Anne Bradstreet

The bible enlightens, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). Anne Bradstreet’s bases her poem upon this notion manifested as an extended metaphor. Along with the poem, the speaker’s tone is quite radical, ranging from calm (Line 1), helpless (Line 10), selfless (Line 16), and nostalgic (Lines 21-34); consequently, contradicting the entire nature of the poem. Perhaps, the speaker is trying to express an idea of complete devotion to God and detachment of material possessions, whilst her own lines give out the nature of flawed human beings. Anne Bradstreet was a puritan, the majority of her poems have themes that reference the relationship with God and how imperative it is to live our lives purely and as instruments at His disposal. In this poem, the speaker struggles with this whole perception. Revealing that human nature cannot be set aside. A man is an animal and it is his nature to follow his instincts and desires. Which
leads us to the unescapable need of filling ourselves with possessions, which we think we can live without, when in reality, we cannot even fathom the idea of it. A blatant depiction of this claim, “And here and there the places spy, Where oft I sate and long did lie” (Lines 23-24). The speaker sorrows her loss and reminisces in the following lines the memories that it withholds, “Under thy roof no guest shall sit, Nor at my Table eat a bit.” (Lines 29-30). We get a glimpse of her relationship with God, “I blest His name that gave and took” (Line 14). She feels “succourless” (Line 10) and begs for God’s mercy and help. Later on, her indifference towards the situation kicks in Lines 14-18. The idea that material possessions are vane and shallow is pursued, but, as expected, contradictions are ironically set in Lines 21-34. Nostalgia and remembrance for the memories she had as she walks through the “ruins” (Line 21) are exposed, that she later on rebukes (Lines 37-38). The speaker is a devoted woman with strong beliefs, but as stated prior, humans will be humans. The speaker presents an internal conflict between lamenting her house (Lines 21-34) or giving in to the will of God (Lines 16-20). However, isn’t this an everyday quandary? The endeavor to live life up to God’s laws and demands, but sinning without remorse? Adoring and worshiping assets, that God detests. Hypocrisy is the word most befitting for it. The speaker urges the liberation of oneself to God, but cannot completely fulfill what she preaches. The poem reaches its closing, with a biblical reference from Eclesiastes, “Adieu, Adieu, all’s vanity.” (Line 36).
The speaker farewells all material she once held. Another biblical reference from Matthew and Luke, “And why thy wealth on earth abide?” (Line 38). From Psalms, “The arm of flesh didst make thy thrust?” She gives in to God, let go of all sin, and set her mind in heaven (Line 41). A portrayal of her house is given, but, a Holy house. One that is “framed by that mighty Architect” (Line 44), that waits for her permanently (Line 46). “Verses upon the Burning of our House” ends with the same tone as it began, calm and peaceful; conceivable that she wants to manifest another theme, that everything falls back to place, but that’s set aside for another
poem. We go back to the biblical verse at the beginning that describes her lines, “Farewell, my pelf, farewell, my store. The world no longer let me love, My hope and treasure lies above.” (Lines 52-54). The whole allegory of her giving in to God is contradicted. Is it possible to let go of one’s needs or wants?