Self-Reliance In Early American Literature
Throughout most of our American Literature readings the common theme that was being written about was religion, faith in God and in turn self-reliance. I believe that the authors of early America were contingent upon their religion and their faith to develop their own resources to aid them through the various trials and tribulations of their lives. One of the early authors that exhibited self-reliance is William Bradford. Bradford believed God to be guiding the Pilgrims and he on the right path and that every misfortune was an opportunity to follow His guidance and be thankful for “God’s good providence” (72). It is evident that Bradford was shaped by his power of faith and his belief in divine interventions. Bradford believed that it was
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The belief was that a woman's place was in the home attending to their family and her husband's needs. Anne Bradstreet struggled with the Puritan way of life. She was a private writer, writing mostly poetry about her own life; all the more being a female writer was unacceptable by any society. Bradstreet’s self-reliance came from her writings. She used her own thoughts and beliefs to power herself through an adverse society. An additional woman with concerns about society was Anne Hutchinson, who began discussing her ideals and opinions to the people of the community. She believed that individuals are capable of having “direct communication with God and need not heed the laws of the church” (111). This idea was not in correlation with the Puritans, because they believed few people were able to speak to God. Hutchinson’s belief that any person(s) could have a direct mental and emotional relationship to God was unlawful and not proper for anyone especially for the women of this time. Judith Murray writes of the stereotyping of females and how women are constantly trying to “hold their own in a [man’s] world” (568). Murray fought for equality and laid the foundation for what took another two centuries to achieve. These women, although reverent in their faith, had a strong sense of
The belief was that a woman's place was in the home attending to their family and her husband's needs. Anne Bradstreet struggled with the Puritan way of life. She was a private writer, writing mostly poetry about her own life; all the more being a female writer was unacceptable by any society. Bradstreet’s self-reliance came from her writings. She used her own thoughts and beliefs to power herself through an adverse society. An additional woman with concerns about society was Anne Hutchinson, who began discussing her ideals and opinions to the people of the community. She believed that individuals are capable of having “direct communication with God and need not heed the laws of the church” (111). This idea was not in correlation with the Puritans, because they believed few people were able to speak to God. Hutchinson’s belief that any person(s) could have a direct mental and emotional relationship to God was unlawful and not proper for anyone especially for the women of this time. Judith Murray writes of the stereotyping of females and how women are constantly trying to “hold their own in a [man’s] world” (568). Murray fought for equality and laid the foundation for what took another two centuries to achieve. These women, although reverent in their faith, had a strong sense of