How dreary to be somebody!

How dreary to be somebody!

How public, like a frog

To tell your name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

These lines are also from a poem by Emily Dickinson, titled "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" In the following lines of the poem, the speaker contrasts the freedom of being a nobody with the burdens of being a somebody.

The phrase "How dreary to be somebody!" suggests that being a prominent figure in society is not as desirable as it might seem.

The comparison of a frog telling its name to an admiring bog highlights the idea that public figures are constantly on display, and their every move is scrutinized by others.

The poem can be seen as a critique of society's emphasis on fame and social status and a celebration of the value of privacy and individuality.

Next

"The Soul selects her own Society"

The Soul selects her own Society —

Then — shuts the Door —

To her divine Majority —

Present no more —