Anne Bradstreet: Struggles and Beliefs of The Puritan Faith

As evidenced by the selected poems, Anne’s firm faith in religion is the key to setting up the background of her poetic publications. This is similar to Puritan religious beliefs, which were also published during the era. From several literacy works, Anne Bradstreet was struggling with her belief as a puritan faith. As a child, she has gone through many distressing circumstances that led her to become an influential writer during her time. Since writing was not deliberated to be a suitable character for women at the time, she was usually met with disapproval. She proves that she could conquer in the world of writing, just like any other famous writer such as John Winthrop. Bradstreet sustained to compose poems and other works that led to the belief that she was involved in protesting contrary to societal standards of her time. This work will identify some of her struggles and how she explained herself through poetry. Puritan faith will also be discussed with reference to work by John Winthrop and William Bradford and how both of these texts played a huge role in the puritan theme.

In regard to her poem “Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of our House,” she defines her response to coming around in the night and escaping from her household since it was on fire (Bradstreet 243). In the far ahead part of the verse, Bradstreet battles with worldly possessions. However, she eventually resolves this issue. She could not grieve the loss of her home for the reason that God has formed a future home for her in Paradise. She clings onto her belief and makes this dreadful ordeal into a calming sensation. Bradstreet clarifies that she was not interested in the viewpoint for the likelihood of a disaster since she was sleeping. Upon her awakening, she overhears the sound of the fire and realizes the bright light all over the place. Her immediate reaction is to request God to provide her the power to devour this experience. She escapes from the house in a rush and witnesses the fire is engulfing her house. After she cannot stand to stare at her home, she cheers God and declares it is a give and takes that he took her home because the house indeed was owned by God and not hers (Bradstreet, line 17). Bradstreet, later on, narrates how, after the fire, she frequently came across her home and recalled wherever her belongings were positioned. Later on, she initiates to reprimand herself for concentrating on earthly properties, which can be so effortlessly damaged. She advises herself to increase her feelings to heaven as an alternative and anticipates the home that God has built for her. Therefore, in this set of mind, she could bid goodbye to her earthly properties. Even though Bradstreet suffers the loss of her possessions, she keeps a constant mindset that God will gift her with even more holy assets when that time is to come.

With reference to Bradstreet's other work, “The Flesh and the Spirit” (Bradstreet 233), is a figurative poem talking about the mortal spirit and physical body. ‘The Spirit’ and ‘The Flesh’ are embodied and are supposed to be sisters. The discussion between them carries on the thoughts of the structures and what the spirit and the flesh are invented. The poem is established in an age where puritans stand in a position of the physical desire misleading one that of the higher preference of the soul is discussed. The battle concerning the two basics of mortal survival, ‘Spirit’ and ‘Flesh,’ is portrayed in verse in an evident way. The poem glorifies the Spirit and vanquishes the Flesh. Bradstreet describes a struggle concerning the ‘Spirit’ and ‘Flesh’ as two sisters. While Suppressing the Flesh and elevating the Spirit, she attempts to describe that the spirit offers us a delight desire of additional importance than that of bodily desire. On the way to Lacrim (tears), the author overhears the two sisters taking a dispute.

Flesh requests Spirit on the reason of her living on 'meditation” (Bradstreet, lines 9-10), and if thinking and assumption can fulfill the awareness or concept deprived of certainty. She requests her sister whether she contemplates of whatever is outside the moon and needs to demonstrate to her some wisdom, building her to understand that material is dishonor in diversity. Therefore, she says, “Can Speculation satisfy, Notion without Reality?” (Bradstreet, lines 13-14). This relates to the troubles that the puritans can relate to. Sometimes our earthly desires are the destruction to our humanity, and what remains of our spirit will be in the hands of God.

Anne Bradstreet’s faith is further described in her other poem, “For Deliverance from a Fever” (Bradstreet 243). The verse commences with Bradstreet relating to her sorrow. Her body is drenched in sweat and boiling (Bradstreet, line 5). She is agonizing on the cause of traumatic instance and full of mental distress, while her head pains. She suffers a lot and is incapable of catching a relaxed bodily posture. Her distress is corresponding to her physical agony. She is going through some excessive chaos inside her soul. Therefore, she worries that God is unhappy with her since she is not able to further find confirmation of his kindness or the assistance of healing. She snaps into the reality of her belief in God’s power and test of endurance, requesting him to show his aspect to her and to guard her spirit against burning when she perishes. God recognizes her nature and is undoubtedly challenging her strong suit. She requests for his compassion and wishes him to reconcile her spirit. She comprehends in case her form goes into the dirt. She will lastly go in his presence. In her troubled form, she requires God, requesting him to reveal himself to her. She articulates that he alone identifies the right matters of her nature. She understands that in case her body will be unable to repair itself, then her spirit justifies being protected. In case her physical form drops into dust, her spirit needs to be taken before God and in His righteousness. This type of assumed course would have been heartening for Puritans since they suppose that their sorrow on this world was planned to take them near to God and change their emphasis on eternal life.

