These difficulties were because her husband traveled often due to responsibilities that took him away from home. Her husband always traveling, and scarcely being home is what sparked many to believe she had the potential of challenging Puritan ideals. As stated previously it was frowned upon for women to voice their public opinion, yet in her husband's absence it was necessary for Bradstreet to take on the roles her husband left behind. According to Charlotte Gordon, By necessity, Anne had evolved into what has been called a 'deputy husband,' a wife who legally, politically, and economically acted for her spouse, signing his name if she needed to, and even speaking as his representative in sessions of the local court (Gordon 200). Now, not only did Bradstreet threaten to challenge Puritan ideals by her actions in this specific situation, there are also instances that can be found within her writing that can be considered questionable as to what she is trying to portray. .
Upon the careful of examination and analysis of Bradstreet's first literary work, The Prologue, there are several different quotes that should be discussed due to the fact that they give the impression that they are challenging the Puritan ideals. In the fifth stanza Bradstreet states, I am obnoxious to each carping tongue who says my hand a needle better fits, a poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong, for such despite they cast on female wits: If what I do prove well, it won't advance, they'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance (Bradstreet 111). In simpler terms it can be concluded that in this stanza of her poem, Bradstreet is stating how she is obnoxious to those who believe she should be doing the simple duties of a common woman. She is also placing emphasis on the fact that during this time women were perceived as not very bright, and that even if her work does grab interest of readers, credit will not be given to her because people will not believe she actually wrote it.
