The Colonial Period as history is possibly the most important time in American history. It is where we found our start, and if it had not been for those who were prominent and alive during that time, we would not have the country we do today. The Colonial Period was a time of discovery, of new and exciting things that had never even been heard about before. The settlers in the New World were utterly in awe of the world they had stumbled upon that, while not being new, was certainly new to them. But, this excitement quickly wore off, and the reality of living under a government seemingly an entire world away swiftly sets it. American Literature during the Colonial Period, it is not surprising, very clearly represents these sentiments. The Colonial …show more content…
They led simple lives, concluding that frivolous things would distract them from God, and their work to be done. This sentiment is largely conveyed in Anne Bradstreet’s poem “Verses upon the Burning of Our House” written on July 10th, 1666. Bradstreet describes a fire starting in her house while she slept, her house that was filled with very important and valuable things that she had collected over the years. In verse five, Bradstreet states “The fearful sound of ‘fire’ and ‘fire’, Let no man know is my Desire”. One can only assume that Bradstreet means she is secretly delighted in the face of this fire, about to consume her entire house. This message is solidified in verses 1217, reading “Then, coming out, behold a space, The flame consume my dwelling place. And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just. It was his own, it was not mine,”. The text indicates that Bradstreet was not exactly saddened by the event of the fire, merely thanking God for taking away what he had given her. She believed that her possessions were merely material, and that they were God’s in the end, as he chose …show more content…
We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.”. Henry goes on to say that their only option left not exhausted is to fight, crying “we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!”. Henry’s impassioned cries for freedom and rebellion reflect the sentiments of many Colonial writers, claiming that there were no options left to escape the rule of Great Britain, and that they must earn their freedom. From Anne Bradstreet’s poem describing the burning of her house, and her delight in this event, to Benjamin Franklin’s attempted reinvention of self, all the way to Patrick Henry’s impassioned cries for freedom, these three texts do a very superb job of attempting to sum up the Colonial Period in American Literature. Newly settled people in America were given an incredible opportunity, but one that was not free from hardship and oppression. The people of Colonial times, even those that were not prominent figures, all had one common goal: to
the ultimate Puritan. Was the glory to God or to herself? She also relates here
Bradstreet was a Puritan and was therefore raised with a simplistic view of the world. This, combined with the fact that she was a woman, carried over into her way of writing. Her writing style was not eloquent but plain, humble, and pleasant to read. Her poems dealt with topics such as faith, family, and adversity and were easy to understand. Bradstreet had great faith which she gained through the experiences she encountered in life.
She writes a letter to husband, almost instructing him on what to do after her death. Unlike other demure housewives of her time, she acknowledges the risk birthing her child brings by saying, “And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains / Look to my little babes, my dear remains” (107). Bradstreet also approaches a taboo subject by acknowledging that her husband might remarry. Bradstreet does not tread lightly on this subject either by writing, “And if thou love thyself, or loved’st me, / These o protect from step Dames injury” (107). In this poem, Bradstreet faces the possibility of not only the loss of her life but the loss of her husband’s love. Bradstreet challenges Puritan beliefs by showing that she will still be concerned with her earthly life after her
must die." God spoke to her and she acted upon the support of a loved one.
In all of Bradstreet’s works she is constantly expressing herself through her figurative language that whoever reads the poetry can’t help but sense the feelings through any piece. An...
She explains that everything that was on fire she did not actually own, for they belonged to God’s. Therefore, she could not mourn the lost because He had the right to take them away.
Though Bradstreet accepted the tenets of Puritanism, anti-Puritan texts are found in her poetry in terms of religious doubts as in “Meditations” to her children where she speculates if the Scriptures are true or contrived. Anne Bradstreet also deviates from traditional Puritan writings of the time by composing poetry for pleasure and self expression as opposed to writings of preaching and teaching as was the standard. Bradstreet is not truly unorthodox in that she did not dissent from accepted beliefs and doctrine, but lived in an intensely religious, male dominated society which put many limitations on women and their roles.
