Anne Bradstreet authored many poems and changed the world of literature. She was a woman who, against popular opinion, wanted her voice heard and did this through her poetry. Bradstreet’s poetry reveals her emotions and allows others to experience these emotions as well. She describes her experiences with life’s ups and downs and personal struggle. Bradstreet, as a Puritan, was devoted to God and believed His will controlled all things. In her poems “The Flesh and the Spirit” and “Upon the Burning of Our House” Bradstreet writes about her faith in God and the struggle of resisting the temptation of world.
In the poem “The Flesh and the Spirt” Bradstreet illustrates the struggle between earthly treasures and heavenly ones by depicting Flesh …show more content…
Flesh mocks the Spirit for believing and having faith in a heavenly treasure that she cannot see. Flesh tries to tempt the Spirit with worldly wealth: “Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold, Than the eyes can see or hands can hold” (31-32). The Flesh feeds on immediate gratification and pleasure which is obtained through worldly wealth and riches. The Spirit responds to the Flesh with reprimand for trying to tempt her heart: “Be still thou unregenerate part, Disturb no more my settled heart” (37-38). The Spirit views the Flesh as an unsaved and unrepentant sinner who is enslaved by the desire of “worldly wealth and vanity” (6). The Flesh poses many questions and the Spirit addresses each one in her response; everything she seeks or needs is from “above.” The Spirit feeds on the promises and faithfulness of God: “The word of life it is my meat” (68). The Spirit is led by faith in God’s promises of heavenly treasure and eternal life in a city without sickness, sorrow, pain, or darkness. This is a …show more content…
Bradstreet writes about losing all of her “pleasant things” for example, her trunk chest and store and about grieving what she has lost; her grieving the loss of worldly treasures is due to the flesh’s desires for worldly treasures (25-27). The spirit comforts her during grieving and reminds her that all is not lost. Bradstreet is reminded her possessions did not belong to her but to God; and He is a just God who can give and take away (14-19). This acknowledgement and understanding gives her comfort and she recognizes the worthlessness and vanity of earthly wealth (54). As a Puritan, Bradstreet, believes vanity is one of the seven deadly sins and becomes self-critical of her fleshly desires asking: “And did thy wealth on earth abide / Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust/ The arm of flesh didst make thy trust” (38-40). Her loss increases her understanding of the emptiness and temperance of material wealth. As a result, Bradstreet decides to place her worth in God. Her hope is renewed because she is no longer focused on the loss of earthly treasures and riches but on “thoughts above the sky” (41). Bradstreet knew that the heavenly treasures that waited for her were eternal and its worth beyond her imagination. She no longer grieved her losses because her treasure was everlasting. She struggles between flesh and spirit but in the end her spirit shines through; “The world no
In the poem “The Flesh and the Spirt” Bradstreet illustrates the struggle between earthly treasures and heavenly ones by depicting Flesh …show more content…
Flesh mocks the Spirit for believing and having faith in a heavenly treasure that she cannot see. Flesh tries to tempt the Spirit with worldly wealth: “Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold, Than the eyes can see or hands can hold” (31-32). The Flesh feeds on immediate gratification and pleasure which is obtained through worldly wealth and riches. The Spirit responds to the Flesh with reprimand for trying to tempt her heart: “Be still thou unregenerate part, Disturb no more my settled heart” (37-38). The Spirit views the Flesh as an unsaved and unrepentant sinner who is enslaved by the desire of “worldly wealth and vanity” (6). The Flesh poses many questions and the Spirit addresses each one in her response; everything she seeks or needs is from “above.” The Spirit feeds on the promises and faithfulness of God: “The word of life it is my meat” (68). The Spirit is led by faith in God’s promises of heavenly treasure and eternal life in a city without sickness, sorrow, pain, or darkness. This is a …show more content…
Bradstreet writes about losing all of her “pleasant things” for example, her trunk chest and store and about grieving what she has lost; her grieving the loss of worldly treasures is due to the flesh’s desires for worldly treasures (25-27). The spirit comforts her during grieving and reminds her that all is not lost. Bradstreet is reminded her possessions did not belong to her but to God; and He is a just God who can give and take away (14-19). This acknowledgement and understanding gives her comfort and she recognizes the worthlessness and vanity of earthly wealth (54). As a Puritan, Bradstreet, believes vanity is one of the seven deadly sins and becomes self-critical of her fleshly desires asking: “And did thy wealth on earth abide / Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust/ The arm of flesh didst make thy trust” (38-40). Her loss increases her understanding of the emptiness and temperance of material wealth. As a result, Bradstreet decides to place her worth in God. Her hope is renewed because she is no longer focused on the loss of earthly treasures and riches but on “thoughts above the sky” (41). Bradstreet knew that the heavenly treasures that waited for her were eternal and its worth beyond her imagination. She no longer grieved her losses because her treasure was everlasting. She struggles between flesh and spirit but in the end her spirit shines through; “The world no