Anne Bradstreet’s poem “The Author to Her Book” is indicative of Calvinist society’s opinion of female writers, especially those with a more creative and non-religious focus, in the American colonies during the 17th century. The poem was written in response to Bradstreet’s first volume of poetry being published without her knowledge or consent before she had the chance to do final revisions on it. Because the role of women in Calvinist society was traditionally restricted to motherly duties and writing was done strictly for religious expression, Bradstreet’s creative writing could have raised questions as to if she was neglecting her motherly or Christian duties. Due to this stigma, Bradstreet incorporates a tone of self-deprecation in “The …show more content…
Author to Her Book” to seemingly apologize to society for her writing and avoid social backlash. The self-deprecation that Bradstreet incorporates demonstrates her conflicting desires of wanting to conform to Calvinist society and be an artist. Bradstreet begins the poem by referring to her work as “ill-formed offspring” originating from her “feeble brain” (1).
This creates that idea that the writing was something that she had not been happy with and that it had been produced by a novice writer, conforming to the idea that women were less intelligent. The next line, “Who after birth didst by my side remain” (2), Bradstreet states her original intention of keeping her work to herself, indicating that she was possibly embarrassed by it or wanted to keep it secret because she knew that it went against Calvinist tradition. Bradstreet’s initial desire to write in secrecy and her subsequent discreditation of her own work and ability as a writer upon its reveal to the public shows her division between being a good Calvinist and being an …show more content…
artist. In lines 3-6, Bradstreet explains how her work had been taken from her without her knowledge in an unfinished state and published. She describes her work as being made out in “rags” (4) and metaphorically marched to the printing press (4) where the inferiority of her work was made apparent. This further highlights Bradstreet’s negative opinion of her own writing as well as shifting the blame off herself for the work being published, as it was done against her will. Bradstreet then states “At thy return my blushing was not small” (7), which at first glance shows her embarrassment in her work being discovered. However, this line could also indicate some degree of excitement or pride in her writing being published, showing that Bradstreet is reluctant to fully discredit herself as an artist. Bradstreet proceeds to compare her work to an unsightly child that she could not make look presentable, despite all of her efforts.
She describes her writing as a “rambling brat” (8) that calls her “mother” against her will. In this line, Bradstreet simultaneously insults her own work while distancing herself from it. She further elaborates on how displeased she is with her writing by describing the metaphorical child as “unfit for light” (9) and “irksome” (10) to her. In lines 11-12 however, Bradstreet’s tone softens: “Yet being mine own, at length affection would/ Thy blemishes amend, if so I could.” The last part of the second line further emphasizes the fact that Bradstreet was unable to improve her writing no matter how hard she tried, shifting the blame off of herself in her attempt to apologize. However, following the analogy of a mother and child, Bradstreet seems to show unconditional affection towards her writing, like a mother would for a child, no matter how unsightly or unruly they were. Rather than using self-deprecation to simply declare her writing a lost cause, Bradstreet shows a genuine desire to improve her writing, further illustrating her yearning to be an
artist. In lines 13-19, Bradstreet continues to shift blame from herself by describing her editing process as In lines 20-24, Bradstreet seems to caution the “child,” instructing it to be wary of falling into the hands of critics. She continues by saying “And take thy way where yet thou art not known” (21), instructing the child to On the surface, Anne Bradstreet’s self-deprecating tone in “The Author to Her Book” appears to be genuine, with hints of reluctance to giving up her art. However, despite the negativity that Bradstreet expresses towards her writing, this piece seems well written, unlike the stumbling and uneven writing that she describes in the poem itself. Bradstreet incorporates rhymed couplets and iambic pentameter seemingly with ease, contradicting the portrait of an unskilled, novice writer that she paints on the surface. In the line “If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none” (22), Bradstreet seems to emphasize the fact that a woman was solely responsible for the work. The final two lines, “And for thy mother, she is alas poor/ Which caused her thus to send thee out the door” (22-23) seem to be Bradstreet justifying selling her book because she was poor. The skill that Bradstreet demonstrates in “The Author to Her Book” combined with the possible second meanings behind many of the lines in the poem seem to indicate that her apologetic tone is insincere. However, the fact that Bradstreet would have gone to such effort to cryptically feign an apology ultimately shows the conflict between her desire to conform to Calvinist society while still maintaining her pride and identity as an artist.
