HW for Feb 9: Women in the Colonies
Do some research on the topic of "Women in the Colonies" and answer either or both:
1. Compare the experiences of Mary Rowlandson (read only p. 48 and pages 53-58) and Anne Bradstreet (p. 45-47)
2. Choose one of Anne Bradstreet's poems and present a text analysis reflecting on the topic.
Anne Bradstreet was a 17th century New England Puritan. She became one of the first poets to write in English in the American colonies.
ReplyDeleteThe poem “To my dear and loving husband” is autobiographical and describes the marriage between the Anne and her husband. It goes on about how passionate and wonderful their love is.
By analysing the poem one can view the religious aspect of her personality. The poem starts with “If ever two were one, then surely we”, we can observe the very religious notion that two become one through marriage.
Through these two verses “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,/Or all the riches that the East doth hold” the poetic subject cites that her husband’s love was worth more than all the riches. It is invaluable.
In the verse “My love is such that rivers cannot quench” the poetic subject is possibly alluding to the biblical Song of Solomon that says, “Many waters cannot quench love”. As mentioned before the poet was a Puritan and well versed with the Bible. Through the use of this line and imagery, the poetic subject creates a connection between their love and the Bible’s presentation of love.
With the last verses “Thy love is such I can no way repay;/The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.” the poetic subject claims to believe that the Heavens will reward her husband for the love he has given her by granting him enter heaven. Their love is so pure that it will give him a place in heaven.
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Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%208&version=ESV
"Verses upon the Burning of our House" is inspired by Bradstreet’s real event of the burning of her house in Andover, Massachusetts in 1666. The poet mourns the loss her home, however, despite the tragedy, she manages to build strength through her faith and look at the brighter side (“And when I could no longer look\ I blest his [God’s] grace that gave and took”). Bradstreet takes this a lesson that religious faith weights over material/worldly possessions (“He might of all justly bereft/ But yet sufficient for us left.”). As a Puritan, the poet recognizes that life on Earth is temporary and transitional, which enhances of her spiritual connection with God (“Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity./Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:/And did thy wealth on earth abide,/Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,/
ReplyDeleteThe arm of flesh didst make thy trust?/Raise up thy thoughts above the sky”). Rest assured, her temporarily house burned to the ground, but she’ll live in the heavenly Kingdom forever.
Carla Alves
Through a comparative analysis of the works of Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet, it is clear that these two women had similar perspectives over their role in the patriarchal and puritan society, the terrible conditions they had to go through and the necessity of leaning on spiritual thinking in order to attain hope.
ReplyDeleteThe captivity narrative of Mary Rowlandson had to be revised by the puritan leaders, which were men, to assure that it did not contain something against their ideology. When reading this text, an attempt of legitimizing the ideology of the puritan community prevails (Simões, 1999). For instance, the text presents the idea of God's punishment as the way to reinforce the narrator's faith and the description of the indians as “barbarous”, “merciless enemies” and “inhuman creatures” is compared to “hell” and it is also situated in contrast with the “power” and the “gracious and merciful esprit” of God.
In the case of Anne Bradstreet, in the poem “The Author to Her Book” , she presents her work as if she was embarrassed of it, due to its “errors” and highlighting its unrefined nature. However, the end of the poem clearly states the justification for its essence, it is because it does not have a “father”, just a “mother”, while claiming that “thy mother, she ala is poor”. Therefore, Bradstreet is positioning herself in an inferior position towards men.
Moreover, Mary Rowlandson uses the rhetorical strategy of “pathos”, always appealing to the emotions of the reader with expressions, such as, “violent fever”, “cold winter” and “my poor wounded babe upon a horse”. The author describes, not only how harsh her experience was, but also gives prominence to the fragile condition of the human and the iminent feeling that the characters can die at any moment, if they were not being carried by God (“God was with me, [...] carrying me along”).
In Anne Bradstreet's poems, the inevitability of death and the necessity for a spiritual connection. The poetic voice admits her possible death, after reflecting on the human fragility “But with death’s parting blow are sure to meet”, while she implores to her loved one to protect her children. Particularly, the use of emotional expressions, such as “when thy loss shall be repaid with gains / Look to my little babes, my dear remains”, in which a more reflective component on whether the loss is compensated by the gains is evoked.