The struggles and faith of a Puritan faith are further demonstrated in “A Model of Christian Charity” (Winthrop 178). Winthrop starts his sermon by explaining that God Almighty, in his greatest divine and intelligent anticipation, was very inclined to the disorder of human beings. Because of some need to be wealthy, some deprived, some great and distinguished by their influence and self-respect while some unkind and in domination. He later mentions the motives why God created people to have diverse situations from each other. He then changes on to clarify the two principal rules that have to administer all relations inside a public. These two rules include mercy and justice. He reasons that mercy and justice have to be implemented equally by the poor and the rich; this is because the poor and the rich require them. Each must fulfill in order to bring the world to equality and balance. He concludes that these two guidelines with an overruling law that human beings are demanded to love their neighbor as to how they love themselves.

William Bradford’s work, “Of Plymouth Plantation,” A subject in this manuscript is to be appreciative to God for that which He has blessed us with.  There exist many explanations where he shows this impression.  An example is when they reached a decent harbor and were harmless to land. They were grateful to God of heaven. He made it possible for them and brought them from the threats and desolations and delivered them on the stable and firm earth. This displays how the individuals, comparable to Puritan beliefs, have faith in God. Puritans were attentive exclusively to God. The travelers had been experiencing a tough and diligent voyage to be permissible to the liberty to exercise their faith to whatever fits their needs quickly. There is a short section in which Bradford’s speaks of a “very profane young man” (Bradford 142). He exemplifies that this man would shout out words of profanity to the “poor people in their sickness” (Bradford 142), and promised to cast them to the deep depths of the sea. Ironically, he proves to be the one sick and in turn, gets a taste of his own medicine. Bradford’s purpose in describing this mocking tribulation is to prove that the shameful mockery of one’s action can defy God’s will, and to be unkind to someone will bring distance to the heavens that God offers for his puritans.

Puritans, like modern Christians, suffered a lot and went through many difficulties in their daily lives. However, having a strong faith in God and knowing how He works is what is essential since faith in him is what would keep one to go on even in those difficult situations. Struggles were every day in daily Puritans' lives, but this could not stop a true believer from overcoming them, especially if they relied on God for support and to fill them with strength. Puritans were appreciative of the dedication that God gave upon them. They were not upset when possessions were not successful then as of how they would have chosen. Anne Bradstreet does an impressive job of expressing her grief and exposing the dirty desires that we humans tend to dwell on. Even if our life was full of sickness and unfortunate events, it should not matter because, in the end, God will gift us with everlasting glory. The works of William Bradford and John Winthrop significantly highlight the journey that Puritans went through, and the standards are to live up to the expectations of God.

Works Cited

• Bradford, William. “Of Plymouth Plantation.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature”, Beginnings to 1820, Volume A, edited by Robert S. Levine, Ninth edition, Norton, 2017, pg. 132-167.
• Bradstreet, Anne. “For Deliverance from a Fever.', The Norton Anthology of American Literature”, Beginnings to 1820, Volume A, edited by Robert S. Levine, Ninth edition, Norton, 2017, pg. 233-234.
• Bradstreet, Anne. “Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of our House, July 10, 1666.” “The Norton Anthology of American Literature,” Beginnings to 1820, Volume A, edited by Robert S. Levine, Ninth edition, Norton, 2017, pg. 243-244.
• Bradstreet, Anne. “The Flesh and the Spirit.', The Norton Anthology of American Literature”, Beginnings to 1820, Volume A, edited by Robert S. Levine, Ninth edition, Norton, 2017, pg. 243.
• Winthrop, John. 'A Model of Christian Charity.' The Norton Anthology of American Literature”, Beginnings to 1820, Volume A, edited by Robert S. Levine, Ninth edition, Norton, 2017, pg. 178-189.