Essay #1
In Ann Bradstreet’s writings, it is clear that she is highly intelligent and well educated for the women of her time, with a large family library. Her writings are about what is around her: her religion, history, family, political and puritanical views. She had a difficult life with illness, hunger, and the loss of her child, but still she wrote with wit, love, and a sense of community. Religion and God’s plan play a crucial role in many of her writings. When she wrote, Upon the Burning of Our House, a sad, but forgiving poem, “And, when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took,” she acknowledges her belief of God’s involvement in the fire, but doesn’t seem angry by it. “Thou hast an house on high erect, Fram’d by that mighty Architect…Stands permanent, though this be fled.” Anne Bradford was a very spiritual woman and believes God has a home for her in heaven and this home on earth is only temporary. To go to heaven would be “A prize so vast as is unknown” and “There’s wealth enough, I need no more.” She writes “My hope and treasure lies above,” evidences heaven is the ultimate destination. Anne Bradford seemed to be a very loving, respectful, and devoted wife to her husband Simon. In To My Dear and Loving Husband, she writes, “If ever two were one, then surely we…I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold…My love is such that rivers cannot quench…” The passion she feels for her husband truly shines in this poem. She may be considered one of the first feminist. In The Prologue, she addresses the sexism of the time as she writes, “Who says my hand a needle better fits…For such despite they cast on female wits...If what I do prove well, it won’t advance; They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance.” She gives credit to the strengths of men but asks acknowledgement for her own. Her writings bring to mind a picture of an intelligent, religious woman. She was strong and giving to her family and was dedicated to her poetry although she saw no need to seek fame for it. Just as her pride and strength shows in her poetry, so does her modesty. In The Author to Her Book, she refers to her writing as “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain…I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw.” Bradstreet shows she is unpretentious and even pokes fun at herself.
Bradstreet’s writings are personal and descriptive about her life, family and religious beliefs, but history plays an important role in her work. She has an extraordinary awareness of whom and what has come before her. In The Prologue, she mentions the likes of Bartas, a writer from the 1500s, and Calliope, one of the nine Greek Muses. Biblical figures Adam, Cain and Abel are in Contemplations. It is not often easy to know who a person is until you speak with them and spend time studying their character. With an author, and Anne Bradstreet particularly, you get to know their opinions on life as they write them. Who can know if this was her in her day to day existence? She seemed to write her experiences and feelings. In the absence of this library of personality, when I don’t now someone well, I think it is important to observe how someone treats others. I think how a person acts towards others, including me; their conversation, body language, demeanor, tells me a lot about the kind of person you are and the kind of person you like to be around.