Identity and Culture in Poetry

The poem I chose was "The Quiet Life" by Pope in which he considers the virtues of defining oneself within a set environment. What Pope is insinuating in his poem is that a person's identity is defined "in his own ground" and by the environment in which he surrounds himself. Stemming off of his title, Pope paints an image of a self-sufficient culture in which "whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread / whose flocks supply him with attire;" and it is in this culture that an identity of "health of body; peace of mind;" is engrained. Pope portrays the identity of this man almost as an extension of his environment which further solidifies the poem's message that culture is based on one's treatment and connection to his surroundings.

The second poem I chose was "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" by Emily Dickinson. Dickinson's poem compares to Pope's in that in both, the idea of an identity is not solid. In Pope's identity was an extension of the environment, whereas in Dickinson's the idea of identity is treated with a hint of irony and assumes that "to be - Somebody!" is "dreary". With her first line Dickinson proudly proclaims "I'm Nobody!" and insinuates that such an identity, or lack thereof is far more enticing than being "Somebody." She compares being somebody to being "dreary" and "public." In relation to Pope's "The Quiet Life" both poets take the stance that identity and culture are more of a private matter and both express the time of life they find most valuable.