused by thinking outside the box.

By separating herself from society, Dickinson was able to contemplate society objectively. Dickinson analyzed the expectations of society and its practices and decided she preferred to opt out of mainstream society and those around her. In her poem, “The Soul Selects her own Society”, Dickinson prefers not to conform and regards her thoughts and her individuality most important and no one can sway her otherwise. Once the inner decision is made, all other voices are shut out: “Then close the valves of her attention / Like stone” (11-12). Even an Emperor arriving at her gate by chariot and kneeling on her mat does not move her.

In American society today it is much easier to be a non conformist than it was in the time of Emily Dickinson. Today, to be openly gay or a single mother or member of a fringe religion is accepted in society. It is true that the majority has never valued individuality and often regards the original thinker as a threat: “Assent- and you are sane/ Demur- and you are straight way dangerous” (6-7). Even if a person’s soul selected its own society, it was much harder to live that life back then and most people did not dare to stand out. Today the rules of society are broadened so that you are able to follow a different drummer and still be in the parade.

Today, in American society at least, there are a vast number of nonconformist groups. Paradoxically, these put pressure on their members to conform to their nonconformist ways. Nondenominational churches are now a virtual denomination. Greenpeace members are expected to share core ideals, beliefs and lifestyle. Counter culture members are expected to shop at Weaver Street Market and buy organic fair trade coffee. In many countries today the pressure to conform is as great as or more so than it was in Victorian society. However, modern America society has fragmented into many subcultures each with their own set of rules. The mainstream has become a narrower stream. Yet being a nonconformist in one’s own subculture may be as difficult today as it was for Ms. Dickinson.




Works cited

Dickinson, Emily. “The Soul selects her own Society”, “Much Madness is diviest Sense”. The Norton Analogy of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. B. New York: Norton, 2007. 2574-75, 2581.