The imaginary landscape in Emily Dickinson's poetry

Abstract

The theme of landscape emerges as a counterpoint to the fast-paced urban context and digital isolation, where individuals increasingly distance themselves from interpersonal connections and the material world, including the surrounding landscape. This article examines the representation of landscape in Emily Dickinson's poetry, reflecting on how perceiving nature might offer an alternative to fragmented living. Confronted with the challenge of observing and listening to nature and its autonomous rules, we ask: could it provide a path toward a more fulfilled existence? Dickinson’s work, marked by her sensitive contemplation of landscapes, is analyzed through a theoretical framework that includes Michel Collot, Ida Ferreira Alves, and Marcia M. Miguel Feitosa in landscape studies. Additionally, the writings of José Lira, Patrícia Ramos, and Katherine Funke shed light on her poetics, while Ailton Krenak’s insights bridge her work with contemporary dilemmas. The findings show that Dickinson's poetry values both vast landscapes and minute, almost invisible details, expressing an attentive and contemplative gaze. In a world driven by speed and commercialization, where even nature becomes a commodity, reading Dickinson resists this superficial logic. Her verses propose a poetic and imaginative reconnection with the landscape, offering an invitation to slow down and deepen the relationship with the natural environment.