Bradstreet also wrote about her fear of death and whether her husband might remarry. "Through her dread of dying in childbirth lets us see that her deeper fear is a jealous one that her husband might remarry," (Hensley xxiii). Bradstreet's description of childbirth as being a shade away from death shows what life was like for women in the colonies. "The last month of pregnancy was not only a time for making 'pyes' but also a time of making peace with the idea of approaching death," (Gordon 135). Motherhood is another prominent theme in Anne Bradstreet's poetry. Bradstreet's protective instinct is expressed in the verse, "great was my pain when I you bred, great was my care when you I fed, long did I kept you soft and warm, and with my wing kept off all harm," (cited by Gordon 151). Bradstreet continues the bird analogy: "I had eight birds hatched in one nest, four cocks there were, and hens the rest. I nursed them up with pain and care, nor cost, nor labour did I spare," (cited by Heidi 128). Bradstreet tended to her "eight birds" as well as to household chores. Her jealousy of her husband's possible remarriage after her death was also related to her fear of her children having a bad stepmother. Bradstreet writes, "and if thou love thy self, or loved'st me, these O. protect from step Dames injury," (cited by Nichols 128). Bradstreet's poems served as a "spiritual autobiography" for her children, so that they would have tangible memory of their mother (Gordon...
In a preface to one of her volumes, Bradstreet wrote, "This book by any yet unread I leave for you when I am dead, That being gone, here you may find What was your living mother's mind. Make use of what I leave in love, and God shall bless you form above," (Gordon 258).
" This allusion to the Garden of Eden reminds the reader of how they should be suspicious of their own, base instincts, for that is how human beings fell in the garden -- by being disobedient and acting upon their base desires. Instead, they must appeal to God for guidance. Rather than seek success on earth, for the Spirit: "my ambition lies above." The Spirit replies to every temptation made
Women Poets Throughout American history, the work of American literary artists has helped shape how people think about America and its values. In the modern moment, American literary artists and those involved in other media tend to represent ideals of freedom, autonomy, and individuality. However, this is a perception which has only developed through centuries of artists trying to speak with a unique American voice. Artists who have been oppressed are
Burning of Our House -- July 10, 1666 The poem Upon the Burning of Our House -- July 10, 1666 was written by Anne Bradstreet. Bradstreet is considered by many to be America's first authentic poet was born and raised a Puritan. She and her husband, Simon, who she married at the age of eighteen, lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Bradstreet composed her poetry while raising eight children and
Many peoples' lives, destinies, and hopes for the future, and not only American ones, depend and will depend in the future on this taking place sooner rather than later, and now more than ever before in America's history. Works Cited Illegal Immigration." Wikipedia. 4 May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration.html>. Espenshade, Thomas J. "Unauthorized Immigration to the United States" Annual Review of Sociology. 21 (1995). 195-200. Flores, William V. "New Citizens, New Rights: Undocumented Immigrants and Latino
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