Why Did Jeanne Bradstreet Struggle With Religious Beliefs

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Bradstreet and Franklin both struggle with religious beliefs. Bradstreet was ill for most of her life. Franklin’s family was poor. The difficulties they both faced led to a battle with religion and morals.

Bradstreet often struggle with sickness, while managing eight kids. Levine explains that Bradstreet feels like, “she never saw convincing miracles” (Levine 113). Bradstreet’s outlook on childbirth is grim compared to other Puritans, “No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet, / But with death’s parting blow is sure to meet,” these lines sound as if Bradstreet believes that we are all doomed at childbirth (Bradstreet Lines3-5 Page 123). Bradstreet didn’t want to experience childbirth. However, the Puritan’s believed that women should produce as many children as possible.

Franklin had a hard time accepting the moral aspect of religion. For example, he argues that women deserve to be educated despite religion teaching women to be submissive. Franklin’s actions were progressive for his time, and resulted in his father saying, “[His] discreet Disputations about Religion began to make me pointed at with Horror by good People, as an Infidel or Atheist” (Franklin 234). …show more content…

Bradstreet writes, “It was His own, it was not mine,” explaining a prominent belief of the Puritans: that God owns everything (Bradstreet Line 17 Page 126). She continues in a self-dwelling mindset, “The world no longer let me love, / My hope and treasure lies above (Bradstreet Lines 53-54 Page 127). Bradstreet lost everything in the fire, but she is unable to properly grieve because it would be

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