A Woman Who is Married and Lives Under her Husband

In the poem “I’m “wife” – I’ve finished that”, Emily Dickinson seems to be portraying herself as a woman who is married and living under the power of her husband. Emily Dickinson also insinuates that being a man you are thought of as being in a higher social class and having all the power and control, which back in those times was true. Dickinson also makes it appear as if marriage is good because a man would provide a woman a place to live, provide her security, and protection.

This here makes it seem as if this is something that a woman must do to have all these things, but on the other hand, she insinuates that if a girl is to marry a man she will lose herself, identity, and the freedom to do what she wants. Dickinson is saying that once married a woman will be under the control of her husband having to live a life that he, himself chooses for her.

Dickinson appears to be torn between two lives in which one she has not experienced but used her imagination in the poem to set her in the place of a married woman back in those times. It also seems as though Dickinson wrote this poem to show women that there are consequences to marriage and being called a man’s wife especially back in those times. In stanzas 9 through 12 Emily writes “This being comfort-then, that other kind-was pain- But why compare? I’m a wife! Stop there!” In these last stanzas, Dickinson is saying as a now-married woman she has comfort and security, but then there was pain that came with suffering afterward.

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So, there is no reason to compare the two now since she is a wife and should just stop there since she is now the property of her husband.

This poem like many of her others is written from a feminist’s opinion, so you can kind of understand why she is giving her somewhat of a confusing insight on women being married and not married. However, back in those times it was normal and expected by society for a woman to get married, rather it is an arranged marriage or against their will. All in all, Dickinson’s poem seems to be telling women that being on your own and being independent is better, but for those women who aren’t independent and are afraid, marriage is the safest alternative for them. Lastly, after going over the poem you can see how Dickinson wanted to tie in the first line with her last line to give a great finish, “I’m Wife! I’ve finished that” and “I’m Wife! Stop there!”