Anne Bradstreet’s inability to perfect her work before it was released frustrated her to the point where she internalizes the book’s imperfections as a reflection of herself. Bradstreet uses an extended metaphor of a mother and a child to compare the relationship between herself as the author and her book. Rather than investing her spirit in God, she repeatedly focuses on trying to improve the quality of her writing with no success, “I washed thy face, but more defects I saw” (Bradstreet 13). Like a mother protecting her child, Bradstreet’s attempts to prevent critics from negatively analyzing her work of art (20). Her continuous obsession about people’s opinions consumed in the Earthly world and essentially distracted her from developing a spiritual relationship with God. Bradstreet was enveloped by her dissatisfaction with her to the point of ridiculing herself, “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble mind” (1). It was obvious that her mind and spiritual
Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan and wrote her religious faith about God. When Bradstreet was used to the Puritan culture she felt like God didn’t guide her through her struggles and she started to questioned God existence and as a Puritan’s religious belief was to always accept God. The letter, “To My Dear Children” was from Bradstreet to her children about her relationship with God. The summary of the letter is Bradstreet accepted the Puritan culture when she was about sixteen years old coming to America. After she was married she started to observe God and questioned him because she felt sickness and pain and hoped God would lift her up the light on her. Bradstreet also questions her afterlife with a quote, “And could I have been in heaven without the love of God, it would had been hell to me, for in truth it is the absence and presence of God that makes heaven or hell.” This quote can be pertained in today’s world because it’s
After the Civil War, America went through a period of Reconstruction. This was when former Confederate states were readmitted to the Union. Lincoln had a plan that would allow them to come back, but they wouldn’t be able to do it easily. He would make 10% of the population swear an oath of loyalty and establish a government to be recognized. However, he was assassinated in Ford’s Theater and Andrew Johnson became the president; Johnson provided an easy path for Southerners. Congress did their best to ensure equal rights to freedmen, but failed because of groups who were against Reconstruction, white southern Democrats gaining control within the government and the lack of having a plan in place for recently freedmen.
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.
The first part in this poem, "If ever two were one" (1) sets us with expectations to continue with the reading. These words show that Bradstreet and her husband were really in love, that this love could unite two persons and make them one. Bradstreet and her husband think, act, and feel much like they are part of each other. The tone of this poem tells us that she is a very religious, because she speaks of praying and the heavens. We get the impression that she is a very dedicated person, to her family and to God. She...
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
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
Anne Bradstreet, whom most critics consider America’s first “authentic poet”, was born and raised as a Puritan. Bradstreet married her husband Simon at the tender age of eighteen. She wrote her poems while rearing eight children and performing other domestic duties. In her poem “Upon The Burning Of Our House, July 10th, 1666”, Bradstreet tells of three valuable lessons she learned from the fire that destroyed her home.
Anne Bradstreet is seen as a true poetic writer for the seventeenth century. She exhibits a strong Puritan voice and is one of the first notable poets to write English verse in the American colonies. Bradstreet’s work symbolizes both her Puritan and feminine ideals and appeals to a wide audience of readers. American Puritan culture was basically unstable, with various inchoate formations of social, political, and religious powers competing publicly. Her thoughts are usually on the reality surrounding her or images from the Bible. Bradstreet’s writing is that of her personal and Puritan life. Anne Bradstreet’s individualism lies in her choice of material rather than in her style.
Edward Taylor’s “Huswifery”, Anne Bradstreet’s “A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment,” and “In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased August, 1665, Being a Year and a Half Old” all demonstrated strong feeling toward either domestic life or Puritan spiritual beliefs. These three poems dealt with one or more of these topics: death, marriage, spousal duties, and the God’s role in the Puritan life. Taylor and Bradstreet both approach the belief God has His elects and those chosen will precede to heaven but their viewpoints on domestic roles are slightly different; where Taylor is glorifying the work of a housewife, Bradstreet is displaying the dependence and submissiveness that Puritan women have to their husband.
...e from her love to the world. Perhaps, she believed that in this love of her, she became God-like and God thus punishes her. Nevertheless, the presence of God in her poems is more than clear. Perhaps, it was due to religious beliefs that she though that it was wrong to feel too strong feelings to world and she considered herself to be a sinner who deserves punishment. Today, there are few followers of Bradstreet, but she, her ideas and her thoughts about sufferings still remain in modern books.
Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan. Much like all the other Puritans of her time she examined her conscience daily and that they always felt that they were humbled by God's creations and powers. One poem in which she expresses her religion's ideas and philosophies was "Contemplations".
When Bradstreet’s next grandchild, Anne, passed away, she was unable to resist it. She lost her control and become disappointed. She wrote a poem under “In Memory of My dear Grandchild Anne Bradstreet, Who Deceased June 20, 1669.”5 The poem starts with the speaker
Bradstreet, in the first half of her poem The Prologue, states her inferiority in comparison to poets, historians, and Greeks in stanzas 1 and 3, but a tonal shift in the stanzas 5 and 6 indicates her declarations of humility are said only in spite and sarcasm. By using a strict poetic meter and frequently referencing historical and literary fact, but still calling herself unworthy, she mocks society’s expectations for women to stay humble. She signals to the readers through her inconsistency that her goal is to mock how the world wants her to be versus her actual merit. Bradstreet uses each stanza to her advantage by creating a push and pull effect between her demonstrated wit and knowledge of history and poetry in contrast to her declarations
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 ...