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Megan Lavins
Mrs. Harr
Advanced English 12
5 November 2013
Abuse in EDickensonRepiLuxe
Emily Dickenson, a famous American poet, is recognized today for her writings about
mostly death, religion and nature, by using numerous poetic devices. Her most common pieces,
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, and I Heard a Fly Buzz, are examples that display her
unique style. Joyce Carol Oates writes EDickensonRepiLuxe, which represents identical
themes of death and poetic devices, portraying Dickensons style. Oates not only writes the short
story using identical writing style, but makes Dickinson the main character, depicting her
characteristics. Oates writes EDickinsonReprliLuxe, is programmed through age thirty to age
fifty-five, when the poet died so the customer has twenty five year(42), it introduces the same
lifeless theme that Emily often wrote about, and it also introduces the lack of writes this
Repriluxe is give. Oates illustrates the ongoing issue today of abuse in woman. The
verisimilitude in the story, allows the reader to explore many legitimate signs seen today in
womans abuse issue.
Even though Joyce Carol Oates intentionally creates a Repriluxe, therefore a small robot
like figure, this symbolizes many similar physical attributes that abuse victims share. According
to Speaking Out, a website about sexually abused woman and children, some commonly
noticed signs are loss of appetite, small and weak, and emotionless. In the story the Repriluxe is
unable to drink or eat any food with the family. Also in this novel Oates describes her numerous
times as a thirty-year-old woman more resembled a malnourished girl of ten or eleven (46).
Though she was a Repriluxe, the way Oates creates a similarity between the two types of people,

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introduces the reader to numerous signs of physical abuse. On page 52, when Emily only
hovered close byEmily eluded the intimacy is another sign of physical abuse. Numerous
sources state that victims never want to be left alone, but avoid any sort of physical affection,
because of their traumatic experiences. Oates proves the verisimilitude of sexual abuse through
the physical traits that Emily portrays in the short story.
Another evident theme that Joyce Carol Oates illustrates in the story is Emilys
characteristics. Emily is seen as lifeless, helpless, and hates her life. According to NSW
Government, these three signs are reoccurring themes seen in abuse victims. When the husband
sexually abused Emily, Oates describes that the poet was struggling desperately, sobbing like a
child (69). Emily was so helpless. Though she tried so hard to escape, he simply overpowered
her making her defenseless. After this traumatic incident, she as well as many victims in the
same situation has no more yearning for life. Emily wants nothing more but to escape this
traumatic experience when she says to the mother Accelerate, Mistress. Lift the wand and
theres freedom (71). Sexual abuse with children plays a huge part shaping their personality. In
many cases according to numerous sources, as well as in this story, it takes the lifelines out of
them. The characteristics that Emily the Repriluxe displays portray a verisimilitude for victims
who experienced sexual abuse.
The third way that Oates depicts the verisimilitude of sexual abuse in children is through
the characteristics portrayed by the parents. Both the mother and father show signs of wanting
control, possessive issues, and fail to give Emily freedom. These are all signs, according to
MOSAC, an organization about child abuse. On page 52, when Oates writes that the wife saw
satisfaction that the husband had virtually no rapport at all with the poet, provides an example
of the parents being possessive over Emily, as though they owned her. This is commonly seen in

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offenders of sexually abusive situations. They want no one else to interact with their victim but
themselves. Another issue that is prevalent in abusive relationships is the need for control. As the
husband is in the midst of abusing Emily, he thinks that he was owed this, he had the right to
this, and hed paid for this (69). What does he mean by this? He had completely removed any
human attributes from Emily. She became a this, as though she was his property. The idea that
he owned her is a commonly seen sign in abusive relationships.
Joyce Carol Oates does a fantastic job at portraying Emily Dickinson style of writing by
the symbolism of a Repriluxe. She is recognized for writing many of her poems about death,
which is seen numerous times through the short story. Oates portrays lifelessness through Emily
in the story. However, she also uses verisimilitude in numerous ways to portray the ongoing issue
of child abuse. Though Emily is a Repriluxe in the story Oates, makes it very clear of what
millions of children are living through every year in todays society.
Words Cited
Possible Signs of Abuse. Community.nsw.gov. Director Corporate Information
Community Services. Web. 5 November 2013.
Scholten, Amy. Child Sexual Abuse: Know the Warning Signs. Health.cvs.com. American
Academy of Pediatrics. Web. 5 November 2013.
Possible Signs & Symptoms. Speakingout-csa.com. Web. 5 November 2013.
"How Emily Dickinson's Life Affected Her Poetry." StudyMode.com. StudyMode.com. Web. 03
2011.
Warning Signs in Offenders. Mosac.net. Web. 5 November 2013.
National Child Abuse Statistics. Childhelp.org. Media Inquiries & Communications.
Web. 5 November 2013.

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http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docs_menu/preventing_child_abuse_and_neglect/
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http://voices.yahoo.com/a-close-analysis-major-themes-emily-dickinsons75243.html?cat=10
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http://www.mosac.net/default.asp?pageid=132
http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics