Analysis Of Anne Bradstreets The Prologue And Contemplations

Given that an individual’s identity is an ever-evolving concept, it seems unlikely people would define themselves through a fixed set of character traits. Identity is complex process that changes with the beliefs and ideas of the individual, and it is a necessary one in order for an individual to thrive in society. The changeability of one’s identity offers perspective about the world, and it allows them to gain personal insights about who they are and their place in this world. Anne Bradstreet expresses her shifting identity in her poems â€Å"The Prologue† and â€Å"Contemplations.† Through her writings, one witnesses Bradstreet contemplate the natural elements around her as well as her own Puritan ideals in an effort to gain spiritual†¦show more content†¦/ Nor can I, like that fluent sweet tongued Greek,† (Bradstreet 111, lines 16-19). In bringing up Greek mythology, one speculates how committed Bradstreet truly is to Christianity. It is important to consider, however, that exploring such ideologies through her writing does not necessarily detract from her Christian identity. Ultimately, the mention of these varying ideologies reinforces the idea of an ever-evolving identity, and it emphasizes the extent to which Bradstreet relies on ideals outside of herself in order to form her identity. One identity Bradstreet considers and reflects apart from her spiritual one is her identity as a woman and poet in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Bradstreet illustrates the challenges she encounters in â€Å"The Prologue,† expressing, â€Å"I am obnoxious to each carping tongue / Who says my hand a needle better fits / [†¦] If what I do prove well, it won’t advance, / They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance† (page 111, lines 25-30). Bradstreet is ultimately able to recognize that prejudices toward women do exist; equally so, she understands that attempting to rectify her situation may not be in her best interest. In accordance with this possibility, Bradstreet appears to embody a kind of intuition not explicitly stated within the text. She identifies strongly with her womanhood here, and in a way, she uses it to her advantage. More symbolically, it proposes thatShow MoreRelatedAnne Bradstreet and the Puritan Community Essay 2029 Words   |  9 Pagesmany ways, it is also important to consider the individuals’ within the community who would have as well had a say in the construct of such a society. One individual whose view is especially interesting in considering Winthrop’s message is Anne Bradstreet. Anne Bradstreet was very much a part of the Puritan community, and in many ways, she understood the implications of a model of Christianity. She was a woman who embodied the traditional role of woman as wife and mother, but she also was a poet at