Final answer:
Editors modified Dickinson's work to conform to the literary standards of the time and to make it more acceptable to a general audience, often influenced by gender norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Editors felt the need to edit Emily Dickinson's work before releasing it to the public for several reasons. First, it was not uncommon for authors during Dickinson's time to have their work edited prior to publication, as the standards and expectations of literary form were quite rigid. Dickinson’s use of unconventional punctuation and capitalization, for instance, might have been viewed as inappropriate or distracting to a wider audience. Moreover, due to gender roles during the nineteenth century, her position as a woman may have influenced editors to alter her work to fit the norms of the time. As highlighted in various instances of literary history, such as Wheatley's editorial changes, authors (particularly women) have adjusted their writings either at their own behest, or through the imposition of editors, to ensure a palatable presentation to their readers.