By Megan Tait
Emily Dickinson famously explored themes of death throughout her work, heavily influenced by her own upbringing experiencing much loss and isolation. For the new generation known as ‘Gen-Z’ most feel they can relate to this all consuming idea of tragedy as it surrounds us. Living through major world events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a subsequent recession and the extortionate cost of living which has trapped many young people in less than ideal circumstances (just to name a few), means that as a whole, the generation seems to lack initiative or fails to place importance on there own mortality.
Natural human response to death is typically fear of the unknown and the 5 stage grieving process however through the rise of social media we have seen a more ironic humorous approach surrounding the larger idea possessed of simply ‘who cares?’. The constant negativity of media and romanticization of sadness has influenced the first digital age in unthinkable ways. As postmodernism rises, preaching individuality and destabilising traditional ideas of work and community many turn to technology to connect. One thing true of all human experiences is death and loss, it is the one idea transcendent of all social and political views, all class and differences hence the prevailing trend online of ‘dark humour’. People struggle everyday from personal and larger generational trauma but cannot seek help due to 18 week long waiting lists under the NHS, stigma surrounding treatment which is still present in modern society especially in more traditional communities and the sheer cost of being happy. Without this help people can turn to others with shared experience to make light of things and while this can be useful there is always a prevailing idea of cynicism behind the jokes. Yes, it's fun to joke about how the youth would react should we get drafted to war but there is always a cutting edge to the jokes reflecting at large the nihilism of an entire generation.
At the crux of this is an awareness not seen by any predecessors and this is mostly due to globalisation and accessibility of knowledge thanks to technology. Generation Z has a unique awareness of capitalism and the cycle it traps us in. Many are failing to find purpose as our meaning of existence is all based on how much we contribute to the economy. Unemployment in the UK reached the highest point since 1872 in only 2018, a year in which many from the starting years (2000) of the generation were entering the workforce. From the start of adult life it has been clear that we don't have the option to follow in our parents footsteps of a linear path from school to work and moving up the ladder simply due to the fact we must fight tooth and nail to even reach the base of it. This has only worsened from the COVID-19 pandemic and the exposure to a devastating economic crisis has left people in a somewhat existential crisis; if there is no meaning to life why should we care about death? This is where Dickinson's work could be beneficial. She also felt a pull to death however not the same way gen-z’s futility towards life has influenced their view. She too was shaped by her unique environment and found an alternate outlet of her grief but her approach was significantly more euphemistic. It wasn't that she didn't care but rather she had accepted life and its inevitable end influencing her to live life as she saw fit away from society and the expectations placed on her. Of course this comes from a place of immense privilege, even the very ideas of how we die cannot escape the boundaries of class, race and gender considering the numbers surrounding police brutality, rape and other violent crimes all influenced by inherent bias. We can never truly ignore the circumstances in which we are born into and raised in because we can never escape them however there is still a message that rings true today despite this. Death by either party is not feared and this means rather than turning to the typical hopelessness the new generation can relate in a different way to understand new aspects of life. In ‘As Imperceptibly As Grief’ the movement of time is represented by the subtle change of the seasons, something we rarely even notice yet is beautiful when we take a step back and look at nature. The contrasting semantic field of quietness in the poem could allow a rest bite to a generation in a constantly busy and loud world, allowing a new sense of escapism or provoking gentler, brighter thoughts towards existence.
Dickinson’s poetry can also be utilised similarly to portrayals of sadness in media but rather than romanticising sadness it could provide alternative approaches to our feelings in a much healthier way. We see online all the time the beauty of suffering. A pretty girl cries to a Lana Del Rey song and goes viral or a quote from Effy Stonem of Skins is placed over an aesthetic black and white photo and gets reblogged thousands of times. The internet is full of echo chambers and algorithms which trap you in a cycle of content they believe you will engage with. By interacting with one post you find relatable about sadness, something true of the human experience, you then become engrossed in a much larger idea of mental health being tied to personality and uniqueness. Of course this isn't just a problem with social media but the widespread aestheticization of pain (especially in relation to conventionally attractive women) is simply indicative of a larger problem. There are clear beauty standards and deep rooted misogyny in this highly feminised idea of suffering but it is once again a reflection of how people strive for community to make sense of the unknown leading to ideas of nihilism previously discussed and manifested by the generation at large. The clear flaws in this method of managing emotions proves the need for wider conversations about how to cope with grief and more human experiences in a way that is beneficial for all parties. Dickinson's unique approach in ‘ As Imperceptibly As Grief’ allows for the consideration of a different beauty in death and the grieving process as reflected by nature however the fleetingness is where the true allure lies and the fact it will not last is what makes it special. Having this sort of idea presented in modern society could help prevent those who prolong suffering due to their identity being attracted to it can prove a new type of beauty comes from pain and give licence to those who feel the need to cling to negative emotions to finally move on.
Finally, we are in a loneliness epidemic. People crave people but when survival is a priority and we lose communal areas in favour of convenience or business it has become more and more difficult to maintain relationships. We tend to start grieving losses of people who are still very much contactable because we don't have the time nor energy to do so. Again, with the housing crisis, unemployment, cost of living people are constantly in survival mode, affecting mental health and by extension, relationships. When it takes all your energy to earn enough for rent or groceries or even to find ways to support yourself there is no room for friends and that greatly impacts how we view the world. The world is developing in a way human connection is becoming less and less of a priority however I would argue Dickinson's poetry shows the need for the opposite. We have seen time and time gain the negative effects of isolation and while Dicksinosn was a recluse herself she proves the famous proverb that ‘to love is to lose’ true. When reading her poetry you can see the raw emotional connection she had with the person she is grieving, something only achieved through personal bonds. This can influence people to once again place priority on connections and even though this is yet again coming from a place of extreme privilege it can help the way we systematically view work and help combat the issues we face due to loss of relationships.
In a world where everything seems doomed, Dickinson provides an alternate perspective to a generation with seemingly no hope. Generation Z is not a lost cause, it's a product of its environment and environments can be changed or shifted with enough force. They are one of the most active in terms of social justice and we have seen improvements to how we approach mental health and relationships in modern society however we need to utilise that drive with something that can be understood on a deeper level than we can receive through a screen. Poetry has historically been the preferred method of conveying emotions for those who cannot find another way to cope and when Dickinson's ideas are still relevant to issues in modern society it is undeniable the impact her work can and will have on the younger population. Her approach to death and time is one that will live on past this generation and the next because as long as humans exist there will always be a need to find meaning and acceptance in the ever changing world we live in.
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