More precisely, "Bradstreet's refined verse conforms to and perfects many of the standard poetic conventions used by men and is a subtle assertion of women's capabilities in the literary sphere" (Schlotterbeck, 2002) Therefore, she was one of the first women to write and the first to be published in 1650. Similarly, the next century, Phillis Whatley was the first African-American woman to ever publish a book at the end of the 18th century (Gates, ?)
In this sense, Anne Bradstreet was educated in the spirit of the first feminist poetry and determined a wave of writing that reflected the first attempts of women writings. More precisely, "Bradstreet's refined verse conforms to and perfects many of the standard poetic conventions used by men and is a subtle assertion of women's capabilities in the literary sphere" (Schlotterbeck, 2002) Therefore, she was one of the first women to write and the first to be published in 1650
For example, Bradstreet believed "the pain of child labor is God's corrective tool." (Gordon 137)
"Bradstreet often intended that her spiritual meditations might serve not only to reconcile herself to God but also to testify to her family about God's work in her life." (Nichols 55)
/Thou by old Adam wast begot,/but my arise is from above,/Whence my dear father I do love. (Bradstreet) Bradstreet describes Flesh as the product of Adam, while Spirit is the product of God
The poet locates the debating personae inside the speaker's head, close to the source of tears: "In secret place where once I stood / Close by the banks of Lacrim flood" (215), making their abstract, allegorical nature unambiguous. (Jaskoski 182) The message of the work is clear, Puritans, and even Puritan women struggled with the coveting the things of the earth
Bradstreet's poetry is attractive to us because she is so honest about her affections. " (Millier and Parini 6-7) the world in which Bradstreet lived is reflected in her poetry, but especially well, in "The Flesh and the Spirit," as the world becomes only a shell of words and deeds, while the love of God is eternal and far more promising in its gifts
For women -- albeit, there were few women writers at the time who were the caliber of Anne Bradshaw -- becoming a popular poet was an occurrence of substantive suspect. So much so that a prologue to Anne Bradshaw's book, offered to the public by John Woodbridge, Bradshaw's brother-in-law, offers the following clarification -- lest anyone harbor suspicions (Cowell)
Writers such as Anne Bradshaw and Edward Taylor used their talents to help their brethren stay on a very straight and narrow path, indeed. The Puritans were a surprisingly well-educated group of people (Rowe)
Wendy Martin writes Bradstreet received an "excellent education from her father, who was widely read" (Martin). According to Martin, Cotton Mather claimed that Thomas Dudley (Bradstreet's father) as a "devourer of books'" (Martin)
She was looking for some form of enrichment in almost every circumstance. Jeannine Hensley adds that Bradstreet is the "first in a long line of American poets who took the consolation not from theology but from the 'wondrous works'" (Hensley 200) she observed while living
As we have discussed, Christianity was a surprising result of Wheatley's experience. We read, "mercy brought me from my Pagan land" (Wheatley On Being Brought from Africa to America 1)
As we have discussed, Christianity was a surprising result of Wheatley's experience. We read, "mercy brought me from my Pagan land" (Wheatley On Being Brought from Africa to America 1)