Nell in the movie It’s a Boy Girl Thing changes her identity and reacquaints with her true love. Annabel in Freaky Friday also changes her identity and solves the problem with her mother. All of them accidentally changed their identity, and accidentally learnt how to be the master of their life, how to identify their life. If I can change my identity, I wish I were a sunflower, so I could enjoy the sunshine enthusiastically and silently, splendid as my fiery heart; I wish I were a dandelion, so I could travel to plenty of mysterious and unknown places, flying as a floating musical note; I wish I were a big and strong tree which depends on nobody, standing as the King of my own world. In reality, I am a “nobody”, like the nobody mentioned in Emily Dickinson’s poem I’m Nobody. The “nobody” in the poem has the power to control their life, in another words, they are the masters of their own lives.
First factor to be a “nobody” in Dickinson’s poem is enthusiasm. As Dickinson wrote: “ I am nobody! Who are you? Are you ‘nobody’, too? Then there’s a pair of us!”, she is so proud of being a “nobody”. She can escape from common status and create a secret land for herself and the “nobody” seems like a happy recluse who escapes from the ostentatious world. In her real life, she admitted she was a “nobody” and was not involved in complicated world. She seldom walked out but writing and reading in her world world. It is her enthusiasm that kept her writing and reading alone. Without the noise and fight, she lived in her peaceful world all her life. To any “nobody”, it’s his or her enthusiasm that leads him or her to love other people and things. Take Columbus for instance, Columbus was fund of sailing, so he sailed around the world. On the ocean, what he could depend on were stars and his enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is just like the stars which showed him the direction. We all have such a star shining in our heart. The same enthusiasm leads us to find what we really want.
A “nobody” has great enthusiasm, meanwhile, the “nobody” has the privilege of freedom. Dickinson also wrote: “Don’t tell! They’d banish us, you know.” She wasn’t afraid to be banished. Because she knew that no one could keep her heart in captivity. That is why she freely wrote this poem which looks like an announcement to the world to claim her special independence. The “nobody” has no need to give up joy to comply with numb people. Freedom here means in both body and mind. Speaking of myself, I enjoy dancing in the fog, singing in the rain and traveling to different places. If I have no time to travel, I let my mind take place of my body and imagine my journey to remote places. So, my body or soul, one of them must on the way. No one can forbid me from doing these. In fact, everyone is free, even the criminals in prison.
Except enthusiasm and chase for freedom, firmly faith also makes them to be the master of their life. The faith may not be a religion. It can be a principle which we insist on, such as honest and optimistic. Dickinson wrote proudly: “I am a nobody! Who are you?” She identified herself clearly. I believe even she was banished, she would insist on her faith. In her opinion, “somebody” is so dreary and she will never become a “noisy frog in an admiring bog”. In her way of life, she will never lose herself. Sometimes, we seem not to have the chance to make the decision freely. But I have said that everyone is free. So, what we should do is to insist on our faith. My mother used to talk me into being a public functionary because my mother hoped that I can earn money easily by then. But I think, nowadays, a public functionary is lazy, greedy and hypocritical. I know I will never be such a person. I want to earn money by my true skills and genuine knowledge. After I explained my mind firmly, she realized what I really want and supported me. So sometimes, what we need is firm faith when we face to society. We should never give away to the bad social atmosphere. Because once we give away, we are beaten by the evil. Most of the time, insisting on the faith is hard, but the difficulties are like the huge wave, if we are as tough as rocks, we can create a beautiful spray.
A “nobody” lives a colorful life. In contrast, a “somebody” lives a “dreary” life. “How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog, to tell your name the livelong day, to an admiring bog!” We can see that the somebody’s life is boring and pathetic. What they do is not from their enthusiasm and heart. They are living for others’ attitudes to them, especially for fame and wealth. As a result, they are tired and then lose themselves gradually, because they just chase for others’ desires and forget what they really want. Most important, they lose their freedom. They just seem like living in a glass house for others to watch. What they do is directly related to their so-called glory. Once they do something harmful to their image, people outside the house will see clearly. All of these are caused by their fragile faith; maybe it is not faith at all. They base their faith or comfort on others’ thoughts. Without others, they are nothing.
Therefore, the “nobody” in Dickinson’s poem is the synthesis of enthusiasm, freedom and firmly faith. It is worthwhile to point out that life is not a fantasy movie. No immortal will help us to make a decision or save us! It is ourselves that will rescue us! We are the masters! It is what we choose to do that matters better! So, which path will you choose in your life, to be a “nobody” or “somebody”? Tolstoy says that it is the depth that determines the quality of life, not length. So, we should identify ourselves and purify our heart in this big world. In this way, we can dig the depth of our life.