Category: A Quiet Passion

Poet Emily Dickinson (Cynthia Nixon) kisses the forehead of her beloved father, Edward (Keith Carradine).

A QUIET PASSION

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Poet Emily Dickinson (Cynthia Nixon), thanks to her forward thinking father, Edward Dickinson (Keith Carradine) was spared the fate of most Victorian women. Too bad the film, “A Quiet Passion,” does not see it that way.

Not only Emily, but her sister, Vinnie (Jennifer Ehle), chose not to marry, even though both women were attractive and of good family.

In the Victorian era, women had no rights. They became the property of their husbands and were expected to clean and bear children.

They did not get educations. They did not vote. They could not have property. And, they could not have money. A shortened term for Victorian is victim.

Emily, on the other hand, had a father, who was an attorney, a congressman, who served on the board of a college, and who made sure that all his children were educated.

Yes, Emily became a recluse, because that was easier than having to explain why she was not married, during an era that saw it as being something shameful.

Also, the American Civil War occurred in 1861, when Emily was just 30 years old. Most of the eligible men died during that time period.

Emily received pleasure through writing poetry.

And, the household did not have all the servants that the film implies. Both, Emily and her sister took care of the housework and cooking, because her mother (Joanna Bacon as Emily Norcross Dickinson), was not able, because of depression and a stroke.

When Emily’s father died, her brother, Austin (Duncan Duff), who also became an attorney and, who also served on the College Board, took care of his female family members.

Austin’s wife, Susan Gilbert Dickinson (Jodhi May), was one of Emily’s old school friends. Emily considered Susan a confidant, but after Emily’s death, Susan was not interested in seeing that her poetry was published.

Susan gave Austin three children, two boys and a girl. Both of the boys died before their time.

Emily became very attached to her brother’s children, particularly the youngest nephew, Thomas Gilbert (Gib) Dickinson (1875-1883). It is thought that Emily’s health took a sharp decline after his death. Emily died in 1986.

After Emily’s death, it was Austin’s mistress, Mabel Loomis Todd (Noemie Schellens), who took an interest in getting Emily’s poems published. Sister Vinnie approached her after Susan, Austin’s wife, seemed uninterested.

Mabel did sing and she was only about 25 years old, when she met Austin, who was much older than she was.

Mabel’s husband was a much older professor and astronomer at the college, where Austin served on the board. Mabel’s husband, David Peck Todd, did not seem to mind the affair. He and Mabel had a daughter together.

Long story short, Emily only got about twelve of her poems published during her lifetime, then all 1800 or so poems were published after her death, and have remained in print ever since.

“A Quiet Passion” does not get all the facts straight, but it is worth seeing. Emily Dickinson is forever an American treasure as a writer.