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Analyze the role of religion in colonial American literature
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The biggest difference that I noticed between Bradstreet and Rowlandson compared to writers such as Bradford and Winthrop was the targets of their works. It seems that the male authors were attempting to persuade others to their particular point of view. The women, however, seemed to be mainly condoling themselves through their particular situations. There are, however common themes between all of these authors that are mentioned. They all speak very clearly about God and his role in the lives of these early settlers. Their Puritan beliefs and backgrounds are relatively consistent in this manner. Colonial life for women was probably quite different than it was for men. They likely were not considered equal to men and, in all likelihood, the
Franklin's attitude towards the Native Americans is very different from Mary Rowlandson's because he recognized that even though their manners were different from english men, they weren't savages as Rowlandson described them. In Rowlandson's narrative she clearly shows her opinion on their habits when she says: "and myself also in this wilderness condition," by comparing their normal condition to "wilderness" she calls them animals. Meanwhile Franklin is sure to state that: "These Employments of Men and Women are accounted natural & honorable," and by doing so he clarifies a good opinion on the natives and in the way they lived. Rowlandson also compares the Indian's manners as unpleasant, when she describes: "(in their hellish manner)."
Rowlandson’s journey was uncommon among Puritans of the time. She saw a more humane side of the savage, evil Indians that most Puritans did not or refused to see. Although she attributed their compassionate and humane behavior to god, she did acknowledge it, which was a first among Puritans. Though she may not have done it intentionally, Mary Rowlandson became one of the first Puritans to treat the Indians like human beings in their writing.
Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards lived during a period in time where religion was the basis and foundation of everyday life. Bradstreet and Edwards were both raised in prominent, wealthy, and educated families. Both were extremely intelligent and shared similar religious beliefs. However, the way in which each of them brought forth those beliefs was vastly different.
The colonial woman has often been imagined as a demure person, dressed in long skirt,apron and bonnet, toiling away at the spinning wheel, while tending to the stew at the hearth. In reality, the women of the early settlements of the United States were much more influential, strong and vital to the existence of the colonies. Her role,however, has shifted as the needs of the times dictated.
Anne Bradstreet is an incredible Puritan writer who always stays dedicated to her Puritan beliefs. She would include biblical references and spiritual ideals into her works of poetry of love. Anne Bradstreet published “ The Flesh and the Spirit” 1650, focuses on the internal conflicts in which many puritans faced at this time in history. “Flesh” and “Spirit” always have conflicts with each other they always fight but “spirit” always has the last word. This strengthens her faith because it shows how your redeemed self is strong enough to withhold the temptations of your sinful self. The writings to her husband could be seen, as a type of rebellion is she did not mention the “Spirit” who neglects all “fleshes” tries to persuade her to sin. Bradstreet expresses love for god and her
Religion was the foundation of the early Colonial American Puritan writings. Many of the early settlements were comprised of men and women who fled Europe in the face of persecution to come to a new land and worship according to their own will. Their beliefs were stalwartly rooted in the fact that God should be involved with all facets of their lives and constantly worshiped. These Puritans writings focused on their religious foundations related to their exodus from Europe and religions role in their life on the new continent. Their literature helped to proselytize the message of God and focused on hard work and strict adherence to religious principles, thus avoiding eternal damnation. These main themes are evident in the writings of Jonathan Edwards, Cotton Mathers, and John Winthrop. This paper will explore the writings of these three men and how their religious views shaped their literary works, styles, and their historical and political views.
Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612 to Thomas and Dorothy Dudley in Northampton, England. Her father and a young man named Simon Bradstreet were chosen by the Earl of Lincoln as stewards to manage the Earl’s affairs. Anne, unlike many women of her time, was well educated and it is presumed that she had access to the Earl’s vast library during this time. The Earl’s residence was known for its romantic background and this proved true in 1628 when Anne and Simon married. She was only sixteen to his twenty-five years but they were known to have a happy marriage as evidenced in “To my Dear and Loving Husband” where Bradstreet laments, “If ever two were one, than surely we” (125). In 1630, the Dudley’s and the Bradstreet’s, along with other Puritans, sailed aboard the Arabella to settle the Massachusetts Bay Colony. These families journeyed to America as many Puritan settlers had before them, in the hopes of religious freedoms unattainable in England. In the colonies, Anne’s husband was frequently absent. Bradstreet still found time to write her poetry while raising her 8 children and carrying on the strenuous duties of colonial life.
