Analysis Of Anne Bradstreet The Progue

When Bradstreet wrote The Prologue, she contrasts herself with other poets and laments that she is not as talented as those long dead authors, using language that a careful eye, most likely that of a woman, could tell is ironic. This is displayed when she says in stanza 3 of The Prologue: “And this to mend, alas, no art is able/ ‘Cause nature made it so irreparable” (98). On the surface, it appears that Bradstreet is trying to communicate that she cannot write poetry well because of the fact that she is a woman when, in actuality, she knows the high quality of her art. This facetiousness is exactly how Anne Bradstreet makes her work

As a Puritan woman, Anne Bradstreet was reared in a religion where women were subservient to men, life was hard, and the whole of one's life was centered on The Bible. In her poem "The Prologue," Bradstreet writes that her desire to be a poet is against the norm for women of her time. Men around her say that "my hand a needle better fits" (Bradstreet line 32). Not only does she speak about the rigorous nature of her

As a devoutly religious wife and mother, much of Anne Bradstreet’s poetry appears to be quite conventional. The themes of her poetry range from religious matters to musings on motherhood to love letters to her husband, which correspond with the social and cultural expectations for a woman in her time. However, there are moments in her poetry in which she argues in defence of women, and appears to seek some recognition for her work which is a far less traditional stance. While Bradstreet’s poetry in many ways appears to be quite complicit with the gender roles and social expectations of the period it is reductive to say that she bows to social and cultural norms completely as some of her poetry directly challenges these oppressive ideas. Her writing is indicative of a conflict within Bradstreet between the patriarchy based Puritan society in which she lives and her identity as a woman.

Anne Bradstreet was harshly criticized for her practices that didn’t seem fitting for a “good Christian woman” by many people. She responded to their criticism through her poems. Bradstreet’s “The Prologue” and “The Author of Her Book” both explains how she felt about what people were saying and her response to them. In the poem “The Prologue” she discuss how she wants to be accepted and not judged for doing something she’s good at.

Anne Bradstreet’s poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” is a timeless love poem. The poet expressed her deep admiration and love of her husband through her gift of writing poetry. The poem is brief, yet powerful. Anne Bradstreet led a Puritanical life and much of her poetic works are based on her life as a wife and mother. Her love for her husband, as expressed in this poem, could have been considered a bit controversial at the time of its writing. Women were to remain quiet about such matters as romance and be submissive to their husbands. She wanted to live her eternal life, with her husband, as she lived on earth, as we read in the last line of the poem, “That when we live no more, we may live ever” (Line 12). The Puritan life commanded love of God first and above all, however Anne Bradstreet seemed to struggle with her earthly desires and her Puritan beliefs.

Does gender explain the importance of a poet? Gender is just the state of being male or female. When it comes to gender no gender is superior than the other. Some individuals would imagine a poet becoming important by them excelling intellectually, being able to write about the things one could relate to, and sometimes being that voice for those who cannot be heard. Anne Bradstreet, an early American poet, takes on the gender stereotypes of women not being better poets than men in her poem “The Prologue”. Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England, in 1612, and was living during a period when women could not voice an opinion. If they opposed the punishment was death or in some cases banishment. She was the first women to be recognized as an accomplished New World poet. Although Bradstreet never went to school she was well tutored in literature and history in Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, and English. Some of her most popular works are, “The Prologue”, “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” “A Letter to Her Husband, Absent Upon Public Employment,” and “The Author to Her Book”. Anne Bradstreet’s “The Prologue” is basically Bradstreet’s apology for her book of poems She wants to apologize that her poems are not so great as the those of the other poets, men. She also includes that she does not want to be this famous poet, she just wants some acknowledgement of her work; with

As a woman living in a very patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet uses reverse psychology to present her beliefs and opinions. Bradstreet’s poems show her reality, and possibly the coping mechanisms of living in a world where men were favored above women. Bradstreet’s poems are full of female strength and presence, it is almost held back by her puritan roots and roles as a woman in the 1800s. I can see the conflict within her, between being a good puritan women but still knowing her worth and standing up for women. It’s very ironic that tone of the first authors published on American soil was a woman.

