I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there 's a pair of us-don't tell! They 'd banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog!
In this quote by Emily Dickinson, the speaker identifies as a "nobody," inviting the reader to consider their own identity. The speaker reveals a sense of camaraderie with those who also embrace anonymity, suggesting that being a "nobody" is a shared experience that should remain secret due to societal pressures. The notion of being a nobody is portrayed as preferable to being a public figure, which brings with it a certain burden and the need for constant validation from others.
Dickinson contrasts the life of a nobody with that of a "somebody," implying that the latter is subject to the expectations and scrutiny of society. She uses the metaphor of a frog that croaks incessantly to draw attention to itself, illustrating how exhausting and dreary it is to seek approval from the masses. The poem encourages readers to appreciate the quiet, united existence of those who reject the spotlight and find solace in anonymity.