Often when looking at American history, people tend to lump all the characters and actors involved as similar. This is especially the case in regards to Early American Colonial history. Because the Puritan communities that grew rapidly after John Winthrop’s arrival in 1630 often overshadow the earlier colony at Plymouth, many are lead to assume that all settlers acted in similar ways with regard to land use, religion, and law. By analyzing the writings of William Bradford and John Winthrop, one begins to see differing pictures of colonization in New England.
It dictated most of her way of living. She writes about her many struggles between her “flesh” and “the Spirit”. She is honest about sometimes feeling inadequate and wanting to digress away from God’sS way. She includes a constant tension between her selfish thoughts and what she know is the best path. It is not so much a battle between personal beliefs and what one is expected to do. Rather it is a battle between what one is doing and what one already knows is the best route in thinking and living. Bradstreet’s family moved from England to the New England in order to follow this movement of Puritans creating a new life in accordance to the church (White, p.103). So she was well aware of Christian principles and very familiar with the Bible. In Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House she talks mostly about the many vanities of this world and that one should focus on things that are eternal. She
She places Queen Elizabeth above men: “from all the kings on earth she won the prize” (210). Queen Elizabeth went against her roles as a woman, remaining an unmarried woman ruler of England for many years. She had done something that was not seen before, something that Bradstreet greatly respected. Queen Elizabeth proved that women could be great rulers and do so on their own: “She hath wiped off th’ aspersion of her sex/that women wisdom lack to play the rex” (210). Bradstreet mentions how Queen Elizabeth did a greater job than any other king they had: “Was ever people better ruled than hers? ... Did ever wealth in England more abound” (210). She compares her to Minerva, a Roman Goddess of war, wisdom, and justice. Bradstreet’s great admiration of a woman going beyond her role goes against the Puritan belief that women were not as respectable or high up as men. If men did not have the control that they did, women would begin to question their reality, which is what the men did not want to happen. Bradstreet expresses her frustration with this through her praise towards Queen Elizabeth, feeling that women could in fact do things that men could
Anne Bradstreet loves her children so much because she raised them all with pain and care. Bradstreet often talks about her children loving people, and people loving them, “And with her mate flew out of sight” (14) and out of her reach so she can not watch over them. Bradstreet’s strong Puritan heritage gives her unquestionable belief that God is watching over her children for her, and her children are watching for God. With this relationship between her and God, Anne Bradstreet accepts the departure of her children. In this poem Anne Bradstreet talks about success, “Coupled with mate loving and true” (23) this is Bradstreet’s idea of success for her children in this poem. Anne Bradstreet’s idea of success is so much more than just this line, in the fact that she wants her children to be educated, and live good productive Christian lives. All of these things are implied in the poem as simple as finding a mate and “flying” off.
“But now the fire roars across the walls; the tide of flame flows nearer” (Line 954 pg.
God; whereas Taylor wrote solely on his love for God. Bradstreet was a pioneer in the idea of writing about loving your husband and self. This was one of her greatest achievements and also greatest gifts to the world, even though it was not appropriate to write about such subjects she did anyway. The combination of Bradstreet and Taylors poetry about love prove to the world that love can exist in any part of life and should be appreciated and
By reading Bradstreet’s work, a fair sense of what Mrs. Bradstreet was like can be grasped. She clearly stated her opinion of those who objected to her writing: “I am obnoxious to each carping tongue, / Who says my hand a needle better fits.” (Bradstreet,“ The Prologue”155). Bradstreet refused to give up her passion for writing even if it meant going against the opinions of anyone in her colony, including religious leaders. Although Bradstreet referred to herself as being obnoxious, her written works portray an entirely different Bradstreet. She seeks no reward or fame for her writing: “Give thyme or parsley wreath, I ask no bays” (155). Bradstreet seeks no reward for her writing because she doesn’t think her work is very good: “My foolish, broken, blemished Muse so sings” (154). She refers to her writing as her: “ill-formed offspring” (“The Author To Her Book”165). Even after her work is published she is ...
faith to reject fate. Therefore, she detaches herself from her strong affection for “Elizabeth,” and accepts the reality that God has taken her to “everlasting state.” The speaker compares the death of the child to nature: “corn and grass are in their season mown” (10) to reveal her sadness that her child does not live long as it is common in the natural order. But the speaker concludes with comfort in her faith that it is in “His [God’s] hand alone that Guides nature and fate” (14).