One identity Bradstreet considers and reflects apart from her spiritual one is her identity as a woman and poet in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Bradstreet illustrates the challenges she encounters in “The Prologue,” expressing, “I am obnoxious to each carping tongue / Who says my hand a needle better fits / […] If what I do prove well, it won’t advance, / They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance” (page 111, lines 25-30). Bradstreet is ultimately able to recognize that prejudices toward women do exist; equally so, she understands that attempting to rectify her situation may not be in her best interest. In accordance with this possibility, Bradstreet appears to embody a kind of intuition not explicitly stated within the text. She identifies strongly with her womanhood here, and in a way, she uses it to her advantage. More symbolically, it proposes that

“I am obnoxious to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits,/ A poet’s pen all scorn I should thus wrong,/ For such despite they cast of female wits:/ If what I do prove well, it won’t advance,/ They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance” (239). In this passage, Bradstreet acknowledges that even if her writing skills are extraordinary, that because she is a woman, no one will accept it or believe it. At this point in time, Bradstreet crying out for recognition, however it was subtle, “Men have precedeny and still excel,/ It is but vain unjustly to wage war;/men can do best, and women know it well/ Preeminence in all and each is yours;/ Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours” (240). Bradstreet records her observance of men in their natural state, in which she sees them as war hungry, vain and powerful. Consequently, Anne Bradstreet faced a double bind. By voicing her thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, she would have put herself in danger. Yet by not saying anything, she would force herself to continue living in patriarchy; a society of government where men hold the power and women are largely excluded from

“The Author to Her Book” by Anne Bradstreet is Bradstreet’s response to the publication of “The Tenth Muse”, a badly produced book of her poetry filled with printing errors. She uses an extended metaphor to compare her writing to raising a child, and the process a mother goes through when their child is taken from them too early.

Anne Bradstreet was the first American poet and woman writer of America. Bradstreet was a well-educated woman; she used her father’s library to educate her self. Bradstreet’s writings were about her personal and puritan life. Her poetry expresses emotional and personal feelings. She produces a strong Puritan voice and also was one of the first to write English in the American colonies. Anne Bradstreet individualism lies in her choice of material rather than her style.

When we create something, it’s always difficult to revel it to others. No matter how big or small our creation might seem we will always have doubts about our work. For instance, writing an essay might seem simple to some but the reality of putting words together to state he or she’s point is a difficult task for anyone. In addition, when finished we tend to have a great uncertainty buried deep down in our mind reminding either our work is “great” or “it needs improvement”. Poet, Anne Bradstreet, in her poem, “The Author to Her Book,” also experiences the uncertainty and frustration that creating something with your own hands brings. In the poem, the author describes how imperfect and unbearable her work seems to her. In addition, the author conveys her attitude throughout the poem in order to reveal her attachment to her work; hence, the title of the poem “The Author to Her Book.” Through the use of poetic devices such as diction, imagery, and metaphors, in order to reveal Bradstreet’s attitude towards her offspring/writing.

As a female in a highly patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet utilizes the reverse psychology procedure to demonstrate the purpose of her conviction of out of line and unequal treatment of women within her community. Women who wrote ventured outside their appropriate sphere, and the women who really distributed their work much of the time confronted social blame. Adding on to this social pressure, numerous women were faced with smashing workloads and battled with absence of relaxation for their writing. Others experienced an unequal access to training, while others were managing the feeling of intellectual inferiority offered to them from for all intents and purposes each definitive voice, that voice for the most part being male. Bradstreet was brought up in an authoritative family, getting an extensive education with access to private tutors and the Earl of Lincoln's substantial library. She was a part of an authoritative family who energized her written work and coursed it in composition with satisfaction. That sort of support did much to balance the likelihood of public dissatisfaction.

This helps her to subtly show her feminist side while maintaining her puritan goodness. As a female in a highly patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet uses this technique to prove the point of her belief of unfair and unequal treatment of women in her community. She does so to express her opinion in a sarcastic tone by stating, “Men have precedence and still excel”. As the poem continues, Bradstreet reveals that the topic of discussion is war waging, and “Men can do best, and women know it well”. These lines are presented as an under-handed compliment because although Bradstreet professes male superiority on the subject of war, she suggests that perhaps this is not a subject at which one should excel. By utilising a humble tone interspersed with sarcastic wit, Bradstreet is able to communicate her intended message to the

The illustrious idiom “The pen is mightier than the sword.” is the epitome of what Anne Bradstreet achieved through her writing. Bradstreet comprehended the influence that intellectual thought and meaning through writing had on her intended audience, and she utilized this tactic like a king would use force and violence to defeat his enemies. Her father, Thomas Dudely, “…took great care to see that she received and education superior to that of most young women of the time” (Baym 110). Bradstreet was engulfed in a world of Puritan believers—her husband, Simon Bradstreet, and father both believed in the Puritan doctrine and she moved to New England, becoming the first female published poet in America (Baym 110). Although Bradstreet’s poetry was highly skilled, it was often criticized of being unworthy for the mere fact that a woman had written it. One of her most recognized poems is “The Prologue,” where Bradstreet defends her poetry against male critics, proving her advanced education and intellectual capabilities. In “The Prologue” Bradstreet wittingly challenges gender ideals of the Puritan society by questioning the domestic role of women in the 17th century, while appealing to Puritan authority and religion through the humility, a valued attribute among the Puritan community, existing in her poetic language. She utilizes a multitude of literary devices to reinforce her acute literary skills in a profession dominated and controlled by men.