Preview

Emotional Conflict of Puritan Belief - Anne Bradstreet

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
701 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Emotional Conflict of Puritan Belief - Anne Bradstreet
Emotional Conflict of Puritan Belief

Anne Bradstreet was a puritan wife and mother. However, her passion for literary creation was forced, moreover, to operate within the restraints and inhibitions of Puritanism. There is a conflict between Puritan theology and her own personal feelings on life reflected in many of her poems in which reveal her eternal conflict regarding her emotions and the beliefs of her religion.

Puritan marriage normally was repressed so as not to distract their life from their devotion to God. In that time, women normally passed away before men. It was very common for men in that time to remarry rather quickly after the death of his wife to make sure the family is taken care of. However, Anne expressed the bond of love that binds humanity within the divine in her poems. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” conveys Anne Bradstreet’s strong love for her husband: “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold”. The same poem also expresses her idea of everlasting love between their selves after life on earth which is normally not of typical Puritan belief: “That when we love no more, we may live ever”. And again, “A letter To Her Husband” communicates her strong love, passion, and unity with her husband: “If two be one, as surely though and I”. The quotes from her poems represented how much she did love and care for her husband in which was rather strong feelings for a Puritan relationship.

Puritan’s also believed that God preordained those whom go to Heaven and that all mankind is stained by Adam and Eve’s sin. They believed everything was an act of providence. However, in “Upon The Burning of Our House” Anne expressed a genuine comfort of after life: A price so vast as is unknown Yet by His gift is made thine own; There’s wealth enough, I need no more, Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store, The world no longer let me love, My hope and treasure lies above.
Anne Bradstreet also contradicts the belief of her

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Poetry and Ann Bradstreet

    • 930 Words
    • 3 Pages

    4) Although she was deeply religious, what else did Ann Bradstreet show appreciation for in her poetry? How might this have been a struggle for her living as a Puritan? She demonstrated appreciation for the material and natural world. Because they thought personal emotions was dangerous.…

    • 930 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bradstreet talks about topics such as her relationship with her husband and children and her struggles with religion. In her poem “A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment,” her husband was gone and coming back soon, but whenever she looked at her children, she was reminded of him. She wished he was there with her because he is like the sun, full of warmth and kindness, and her life revolved around him; without him she would be nothing. In her poem “Before the Birth of One of Her Children,” she believed that she was going to die during childbirth, but she wasn’t the only one, because many women back then had the same fear. Also, if she passed away, she was worried that her children were going to end up with a horrible stepmother, so she frequently asked God to protect her and her children. Although Bradstreet was a woman who expressed great amounts of faith, she was often left struggling when her feelings turned to resentment, confusion, and betrayal towards everyone around her. Often things went badly for her, and she doubted God because she thought he was punishing her for the wrong things she had done. Since she doubted God, she would pray and realize that everything happens for a reason. She wasn’t being punished; there was a lesson that needed to be learned, and when she struggled, she wouldn’t dwell on her sinfulness, she continued with living her life.…

    • 611 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    I believe that Anne Bradstreet (1612 – 1672), made major contributions to early American Literature through her poetry. Her poems stressed the daily struggles and stress of Puritan life. Bradstreet had struggled with the validity of the Scriptures, but through her life experiences she developed a strong belief in God. Bradstreet paved the way for future female writers. She used her poetry and writing skills to break through the stereotypes and the strict moral code that was placed on women in her time. Bradstreet, with the help of her brother-n-law, had her manuscript of poetry printed in London in 1650. “The Tenth Muse” was the first collection of poems written by an American resident. Bradstreet was better known for her writings that detailed her daily life and her relationship with her family. She describes in great detail the relationships she had with her father, husband, children and even her grandchildren.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anne Bradstreet's use of allusion throughout the passage conveys Puritan ideals in "mighty architect" excerpt. The author states," a house on high erect framed...furnished," and "paid for too" (Bradstreet 43-45, 51). Examples such as," house on high erect," "paid for" expands upon Puritan beliefs of "heaven." Society has to work their way up, follow morals "pay a price" for a greater spiritual life. Therefore, Bradstreet is portraying Puritan beliefs as positive guide lines(Bradstreet 43,47). Throughout the passage, the use of allusion portrays believe of God. Simultaneously, justifies authors calmness towards the situation. Bradstreet focused on spirituality than reality. The allusion convey tranquility and instilled principles.…