In the book Good Wives: Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England 1650-1750, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich attempts to highlight the role of women that was typical during this particular time period. During this point in history in hierarchal New England, as stated both in Ulrich’s book and “Give Me Liberty! An American History” by Eric Foner, ordinary women were referred to as “goodwives” (Foner 70). “A married woman in early New England was simultaneously a housewife, a deputy husband, a consort, a mother, a mistress, a neighbor, and a Christian” and possibly even a heroine (Ulrich 9). While it is known that women were an integral part of economic and family life in the colonies during this time, Ulrich notes that it is unlikely
Anne Bradstreet is one of the most remembered American poets who lived during the ages of the 17th century. She faced many hurdles simply because she was a woman taking part of the Puritan law. The Puritans were an assembly of English Protestants that formed in the sixteenth century. The Puritans wanted to cleanse the church by shadowing powerful, stringent religious philosophies which they then earned the name Puritans. They presumed that they were God’s chosen people and that they are an admirable illustration for the rest of the world, attempting to create an exemplary for America. Bradstreet is one of the first notable poets to write English poetry in the American colonies. According to many authors that have studied and written about Bradstreet,
During the time of 1636 a women that goes by the name Anne Hutchinson, took control of Winthrop's Boston church on an attempt to convert the whole colony to a religious view that Winthrop thought of as blasphemy.( Anne Hutchinson had weekly meetings with women of Boston and discussed recent sermons, while speaking her own theological views.) Later Winthrop led a counterattack against her after he became re-elected as governor. In his attempt to demolish her influences, he succeeded. Hutchinson was put on trial, for the charge of “traducing the ministers” and was sentenced to banishment.
Since these colonist came for other reasons than economic expansion, they lived a simple profit life, unlike the South. Most of their profit came from fur trade in their villages or towns and because of this, they didn’t ever need much profit, having all they needed close by them. They couldn’t make profit from tobacco like the South because their geography didn’t allow them to do so. The North had terrible soil and not nearly enough hands to handle a major cash crop like the Southern colonist did. Most of the Northern colonist came in families keeping the ratio of men to women more balanced and giving a household more opportunities to trade. A women of a family usually did trading for things the family needed at that time, giving women more rights and power than a Southern colony. The North also didn’t use servants in their colonies because they had no use for them and didn’t have the money to afford them anyways. To finish, the North relied on trade for their economy which kept the colony close together, and this also made for a more social colony as
Quite atypically for a renowned American poet, Anne Bradstreet was an English-born writer who moved to America in 1630 after enduring an arduous journey (“Anne Bradstreet”). Bradstreet was a devoutly religious Puritan, following the precedent of her father and husband, the most prominent men in her life. Her dedicated Puritan beliefs greatly molded her writings. Many of her poems contain references to sin, redemption, and immortality among other recurrent Puritan topics (“Anne Bradstreet”). Anne Bradstreet’s published poetry collections were the first published works of poetry by an English-American (Eberwein 161-163). Anne Bradstreet was a groundbreaking writer as the first English-American poet of her time; her life experiences, Puritan beliefs, and family greatly influenced her writing topics and led her to accomplish international fame through her collection The Tenth Muse.
If we first look into the gender of comparison of female and male there was always difference which gave the upper hand for men than women. According to the Puritans which were the first English settlers who came and settled in the Americas always thought of women as a helping hand, which is believed to be in the bible itself an example of that “Let your women keep silence in churches: for it is not permitted unto them; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also s...
Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan. Much like all the other Puritans of her time she examined her conscience daily and that they always felt that they were humbled by God's creations and powers. One poem in which she expresses her religion's ideas and philosophies was "Contemplations".
Up until the early 17th century, American literature was chiefly about politics, religion, and recorded events. These writings were very dry and lacked insight into the everyday lives of the authors. To put into writing any individual spiritual reflections that strayed away from the religion of the colony could be dangerous at that time; possibly resulting in banishment from the colony or worse. Likewise, any writing that did not serve at least one of the purposes listed above was considered to be a waste of time that would be better spent praising God. Anne Bradstreet defied the rules of her time by writing about whatever she wanted including personal thoughts, reflections, emotions, and events. Bradstreet was the first to write about personal matters, which is her greatest literary contribution in early American literature.