Anne Bradstreet
The Clever and Well Hidden Mind of Anne Bradstreet
During the early 1600's Puritanism ran strong throughout early North America. Anne Bradstreet, the educated and well-to-do daughter of Thomas Dudley, arrived in America during the 1630's. Anne Bradstreet being a firm Puritan believer, abided by the ideas that women were man's subordinate, their help-mates, thus leaving women to be submissive. This led women's ambitions and want for self-fulfillment to be negated by religion. Bradstreet reflected her beliefs through her writing, which, she kept hidden for years until it was stolen and published in England. She hid her words as it was frowned upon during her time for a women to write. Bradstreet, being an intelligent women, covered her words …show more content…
She states "To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings/ Of cities founded, commonwealth begun/ For my mean pen are too superior things"(Pg. 147). These lines are meant to show the reader that she knows her place, by saying "For my mean pen are too superior things(Pg. 147)". This meaning that her pen is lowly in comparison, and the words it writes can in no way compare to such great things. She ends this first verse in a manner that expresses her humility, and excuses herself from being frowned upon. "Let poets and historians set these forth/ My obscure lines shall not so dim their worth". This last line keeps Bradstreet safe, in that, she is telling everyone that her words are meant to be overlooked, they are so small and insignificant they "shall not so dim their worth"(Pg. 147). Bradstreet is also expressing her desire not to have her writings trivialize the events of the past. "Let poets and historians set these forth" shows that she wishes such events to be honored by those who are fit to write about them, unlike …show more content…
She refers to the Greeks who used women as their muses for the arts. "But sure the antique Greeks were far more mild/ Else of our sex why feigned they those nine/ And poesy made Calliope's own child?"(Pg. 148) Writing of how they were much more sympathetic to women and their abilities in the arts, and that once upon a time, women were looked up to in this aspect. She mentions of one of the nine female muses, Calliope, but eventually refers to the times when the Greeks no longer looked upon women so kindly.“But this weak knot they will full soon untie. /The Greeks did nought, but play the fools and lie.”
During the early 1600's Puritanism ran strong throughout early North America. Anne Bradstreet, the educated and well-to-do daughter of Thomas Dudley, arrived in America during the 1630's. Anne Bradstreet being a firm Puritan believer, abided by the ideas that women were man's subordinate, their help-mates, thus leaving women to be submissive. This led women's ambitions and want for self-fulfillment to be negated by religion. Bradstreet reflected her beliefs through her writing, which, she kept hidden for years until it was stolen and published in England. She hid her words as it was frowned upon during her time for a women to write. Bradstreet, being an intelligent women, covered her words …show more content…
She states "To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings/ Of cities founded, commonwealth begun/ For my mean pen are too superior things"(Pg. 147). These lines are meant to show the reader that she knows her place, by saying "For my mean pen are too superior things(Pg. 147)". This meaning that her pen is lowly in comparison, and the words it writes can in no way compare to such great things. She ends this first verse in a manner that expresses her humility, and excuses herself from being frowned upon. "Let poets and historians set these forth/ My obscure lines shall not so dim their worth". This last line keeps Bradstreet safe, in that, she is telling everyone that her words are meant to be overlooked, they are so small and insignificant they "shall not so dim their worth"(Pg. 147). Bradstreet is also expressing her desire not to have her writings trivialize the events of the past. "Let poets and historians set these forth" shows that she wishes such events to be honored by those who are fit to write about them, unlike …show more content…
She refers to the Greeks who used women as their muses for the arts. "But sure the antique Greeks were far more mild/ Else of our sex why feigned they those nine/ And poesy made Calliope's own child?"(Pg. 148) Writing of how they were much more sympathetic to women and their abilities in the arts, and that once upon a time, women were looked up to in this aspect. She mentions of one of the nine female muses, Calliope, but eventually refers to the times when the Greeks no longer looked upon women so kindly.“But this weak knot they will full soon untie. /The Greeks did nought, but play the fools and lie.”