Anne Bradstreet was one of the English speaking first poets in North America, as her poetry has withstood the test of time. She married Simon Bradstreet, who also shared her deep Puritan beliefs. She raised eight children on an isolated farm, spending most of her time doing household work and writing poetry. In her work, it is evident that she struggles deeply between her deeply rooted Puritan beliefs and her passion for the material and intellectual world. The Puritan community frowned on Woman writing, since it was an unseemly behavior for Woman. For this reason, she was very careful and cautious about the way she wrote because she often hid the true meanings of her writing. I believe that there are two meanings to her work, what she really means and what she wants the readers to think the meaning is. .
The poem, upon the burning of our House, depicts Bradstreet's devout belief in God. She "blest His name that gave and took". Even though she is left with nothing, she still praises the Lord and believes it is his will. In addition, she is self-deprecating in the beginning of her prologue because she believes that she is unworthy. Even though she believes her "mean pen" is too a superior thing, she still believes her "obscure lines shall not dim their worth". She puts her self down in this line and I believe that she would be surprised if she knew that four hundred years later her work would be published in every American literature book. .
Maybe Bradstreet's isolation was merely a way to do what she enjoyed most, while not defying the traditions of Puritanism. It would be very difficult to live in a world where you were told what you were supposed to do or become. Nevertheless, I believe that Anne Bradstreet was as ambitious Woman, who deserves a lot of respect for her writings for she surpassed all opposition.
