Anne Bradstreet: an Epitome of Courage - Essay Example

?Anne Bradstreet: An Epitome Of Courage Introduction Art has always been a best friend of man. Men and women who have a tendency to explore every aspect of their lives in detail and try to make sense of it, have always utilized artistic mediums to express themselves. It is ‘art’ that has always helped human beings to explore the depth of their emotions, thoughts, ideologies and dreams, and to express it flamboyantly through different mediums like painting, cinema, plays, literature etc. However, one of the artistic mediums that allow human beings the most freedom of expression is the art of poetry. Through poems, poets express their deepest feelings and thoughts, about the personal, social and political situations of their times. In the past, it was considered that only men are capable of writing poetry, as it takes guts and courage to express the bold and revolutionary thoughts, ideas and feelings openly. Hence, when a woman living in the 17th century, used poetry as a medium to express her deepest and the darkest fears, agonies, hopes and dreams, then it left an unforgettable mark in the history of poetry. The woman who left an indelible mark in the world of literature through her poems which mirrored her deep sentiments and protest against the Puritan ways that restricted women from living a free and respectable life, was Anne Bradstreet (Martin, “An American” 5). When Anne Bradstreet’s poems were reclaimed by American woman writer in 1960’s, then her free thinking and her feelings about woman’s position in the society, made her to be known as a feminist poet (Frost 117). However, feminism in Anne Bradstreet’s poetry was not expressed boldly and ‘loudly’, but was visible in a subtle way through language that was socially acceptable, polished and pious in nature. Even though Anne Bradstreet was a free thinker and believed in equality of women, it can be said that in initial part of her life, feminism was visible more in her intellectual curiosity about God and her bold spiritual quest (which was not expected of women in her time), than through an outright reference to women’s freedom and equality in her poems. However, when she sensed rejection and suppression of her art by people, due to her being a female, then the feminist in her was awakened. Hence, it won’t be wrong to say that it was the love and passion of her art that awakened the feminist in Anne Bradstreet, and made her to revolt against the Puritan restrictions and limitations forced on women in her time. Feminist At Heart Women who are well aware of their rights and fight against the cruel and selfish behavior of men towards them are called as feminists. However, rather than showing her opposition and revolt in her actions and poetry, Anne Bradstreet chose to express her true feelings in mild ways which were in sync with the Puritan America and social standards of her time (Frost 117). Hence, feminism in Anne Bradstreet’s poetry was expressed in subtle ways initially. Rather than writing about her experience of the external world and what she felt and knew about it, Anne Bradstreet’s poetry was a way of escapism from the reality of her life (Rich xiv). She avoided using her personal life experiences as a subject of her poems. It was not common for women of her time (Puritan) to think of anything apart from her limited world of her family, husband, children, household chores and duties (Rich xiv). ‘Independence’ of women was considered a ‘prideful monster’ in the Puritan doctrines (Martin, “Shakespeare’s Sisters” 19). However, Anne Bradstreet was an educated and very well read woman (Rich xi). She was intellectually aware and gained knowledge about the subjects like theology, history and literature (Rich xi). This made her to show curiosity about the topics which were considered the domain of men and hence, she got the reputation of being a modern woman who had spirit to go beyond the limited world that was forced on women of her time (Rich xvi). Hence, her thinking ability and the spirit to go beyond the boundaries set by the male dominated society of her time showed that she was a woman who longed for freedom of her feminine qualities and had an inner urge to live a different life. Hence, one can say that she was a feminist in her heart and some of her poems, though in a mild manner, expressed her unhappiness about the lack of freedom and helplessness of not getting the respect that she deserved. Feminism in Poems Like any other intelligent and educated woman of her times, Anne Bradstreet suffered from fear of ridicule and rejection of her work from the male dominated society. Her fear is evident from her writing in which she said: If what I do prove well, it won’t advance They’l say it’s stoln, or else it was by chance (Rich xvi) This shows that women of her time were not considered capable of doing anything that needed the use of intellect and even if they tried doing something of intellectual nature, they were criticized by saying that they are just trying copy the work of men. Men thought that women were capable and fit to do only the household work. This is evident from the following line in her writing: “Theyl say my hand a needle better fits” (Rich xvi) The above lines that are taken from Bradstreet’s “The Prologue”, hints strongly at gender bias which was prevalent in her time (Harvey 19). At the same time, it