Comparing Anne Bradstreet's To My Dear And Loving Husband

The Puritan women give us a female perspective on experiences of life in the New World. Anne Bradstreet’s voice gives us a glimpse into the very personal range of emotions she felt for her family and life. Mary Rowlandson gives us more Biblical reference and Divine providence. Anne Bradstreet surprised me because her poetry is not dominated with Bible verses, instead she articulates her thought and feelings. Bradstreet’s collections of her spoken word were meant to be private, as she did not pursue publication of her poetry. (Bradstreet 207) Most of Anne Bradstreet’s poetry is based on her relationships with family. Family was obviously very important to her. In Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” in line 5 and 6
In Bradstreet’s poem “In Reference to Her Children” Line 1 -6 tell us that she had eight children that she invested in a great deal of herself, time and money raising them to adulthood. Line 7 – 36 is the story of the oldest five children leaving home to life independently on their life path. Rowlandson reveals the sadness she felt with each departure as well as her pride in each one of them. Line 41 – 65 describes some of the fears she has for her children as they live their lives. Mary Rowlandson writes about her experience of being taken hostage by Native Americans. Her writing is similar to other Puritans we read about in previous writings. Rowlandson referred to the Native Americans as “merciless heathens”, “hell-hounds”, “those black creatures” and “ravenous beasts” (Mary Rowlandson, 258-259). Rowlandson has this view of the Native Americans despite being paid to sew a shirt (268). Rowlandson was offered a Bible by one of the Native Americans that she kept and read (263). Rowlandson reads her Bible to make sense of what is happening and for strength. She credits God for protecting her. “ I took oaken leaves and laid to my side and with the blessing of God it cured me