Anne Bradstreet, a follower of the Puritan religion, lived in a society that was rigid and particularly strict when it came to matters of faith. The societal norms dictated that women’s primary responsibility was to attend to their husbands and manage domestic affairs. Despite these pressures, Anne pursued her passion for poetry, which set her apart. However, her decision to express herself through this creative outlet led to rejection and criticism from her community as it went against the expectations of Puritanism, which did not support women writing poetry.
Anne Bradstreet, renowned for her poem “Contemplation” that was published in the 19th century, is often perceived as a woman who challenges societal gender norms by assuming a more masculine role. Despite her religious inclination, she utilized poetry as a means to defy the notion that women should not be educated. Through her education, Bradstreet had the platform to explore themes of politics, theology, and religion. This artistic outlet allowed her to express a wide range of emotions including love, sadness, and compassion.
Anne Bradstreet experienced a tragedy that deeply impacted her. This led her to find inspiration to write a poem entitled “And when I could no longer look, I blest His grace that gave and took, that laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, and so ’twas just.” The poem reflects on her house that burned down, specifically focusing on her books and their destruction. However, Bradstreet expresses gratitude towards God for granting her the talent and wisdom to create these poems.
She believes that these poems were for God, it is acceptable to retrieve them. In line (2) I blessed His grace that gave and took. It is evident that she employs a tone of respect and gratitude to show appreciation for God, despite losing all her poems in the fire incident. Line (5) It was his own; it was not mine. This portion employs metaphor. One of Anne Bradstreet’s greatest achievements was dedicating a love poem to her husband. “To my Dear and Loving Husband, if ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.”
In this passage, the speaker expresses her unparalleled happiness in her husband and challenges other women to find a better example. She values her husband’s love more than any material possessions such as gold or the wealth of the East. She begins by using a paradox, stating that if two people were ever truly united, they are surely her and her husband. This signifies their profound connection as one body, spirit, and soul. Additionally, she emphasizes the worth of his love, comparing it to the immense value of entire mines filled with gold. Lastly, she employs imagery to highlight the extent of her love, describing it as surpassing all the riches found in the East.
This passage praises and expresses affection for the author’s husband, as her religion emphasizes the obedience of women towards their spouses. The depth of her love is immeasurable and cannot be satisfied by anything other than love from her husband. She acknowledges that she cannot adequately repay his love and prays for heavenly rewards for him. She urges the commitment to love each other while they are alive, so that their love may endure beyond death. The author emphasizes that she loves her husband so ardently that even a substantial amount of wealth would never replace the love she has for him.
The author uses literary devices like paradox and imagery to effectively convey her message in this poem. She also wants to debunk the idea that writing poetry means she doesn’t love her husband. On the contrary, she deeply cares for both her spouse and children. Moreover, being part of a religious community may affect how others perceive her and could even impede her pursuit of dreams, as some people use religion to discourage her. Additionally, her brother-in-law covertly took hold of her poems and had them published.
She expresses a deep appreciation for love above all else. This indicates that she places a high value on love, as evident in the lines of this poem. It becomes clear to the reader that she is both romantic and affectionate. Even wealth cannot be used to buy such a love; it is not shared among ten thousand people, but rather between two individuals who care deeply for each other. They use significant words to articulate their emotions. The poet employs the tones of adoration and compassion to convey her admiration and deep regard for her spouse. She employs imagery in this poem to depict her love for her husband, comparing it to “whole mines of gold,” “rivers,” and “riches from the East.” All of these things are equally balanced with love.
Moreover, Emily Dickinson directed her poetic attention towards matters of religion and the domestic sphere that were prevalent in her personal life. These themes emerged in a period when society criticized her for not adhering to religious practices. In response to these accusations, she even crafted a poem addressing God, wherein she began to question the Almighty. However, in today’s discussion, let us concentrate on her love poems dedicated to her husband while he was absent. This is important because society wrongly assumed that she had forgotten about her husband and her responsibilities at home. Another poem she composed for her husband also holds significance.
My head, my heart, my eyes, my life – even more than that, my joy, my treasure trove of earthly possessions – if two people can be considered as one, then surely you are the beloved dwelling place of my dearest guest. Wherever you are, stay there and do not go away until nature’s inevitable decree calls you away; after all, you are made of the same flesh and bone as I am. How can you remain there while I am left here in Ipswich? It seems like an eternity to be separated from the head to the heart…” With these words, Anne Bradstreet conveys her deep longing for her husband. This demonstrates her nurturing nature as a woman who watches over her husband and family.
Despite her lack of trust in her husband, Anne Bradstreet discusses his presence both at home and when he is away, expressing feelings of loneliness and tremendousness. As a legendary figure whose works continue to be admired, she is celebrated for her remarkable accomplishments. Despite not having received a formal education, Bradstreet’s mastery of poetry was not hindered, thanks to the support and encouragement from her loving father who taught her how to read and write. She serves as an inspiration, proving that one should never allow anyone to discourage them from pursuing their dreams.
