An Analysis of the Movie A Quiet Passion
Emily Dickinson is one of the most well known and praised poets in American history.
Her unique style of writing has captured many, not to mention her fascinating yet complicated
personal history. There are many commemorations of her life and work, from biographies written
about Dickinson herself to the numerous critiques and commentaries on her poems.
One such commemoration is the movie A Quiet Passion. This film attempts to detail
Dickinson’s upbringing, journey with poetry, and religious teachings among other things. The
characters in A Quiet Passion are complex, with many of them having vastly different viewpoints
than what is considered the norm in modern day.
Miss Lyon, Dickinson’s teacher at Mount Holyoke College seems to be steadfast in her
religious beliefs. On top of that, it seems that, to her, anybody who does not align with what she
deems the correct way to practice religion is destined for hell. This is displayed in the way that
Lyon speaks to Dickinson in the first few scenes of the movie. When Emily Dickinson expresses
doubt and hesitation about Christianity, Miss Lyon offers not guidance, but ridicule.
Nowadays such fervent beliefs are less common, usually associated with only the
passionate and dedicated followers of any given religion. Even less common is the vitriol shown
by Miss Lyon. Society was much less secular back then than it is now, so in those days it would
not be uncommon to see such a reaction given how much importance was placed on spirituality.
, In today’s time someone like Miss Lyon would be much less welcomed due to the diversity and
acceptance of atheism and belief systems other than Christianity and/or its subsets.
Aunt Elizabeth is similar to Miss Lyon, although the former is much less outwardly
extreme. While also holding strong religious beliefs, Aunt Elizabeth comes off as more passive
aggressive and restrained. In the scene where she is talking to Edward Dickinson and his
children, it is revealed that she seems to have a very conservative view of the world. Almost
every point the Dickinson children make (points which tend to be liberal-leaning), Aunt
Elizabeth has a counterargument for.
Someone like Aunt Elizabeth is much more realistic and in fact much more common. The
modern Aunt Elizabeth’s of the world would probably be more likely to convince someone of
their point. Undoubtedly, however, they would be held back by their passive aggressiveness and
their far-leaning views. Aunt Elizabeth argues almost constantly with the Dickinson siblings,
making her a tiring presence to be around. In addition, she often gives unsolicited comments
which would be equally as irritating.
Titular character and renowned poet, although Emily Dickinson is a woman of few
words, she is perhaps the most out-spoken one in the movie. Dickinson is shown to be as
rebellious in the movie as she supposedly was in real life, rejecting the social norms of the time
in favor of going her own way.
Emily Dickinson is one of the most well known and praised poets in American history.
Her unique style of writing has captured many, not to mention her fascinating yet complicated
personal history. There are many commemorations of her life and work, from biographies written
about Dickinson herself to the numerous critiques and commentaries on her poems.
One such commemoration is the movie A Quiet Passion. This film attempts to detail
Dickinson’s upbringing, journey with poetry, and religious teachings among other things. The
characters in A Quiet Passion are complex, with many of them having vastly different viewpoints
than what is considered the norm in modern day.
Miss Lyon, Dickinson’s teacher at Mount Holyoke College seems to be steadfast in her
religious beliefs. On top of that, it seems that, to her, anybody who does not align with what she
deems the correct way to practice religion is destined for hell. This is displayed in the way that
Lyon speaks to Dickinson in the first few scenes of the movie. When Emily Dickinson expresses
doubt and hesitation about Christianity, Miss Lyon offers not guidance, but ridicule.
Nowadays such fervent beliefs are less common, usually associated with only the
passionate and dedicated followers of any given religion. Even less common is the vitriol shown
by Miss Lyon. Society was much less secular back then than it is now, so in those days it would
not be uncommon to see such a reaction given how much importance was placed on spirituality.
, In today’s time someone like Miss Lyon would be much less welcomed due to the diversity and
acceptance of atheism and belief systems other than Christianity and/or its subsets.
Aunt Elizabeth is similar to Miss Lyon, although the former is much less outwardly
extreme. While also holding strong religious beliefs, Aunt Elizabeth comes off as more passive
aggressive and restrained. In the scene where she is talking to Edward Dickinson and his
children, it is revealed that she seems to have a very conservative view of the world. Almost
every point the Dickinson children make (points which tend to be liberal-leaning), Aunt
Elizabeth has a counterargument for.
Someone like Aunt Elizabeth is much more realistic and in fact much more common. The
modern Aunt Elizabeth’s of the world would probably be more likely to convince someone of
their point. Undoubtedly, however, they would be held back by their passive aggressiveness and
their far-leaning views. Aunt Elizabeth argues almost constantly with the Dickinson siblings,
making her a tiring presence to be around. In addition, she often gives unsolicited comments
which would be equally as irritating.
Titular character and renowned poet, although Emily Dickinson is a woman of few
words, she is perhaps the most out-spoken one in the movie. Dickinson is shown to be as
rebellious in the movie as she supposedly was in real life, rejecting the social norms of the time
in favor of going her own way.
