An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their
experience of belonging
In your response, refer to your prescribed text at least one other related text of your own
choosing.
-
I died for beauty
I gave myself to him
The Scream
An individual may have many interactions with others and the world around them; these may
well serve as barriers to belonging that will limit it or as entranceways enriching it. This concept
of enriching and limiting belonging is expressed thoroughly within Emily Dickinson’s poems ‘I
died for beauty’ and ‘I gave myself to him’, each alluding to a different consequence of ones
interactions in relation to belonging. This is further articulated in Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The
Scream’ using several techniques and several different types of belonging.
‘I died for beauty’ alludes to several aspects of belonging on both sides of the spectrum. Her
interaction with the “tomb” is clearly symbolic of her strong connection with death and the
afterlife this is further elucidated by her companion’s direct declaration “we brethren are”
symbolizing her connection to the afterlife. This conceptual idea of belonging to the afterlife is
juxtaposed by her disaffection in life causing her to be alienated. This enriching experience is
soon to end paralleling the end of the two companions’ mission “I died for beauty” “and I for
truth”. This end comes in the form of “moss” that silences her identity and ceases her
conversation with her companion therefore causes her mission to cease. The insatiable moss is
symbolic of her quest in life by preventing her to make connections even in death just as her
mission prevented her in life. The connotations of “failed” have a double meaning one being
she failed to live and to complete her mission and the other being that she failed to belong
which is ultimately repeated as represented through the “moss” imagery. The concept of
interactions either enriching or limiting belonging is masterfully represent in this poem, it
shows how different interaction from the same individual can solicit different types of
belonging. This paragraph has good bones – it just needs fleshing out a bit more. Really
explain how the techniques impact on meaning. Also, you need to be clear. Think of it as a
formula: her interactions with others + world = belonging or not? You have talked a bit
about her interaction with the ‘tomb’; now discuss her interaction with the other person –
how do these interactions enrich her belonging or limit it? I think you’re doing this to some
extent – it’s just a bit muddled and needs to be clearer. Make sense?
Juxtaposing ‘I died for beauty’ Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The Scream’ demonstrates how
interactions with others and the world around them can cause a loss of identity and sense of
belonging, this in turn produces a set of negative emotions such as isolation, fear and anxiety.
Bold, dark brush strokes convey this sense of fear and allude to the sexless figures dislocation
and loss of identity. Furthermore the silhouetted couple in the background walking away from
the sexless figure is symbolic of the result of an individual’s negative interactions and how they
can limit ones belonging to other people and society thus further alienating the persona. The
confusion and depression that occurs when a sense of belonging is not achieved is further
connoted by the rule of thirds, being that the persona is in the lower thirds, therefore they are
disempowered because of their marginalisation. The bridge is a divisive mechanism and is
symbolic of the barriers to belonging that people face. Through the various visual techniques
that Edvard Munch has utilized and the connotations they hold, it is apparent that this text
shows significant contrast to ‘I died for beauty’ in the form of not belonging as opposed to
shifting from one form to another. How is the contrast shown? Explain what ‘I died for
beauty’s’ message is versus the message in The Scream. Don’t just state it, you need to prove
it. For example: Contrastingly, I died for beauty suggests that having interactions with
others, even in the afterlife, is a positive and beneficial experience; this is juxtaposed against
The Scream, where there are no interactions with any people, and the result is a negative and
pessimistic reality for the persona. Make sense??
Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘I gave myself to him’ is peculiar in the sense that interactions between
two individuals can enrich an individual’s belonging to another individual and the wider society
and yet limit the belonging to one’s own identity. In this way this poem both juxtaposes and
parallels the other two texts. The declamatory tone of “I gave myself to him” and “surrender to
a man” (this isn’t a quote) signifies the persona’s surrendering of her personal identity in order
to belong to the wider world by conforming to the social expectations of females. The
economic jargon such as “debt”, “owe”, “insolvent” and “depreciate” connotes an extended
financial metaphor which likens marriage to a business transaction. This implies that she does
not even belong to her new husband but in fact belongs to the institution of marriage which is
ratified by society but in turn distances her from herself and her husband. Go back to the
question: how do interactions with others + the world = enriched or limited belonging? This
paragraph is too short. Why not discuss her interactions with her husband and how they
might enrich “mutual risk mutual gain” belonging, or limit, “myself a poorer prove”. You
need to go back to the poem.
Really?
In conclusion to this riveting essay of the triumphs and ruins of an individual’s interaction with
others and the world we see that with different varieties of interactions there are different
outcomes. Whether or not a sense of belonging is achieved is explored in Emily Dickinson’s
poems and Edvard Munch’s painting. Emily Dickinson’s ‘I died for beauty’ demonstrates that
interactions between individuals with related identities may warrant belonging whereas in ‘I
gave myself to him’ this same concept of two Individuals sharing identities may cause a lack in
connection. ‘The Scream’ exhibits a lack of interactions limit belonging. These ideas a brilliantly
conveyed through and array of textual and visual techniques.
,
I think you need to deconstruct the question a little more.
What interactions does Dickinson have? She interacts with nature, literature. She doesn’t interact with
humans or the social world. Therefore, both of these aspects either enrich or limit her belonging. Keep
it simple. I feel you’re trying to put in big words & enhanced vocab, but the meaning is lost and you
need to explain yourself clearly and succinctly – which I know you can do because you’ve done it in the
past!
Then, with the painting – there are no interactions for the persona – not to people, or nature, or
environment or anything really. That limits his/her’s sense of belonging. Keep using the language of the
question, even if it sounds repetitive, because this is what the marker is looking for.
Email me back if you have questions/concerns.
Miss