The Puritan Tension In Anne Bradstreet's Poem

The Puritan Tension Anne Bradstreet was a Puritan who was a prolific poet during the 1600’s. During this time period women were barred from participating in literature. It was rare for female writers to stay within the Christian beliefs and not sway from Puritan ideals. Bradstreet’s writing alludes to the normal tension seen in the Puritan theology and lifestyle. Puritan’s believed in self-examination which gave Bradstreet the framework needed to explore her own steps within and outside the Puritan beliefs, but still allowed her the ultimate promise of heaven as demonstrated in “Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666”. The opening image of sleep indicates that Bradstreet has not been watchful for sin. Puritans believed that one should go through life as if the second coming of Christ were to happen in their lifetime. The fire refers to this day of judgement that the Puritans must always be prepared for. Bradstreet recognizes this Puritan goal, “That fearful sound of ‘Fire’ and “Fire! / Let no man know is my desire” (451). To stay in line with Puritan beliefs, Bradstreet prays for God to help her. This suggests that Bradstreet was asking for strength to overcome her weakness with her lost possessions. For Puritan doctrine this …show more content…
Bradstreet is able to question the situation in this section. Ultimately she is able to realize this is an act of God. This would have still been justifiable in Puritan ideologies. Bradstreet is able to demonstrate Puritan tensions with by expressing her feelings of loss towards her home and the memories surrounding it, “My pleasant things in ashes lie/ And them behold no more Shall I. / Under thy roof no guest shall sit” (452). This section of personal loss ends with Bradstreet referring to her own earthly possessions as being nothing but “Vanity” and bidding “Adieu, Adieu” to them