Anne Bradstreet is one of the outstanding poets who significantly influenced American literature. Her contribution to the development of literature becomes even more significant considering her biography and the period when she lived. Anne Bradstreet was born on March 20, 1612, in the period of male domination and supremacy. However, she acquired a good education, which became a critical factor impacting her writings and style (Gordon 3). The fact that she became a well-educated woman became central for the future themes and ideas reflected in the poems she wrote. Her knowledge, combined with the experiences gained from migrating to America and living there with her husband, preconditioned the emergence of several important themes typical for her works.
Puritanism is one of the most commonly mentioned ideas that the poet often discusses. She accepted the role of God in her life; however, she also tries to find meaning in life and answer important questions about her position there. For instance, the poem “The Flesh and the Spirit” can be viewed as the opposition of two arguing aspects of human nature, helping Bradstreet to discuss the elements of the Puritan faith. She states, “Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,” clearly outlining the dominance of spiritual values in her life (Bradstreet 233). However, the symbolic dialogue between two sisters, Flesh and Spirit, shows that Bradstreet also has inner conflicts making her think about religious issues.
The discussion of male superiority is another essential theme in poetry of Bradstreet. Being a part of the Puritan society, a good wife, and a mother, she had to accept her subordinate role. Moreover, she seems happy in her relations. In her poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” she says, “If ever two were one, then surely we. / If ever man were loved by wife, then thee” (Bradstreet 237). The lines prove her adherence to Puritanism values and readiness to follow her husband and give him all her love. However, at the same time, she also introduces the idea that men and women are different and might perform different roles. In another poem, “In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess, Queen Elizabeth,” Bradstreet views the queen as the most just and wisest ruler, even compared to men (Bradstreet 220). It shows her ideas that females can also play important roles and take an active part in the life of society.
In general, Bradstreet also touched upon numerous other themes in her poetry. These include motherhood, love, nature, and relations between human beings (Gordon 109). This diversity can be viewed as one of the critical factors which influenced the future development of American poetry. As one of the first English poets of North America, she outlined themes that could be discussed by other poets in their creations. Moreover, she became an example showing that women might also have feelings that can be embodied in the paper (Gordon 112). Her style and approaches created the basis for the future evolution of literature in the New World.
Altogether, Anne Bradstreet is a unique poet of North America. Her life full of various events created the basis for the emergence of strong emotions and feelings. They became the fuel for her talent and provided multiple themes for the discussion. The ideas of Puritanism, relations between men and women, and her own place in society became vital for the further evolution of American poetry. They also served as examples inspiring others and helping them to start writing.
Works Cited
Bradstreet, Anne. “The Flesh and the Spirit.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Volume: Beginnings to 1820, edited by Robert Levine et al., W. W. Norton & Company, 2017, p. 233.
Bradstreet, Anne. “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Volume: Beginnings to 1820, edited by Robert Levine et al., W. W. Norton & Company, 2017, p. 237.
Bradstreet, Anne. “In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess, Queen Elizabeth.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Volume: Beginnings to 1820, edited by Robert Levine et al., W. W. Norton & Company, 2017, p. 220.
Gordon, Charlotte. Mistress Bradstreet: The Untold Life of America’s First Poet. Little, Brown and Company, 2005.