Similarities Between Sedgwick And Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet and William Bradford’s constant references to God’s greatness reveal

Bradstreet knows the goodness in God and rather than fearing him she thanks Him or asks for help. While her house was burning she asked God “to strengthen [her] in [her] time of distress”(9) because she knows everything that happens is through the will of God and only He can help her through this difficult situation. Bradstreet sees God as a just one even though he took all of her physical possessions. She takes His justness a step further by saying in lines 18 and 19 that even if He took all of her belongings, it would still be reasonable. Bradstreet also believes in a positive afterlife for herself and most people around her.

Ervin Beisch Cheryl C. Smith’s, “Out of Her Place: Anne Hutchinson and the Dislocation of Power in New World Politics,” is an attempt to explain the plight of women and their suffrage during colonial times and especially during the puritan era. This article goes on to explain and describe the trials and tribulations of Anne Hutchinson for speaking out against the ministers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638 (Smith). The author wrote about how the male dominated society of the Massachusetts Bay Colony viewed the place of women in their Society. The author describes how Anne Hutchinson brought fear to the men and leadership the colony when she started teaching and voicing her opinion about the local ministers preaching about saving grace from good works instead of saving and redeeming grace from the holy spirit (Smith).

As one of the most renowned writers of the 17th century, Anne Bradstreet exemplified the major influence of the puritan religion in Early American literature. Intriguingly, in some of her poems, Bradstreet struggled between her own human needs/individualistic wants and her puritan codes of belief. In her poem, “Before the Birth of One of Her Children”, Bradstreet recognizes God’s power over death as she refrains from resenting what is in God’s control as she speaks to her husband about her possible death. However, she shows how helpless she is when she tries to hold to her puritan codes yet reverts back to her selfish and individualistic feelings. “If any worth or virtue were in me, let that live freshly in thy memory…

“A woman of haughty and fierce carriage, of a nimble wit and active spirit, and a very voluble tongue, more bold than a man” (“People & Ideas: Anne Hutchinson”). This statement is a description of Anne Hutchinson, an outspoken individual from the seventeenth century. Born in England, Anne Hutchison was the daughter of a minister and became well-versed in the Bible. At a young age, she gained important wisdom from others, which she let influence the rest of her life. Regardless of not having an education, Anne became a very bright and opinionated woman.

In addition to giving Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet hardships, God has given them comfort while undergoing these sufferings. Bradstreet strays a little farther than Rowlandson. Rowlandson is not tempted by atheism as Bradstreet is in her letter. Bradstreet mentions that Satan has “troubled me concerning the verity of the Scriptures…I never saw any miracles to confirm me, and those which I read of, how did I know but they were feigned,” (Bradstreet 125).

Their strong religious values aided them in the survival of the struggle they experienced during their lives. They were two different women with similar struggles but with different situations. Although Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet both had unique struggles, both women were able to overcome their difficulties through similar faiths. Mary Rowlandson was a woman that relied on God. Rowlandson is comforted in her “low estate” by Biblical passages that [take] hold of her heart” and enable her to survive (Mary Rowlanson’s Captivity and the Place of the Woman’s Subject).

Theses writings were for personal use and despite their wishes were eventually published. Because of this, their writings showed true emotion and not that for entertainment or religious persuasion. Once released to the public their experiences were valued and passed on for generations to come. There was many simulates in the works of Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson’s describing signs from God to appreciate the nature, family and most importunely to put God first. Because of these signs and resulting tragedies, Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson had a very positive outlook on life and inspired many to follow and appreciate the simple things in life.

Bradstreet and Edwards share a common religion; Puritan. They both live their life based on the values from their faith. Bradstreet and Edward’s religion is present in their

Bradstreet uses an AABBCC rhyme scheme which makes the poem seem to be written in a calm and relaxed state. It is also important to notice that she uses end rhyme which makes it seem as if she was trying to have some control over her life, probably because she lost it due to the fire. The style of the text is really simple because Anne Bradstreet uses what is known as “Puritan Plain Style” makes clear and direct statements and meditate on faith and God with simple sentences and words. It usually contains few elaborate figures of speech.

While both poets try to be optimistic about the death of their loved ones, Wheatley, the more religious poet of the two, emphasizes the importance of religion by using her almost artistic sculpting of descriptive adjectives and robust nouns such as “The glowing stars and silver queen of light/ At last must perish in the gloom of night” and in using this word choice, she shows how much weight her religion holds (19-20). As Wheatley praises her God and his doings in her poem, Bradstreet makes sure to underline how much her relationship with her husband and kids mean to her. “Look to my little babes, my dear remains./ And if thou love thyself, or loved’st me,/

Their strong religious values aided them in the survival of the struggle they experienced during their lives. They were two different women with similar struggles but with different situations. Although Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet both had unique struggles, both women were able to overcome their difficulties through similar faiths. Mary Rowlandson was a woman that relied on God. Rowlandson is comforted in her “low estate” by Biblical passages that [take] hold of her heart” and enable her to survive (Mary Rowlanson’s Captivity and the Place of the Woman’s Subject).

Bradstreet creates a deeper meaning in her poem through her discussion of earthly value versus eternal value and how she discovers the importance of eternal value through the loss of her earthly possessions. The first example of her discovery is her feeling that she has lost her earthly possessions. In her recount of the flames overtaking her house, Bradstreet says, “I blest His name that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust” (Bradstreet ll. 14-15). In these lines,

In poems one and two about grandchildren, Elizabeth and Anne, Bradstreet shows a difference in her feelings. In

Furthermore, by using end rhyme, Bradstreet symbolically shows restraint. In the same way that a poet controls oneself by specifically using end rhyme, the poet is controlling her emotions when dealing with a sad experience and accepts her mortality. Similarly, in “Verses Upon the Burning of our House,” proof of Bradstreet’s faith is indisputable. After being initially distraught at her house burning down and losing all of her belongings, Bradstreet recounts how she reorients herself and blesses “His name that gave and took,