    • 105 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    When the Puritans came to New England, they came to settle with a clear society in mind. Not only would this society be free from the persecution that they endured in Old England; it would be free to create what the leader of the religion referred to as a "perfect" society. In their attempt to escape the persecution they had come so accustomed to, they set up their own rigid belief system based on the inclusion of the human soul and the exclusion of everything else as being unimportant (Wolff 14). The belief system of the Puritans allowed for several different types of theologies, two of which are the Covenant theology and the Paradise theology.…

    • 1551 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The standard of an ideal woman has changed dramatically over the centuries. And the differences are certainly apparent when comparing the modern expectations to the Puritan’s. The most important difference being that the standards were much stricter and the idea of an ideal Puritan woman was very prevalent in society. Consequently, many readings during the 16th century emphasizes the necessary qualities of an ideal Puritan woman. One of which is Jonathan Edwards’ essay, in which he offers a male perspective by describing his perfect woman, Sarah Pierrepont. Additionally, Anne Bradstreet reflects a female view on how an ideal Puritan woman should be through her poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” Lastly,…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Historically, the Puritans belief system was different to what it is today. They believed in predestination to where they say you go to Heaven or Hell and you cannot do anything about it. This made it for people because if you wanted to be a part of the church and you were sentenced to hell then there was no way you can be a part of it. Anne Hutchinson argued this belief and said no you are determined to go based on the actions you do. This belief…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    * The puritans believe man inherently good. They believed that man existed for the glory of god; that his first concern in life was to do gods will and to receive future happiness.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Puritanism brought forth an entire era of American literature. Their ideas of plainness and equality transcended directly into Romanticism. Similarly, their moral character shaped America into what it is today. In her poem, Anne Bradstreet discusses how gravely ill she feels and how ready she is for death. To put into context, she specifies how she feels as if her life is over, and at only age 20. In her poem, “Upon a Fit of Sickness”, Anne Bradstreet writes: “All men must die, & so must I: this cannot be revoked”, which directly states that every man in this…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anne Bradstreet & Jonathan Edwards may believe in the same Puritan views, nevertheless there comes a time where they differ in what they believe, such as their religious beliefs. Though both Puritans, religious beliefs separate Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards due to the fact that Bradstreet believes that God is morally right while Edwards considers God as supreme and greater than all others. Anne Bradstreet’s writing shows that she believes in a God that is fair and loving that does things with positive intentions. In “Upon the Burning of Our House,” Bradstreet expresses that she believes it was fair for God to take her home away from her due to the fact that she believes that God has a much grander home awaiting her in Heaven. Bradstreet…

    • 448 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Anne Bradstreet-in “The Burning of Our House,” Anne was the narrator of this poem in which she expressed how she felt when her home caught fire. The Entire poem was based on Anne’s emotional state during her time of despair and how her faith helped her through. As I read through the poem I noticed that she spoke of her religious beliefs and her relationship with God throughout the poem. “And to my God my heart did cry,” (8). In order to understand and relate to this poem the reader must have some form of religious belief. Anne spoke on how God took away her material items, but her faith helped her comprehend and understand that they never belonged to her in the beginning. “I blest His name that gave and took,” (14). God can…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Anne Bradstreet Themes

    • 2036 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Anne Bradstreet, one of the world’s most well known female Puritan writers, is known for her poems that are rich in detail and imagery, reflecting her passions and her faith. One of the most powerful and thought-provoking themes that she uses throughout her works is the comparison between life on earth and the afterlife, expressed by her thoughts and feelings that she so delicately laces in between the two ideas, tying the comparisons together.…

    • 2036 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet are two women with different stories and one similar faith. Their similar faith in God and passion for writing allowed the two women to survive the contrast of hardships each woman had to endure. Furthermore, in this essay, I will compare and contrast the lives and faith of Rowlandson and Bradstreet.…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    They believed that God was supreme in everything, that he knew who was going to heaven or hell. In one of the Puritan stories we read "A Narrative of Mary Rowlandson" Mary Rowlandson thanks god that she did not kill herself. She makes it seem like they were all puppets. In William Byrd's "History of the Dividing Line" they believed that God chooses who goes to heaven or hell. Which is another way of saying that God is supreme.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Puritan

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Puritans believed that nothing could influence them whether they would go spend eternity with God in heaven…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics