Christopher Benfey Professions : Literary critic Born : October 28, 1954 Browse All Authors Top 3 quotes by Christopher Benfey Sometimes, the shortest path between two points is serpentine. Christopher Benfey path sometimes two Emily Dickinson liked to shock people. She liked to break rules. There was a kind of rebellious freedom in her inner world. Christopher Benfey kind people world Emily Dickinson did not like was one of the stated purposes of the college - to convert young women to the Christian cause, finding Christ as their personal savior. She was one of the students who were declared without hope. Christopher Benfey purpose college christian Similar Authors Bliss Perry literary-critic Irving Howe literary-critic Diana Trilling literary-critic Daphne Merkin literary-critic Henry Louis Gates literary-critic Harold Bloom literary-critic All Authors