The poem is written in a way that shows a role reversal between the “mother” Old England and the “daughter” New England, because the “daughter” is comforting her mother and asking her what is wrong, and the “mother” is acting like a disappointed child. The poem begins with New England trying to figure out what is wrong with Old England and what is causing them such grief. The “mother” writes, “Art ignorant indeed of these my woes,” (Bradstreet) asking if the child is just ignorant to the suffering that she is going through and warns the child that if she is too die, than the child will also die. “If I decease, dost think thou shalt survive?” (Bradstreet) The daughter goes on to try and speculate what is wrong with her mother lists possible
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Pray, do not fear Spain’s bragging Armado.
Doth your Ally, fair France, conspire your wrack,
Or doth the Scots play false behind your back?
Doth Holland quit you ill for all your love?
Whence is this storm, from Earth or Heaven above?
Is ‘t drought, is ‘t Famine, or is ‘t Pestilence?
Dost feel the smart, or fear the consequence?
Your humble Child entreats you shew your grief. (Anne Bradstreet)
New England cites possible causes of grief such as the Anglo-Saxon conflicts, feudal rebellion, the War of Roses and natural problems such as drought, famine or pestilence. She then asks her mother to just tell her what is ailing her and causing her grief. After hearing those, the mother decides to clarify what is causing her grief. Writing as Old England, Bradstreet writes,
Oh, pity me in this sad perturbation,
My plundered Towns, my houses’ devastation,
My ravisht virgins, and my young men slain,
My wealthy trading fallen, my dearth of grain.
The seedtime’s come, but Ploughman hath no hope
Because he knows not who shall inn his crop.
The poor they want their pay, their children bread, (Anne …show more content…
She is asking her “mother” which is her native country to not give up hope and that once again, their country will be better. As New England, she speaks using the role as a counselor and tells of a foreseen Protestant crusade which will help her mother through these hard times. Bradstreet was a woman who was daring with her poetry which often reflected the tensions of women and their desire to be individual and independent in a society where that was frowned upon. Although she writes poetry that includes many different themes, she is able to connect them all by keeping her writing filled with emotion and part of who is truly is. Bradstreet is able to discuss her love of things both earthly and heavenly without holding back her emotions and in a similar way is able to write about her sorrow about her old country and the turmoil that it is going through. She remained a highly respected woman and a very accomplished one at that. Throughout all of her writing, Bradstreet grows with confidence and matures throughout the course of her life which is shown in her poetry. In many of her poems, Bradstreet went against what was the normal and conventional techniques and topics and created a name for herself in an area that predominately
Pray, do not fear Spain’s bragging Armado.
Doth your Ally, fair France, conspire your wrack,
Or doth the Scots play false behind your back?
Doth Holland quit you ill for all your love?
Whence is this storm, from Earth or Heaven above?
Is ‘t drought, is ‘t Famine, or is ‘t Pestilence?
Dost feel the smart, or fear the consequence?
Your humble Child entreats you shew your grief. (Anne Bradstreet)
New England cites possible causes of grief such as the Anglo-Saxon conflicts, feudal rebellion, the War of Roses and natural problems such as drought, famine or pestilence. She then asks her mother to just tell her what is ailing her and causing her grief. After hearing those, the mother decides to clarify what is causing her grief. Writing as Old England, Bradstreet writes,
Oh, pity me in this sad perturbation,
My plundered Towns, my houses’ devastation,
My ravisht virgins, and my young men slain,
My wealthy trading fallen, my dearth of grain.
The seedtime’s come, but Ploughman hath no hope
Because he knows not who shall inn his crop.
The poor they want their pay, their children bread, (Anne …show more content…
She is asking her “mother” which is her native country to not give up hope and that once again, their country will be better. As New England, she speaks using the role as a counselor and tells of a foreseen Protestant crusade which will help her mother through these hard times. Bradstreet was a woman who was daring with her poetry which often reflected the tensions of women and their desire to be individual and independent in a society where that was frowned upon. Although she writes poetry that includes many different themes, she is able to connect them all by keeping her writing filled with emotion and part of who is truly is. Bradstreet is able to discuss her love of things both earthly and heavenly without holding back her emotions and in a similar way is able to write about her sorrow about her old country and the turmoil that it is going through. She remained a highly respected woman and a very accomplished one at that. Throughout all of her writing, Bradstreet grows with confidence and matures throughout the course of her life which is shown in her poetry. In many of her poems, Bradstreet went against what was the normal and conventional techniques and topics and created a name for herself in an area that predominately