is evident that she has avoided discussing it with any specific examples. However, her education and her enjoyment in intellectual endeavors gave her so much strength and pleasure that she started ignoring the petty and fussy faults that people tried to find in her writings (Rich xvi). Hence, in the above piece of writing, the reader realizes the inner frustration and complaint about the way women are treated in the society. This shows that even if Anne Bradstreet did not speak openly about oppression of women, she tried to express the wrong treatment of women in the society through her writings, indirectly. Her leaning towards feminism is also expressed in the poem which was dedicated to her father (Merrim 187). The lines are follows: Yours did contest for wealth, for arts, for age, My first do show their good, and then their rage …And yet in equal tempers, how they ‘gree How divers natures make one unity (Merrim 187) In the above lines, one can sense the Puritan expectations regarding the conduct and the behavior of women during Anne Bradstreet’s time. They were expected to be good and not to express their feelings and thoughts. In such a restrictive society, when a woman tries to gain a respectable position, then she is discouraged by criticizing her work and making her feel worthless. However, the criticism, instead of killing her spirits, made her stronger and hence, it paved a way to Bradstreet turning from a ‘public’ oriented poet to a ‘unique’ and ‘individual’ poet, who expressed feminine and expressive qualities in her poems (Harvey 18). The critics have realized that Anne Bradstreet’s way of expressing her powerlessness thorough her work is so perfect and elaborate that it reveals the strong power hidden inside her (Harvey 18). This shows that she was completely aware of the obstacle that she was going to face in the world of literature, which was a male dominated field in her time, but at the same time, was not afraid to venture into it and that too, so competitively. This shows that she cared for female rights and was ready to fight for it, although in a subtle way. However, her poem, ‘The Tenth Muse’, changed everything. Feminism Unleashed Anne Bradstreet fulfilled all the duties as a woman, which the restrictive Puritan ways expected any woman to fulfill. However, the feminist in Anne Bradstreet came forthright in her poem, ‘The Tenth Muse’ (Martin, “Shakespeare’s Sisters” 19). In her poem ‘The Tenth Muse’, she unabashedly expresses her anger towards the men who thought women as ‘irrational beings’ and has challenged them to think twice before they demoralize her by calling her weak and worthless. The following are the lines from poem: Nay Masculines, you have thus taxt us long, But she, though dead, will vindicate our wrong. Let such as say our Sex is void of reason Know tis a Slander now, but once was treson (Martin, “Shakespeare’s Sisters” 19). She has hinted at the reverse of power in the future by celebrating “Queen Elizabeth’s political power and personal magnetism” in following words: Full fraught with honour, riches and with dayes She set, she set, like Titan in his rayes. No more shall rise or set so glorious sun Until the heavens great revolutions. If then new things their old forms shall retain Eliza shall rule Albion once again (Martin, “Shakespeare’s Sisters” 19). This poem expresses the idea that men are not needed for women to reign the world and female power is self sufficient and complete in itself (Martin, “Shakespeare’s Sisters” 19). In this way, feminism is expressed in Anne Bradstreet’s poems either indirectly or directly. Conclusion The review of Anne Bradstreet’s poems shows that her work became ‘mature’ with the passing time. The Puritan restrictions and the religious doctrines had a great influence on her throughout her life. Hence, it took her some time to understand the depth of her own heart and what her ‘true’ nature was. However, when her art of poetry exposed her to the cruel and suppressive treatment from men in the society, then she removed the mask of ‘untrue’ nature and unleashed her true nature of freedom, power and equality. Her venture in the field of poetry, which was a domain of males, became instrumental in awakening the feminist in her. She became strong and openly expressed her favor for feminism through her poems. Hence, it won’t be wrong to say that it was a threat by the male dominated society to her art that awakened the feminist in her and unleashed feminism through her poems. Works Cited Frost, Elisabeth. The Feminist Avant-garde in American Poetry. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2003. Print. Harvey, Tamara. Figuring Modesty in Feminist Discourse Across the Americas, 1633- 1700. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2008. Print. Merrim, Stephanie. Early Modern Women’s Writing and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Nashville: Vanderbilt UP, 1999. Print. Martin, Wendy. Shakespeare’s Sisters: Feminist Essays on Women Poet. Ed. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Guber. USA: The Association of American University Press, 1979. Print. ---. An American Triptych: AnneBradstreet, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1984. Print. Rich, Adrienne. Foreward. The Works of AnneBradstreet. By JeAnneine Hensley. USA: The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 1967. ix-xxii. Print. Read More