All things considered, both works “had to have male sanctioning in order to be published” (Simões, 1999.), since, in the puritan society, women's writing was seen as potentially dangerous for the community. Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet’s literary creations describe emotionally their own survival and imminent death between the lines of their perspective of her own condition within the puritan society.
Simões, Elsa. "Anne Bradstreet e Mary White Rowlandson: uma fuga do cativeiro puritano." Revista da UFP 3 (1999): 23-30.
2) "To My Dear and Loving Husband" is a poem written by Anne Bradstreet, in the seventeenth century. This poem focuses on the deep love that Bradstreet feels for her husband.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the poem, we can see the couple is clearly in syntony. It is like their souls are connected, like if they were one entity (“If ever two one, then surely we. / If ever man were loved by wife, then thee”). Moreover, she expresses gratitude for the love that she shares with her husband, even saying that their love is worth more than “whole mines of gold”. This implies that what they both share is priceless and more precious than anything in the world. At the end, Bradstreet emphasizes how their love is eternal. Even when they die, their love will persist, which shows how strong and special their feelings are. But we may also argue that there is a reference to Christianity, since Bradstreet, as a Puritan, believed in redemption and in the salvation of the body and soul. (Then while we live, in love let’s so preserver, / Then when we live no more, we may live ever”). In the seventh verse (“My love is such that rivers cannot quench”), we can even see similarities with a passage of the Song of Solomon (“Many waters cannot quench love”). This Biblical reference is probably due to the fact that Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan and lived in a Puritan society. We can also see a reference to religion in the tenth verse, where she hopes that her husband’s devotion will be rewarded, by letting him enter Heaven (“The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray”). So, we can see that Bradstreet describes the love that she shares with her husband as powerful, precious, sacred and eternal.
I particularly appreciated how she is not afraid to express the love that see feels for her husband, but also how she is not being excessively emotional. She expresses her love with simplicity, yet in a beautiful and impactful way.
- Beatriz Bicudo Cunha
2.
ReplyDelete"To My Dear and Loving Husband" provides insight into the experiences and roles of women in the colonies during the 17th century.
Firstly, Anne Bradstreet was a highly educated and intellectually curious woman. Who challenged stereotypes about women's intellectual capabilities during this period. Her ability to write poetry and engage in literary expression highlights the presence of educated and articulate women in colonial society, other than being confined to their domestic roles.
Bradstreet's poem reflects the prevailing societal expectation that women's primary role was within the domestic sphere, focused on family and home. The poem's intimate tone and emphasis on love and devotion to her husband highlight the importance of marital relationships in women's lives. As well as expressing deep affection for her husband, Bradstreet's portrayal also suggests a degree of subordination typical of the time while also reflecting the notion of women being subordinate to their husbands within the patriarchal structure of colonial society. Nonetheless, they are deeply connected and in syntony, alongside their mutual love. “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,/Or all the riches that the East doth hold”.
Milene Ferreira
“Exploring the experiences of Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet as women in the colonies offers a compelling glimpse into the multifaceted roles and challenges that women navigated during the colonial era. Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative not only chronicles the physical and emotional turmoil she endured during her captivity but also underscores her unwavering faith and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardships. As a devout Puritan woman, religion played a crucial role in Rowlandson's life, shaping her worldview and providing her with solace and strength during her darkest moments. Rowlandson's narrative is imbued with references to scripture and religious reflections, highlighting her deep-seated belief in God's providence and her reliance on prayer and faith to sustain her through adversity.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Anne Bradstreet, known as one of the earliest American poets, defied traditional gender norms by engaging in intellectual pursuits and expressing her thoughts and emotions through her poetry. Bradstreet's works, such as her collection of poems in 'The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America,' challenged the prevailing notion that women were better suited for domestic roles and highlighted her intellectual prowess and literary talent. By asserting her voice and asserting her right to participate in the literary sphere, Bradstreet paved the way for future generations of female writers and intellectuals.
In comparing the experiences of Rowlandson and Bradstreet, we witness the diversity of women's experiences in the colonies and the ways in which they navigated societal expectations and challenges. While Rowlandson's narrative reflects the harsh realities of captivity and the resilience of the human spirit, Bradstreet's poetry showcases the power of women's voices and their capacity to challenge and transcend societal constraints. Together, these two women exemplify the strength, resilience, and creativity of colonial women, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and resonate with readers today.”
By Bárbara Soares