In the course of this paper, Anne Bradstreet's poems “In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory” and “The Prologue” will serve as a medium to demonstrate the writer’s view on the way women were portrayed. In the Puritan society of the 17th century America women occupied a special role and had only limited room for action. The notion of the submissive “Puritan Goodwife” was the common picture given by society by which married women should live and behave. As a result, this also meant that women were not allowed to participate in public affairs. Furthermore, they were not seen as equal to men but rather as appendages, because they had to submit to their husbands as these had to submit to God. Anne Bradstreet however, who was one of the first female Puritan poets, shows in her works that she does not completely go along with the image of women which was given by Puritan society.
The following lines are an excerpt out of Anne Bradstreet’s poem “The Prologue”: From schoolboy’s tongue no rhet’ric we expect, Nor yet a sweet consort from broken strings, Nor perfect beauty where’s a main defect: My foolish, broken, blemished Muse so sings, And this to mend, alas, no art is able, ‘Cause nature made it so irreparable. Although the Puritan poet claims in “The Prologue” (1650) that women have a “main defect” in the domain of literature which is even “. . . irreparable”, she demonstrates by her own contradictory way of writing that she is aware that there are women who can actually do equal to men. Anne Bradstreet thus uses the poetic form as an instrument of hidden critique against the common picture of women in Puritan society, who were deeply dependent on the male sex.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Anne Bradstreet's "The Prologue": A Hidden Critique
- "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory": A Portrait of Female Strength
- Dependence and Independence: Contrasting Female Roles
- Conclusion (Not Summarized)
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes Anne Bradstreet's poetry, focusing on how she subtly critiques the limited roles assigned to women in 17th-century Puritan society. It examines how Bradstreet uses poetic form and content to challenge prevailing societal expectations. The analysis centers on two key poems: "The Prologue" and "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory."
- Anne Bradstreet's poetic subversion of Puritan gender roles.
- The use of literary techniques to express hidden critiques.
- Contrasting portrayals of women in Bradstreet's poetry.
- Bradstreet's depiction of Queen Elizabeth I as a model of female strength and independence.
- The tension between conformity and rebellion in Bradstreet's work.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the analysis of Anne Bradstreet's poetry within the context of 17th-century Puritan society, where women were largely confined to domestic roles. It highlights the restrictive societal norms imposed on women and introduces Bradstreet as a pioneering female poet who subtly challenged these limitations through her work. The introduction establishes the central theme of the paper: exploring how Bradstreet uses her poetry as a means to express her views on the constraints placed upon women. The focus is on analyzing Bradstreet's poetic techniques and exploring the ways in which she expresses her views on women's roles without directly confronting the patriarchal system.
Anne Bradstreet's "The Prologue": A Hidden Critique: This section analyzes Bradstreet's "The Prologue," focusing on the apparent self-deprecation and the underlying critique of societal expectations regarding female authorship. The analysis demonstrates how Bradstreet’s seemingly humble claims of inadequacy mask a more assertive stance. By employing the epic form while simultaneously downplaying her capabilities, she ironically showcases her mastery of poetic techniques and her ability to address traditionally male-dominated literary subjects. The poem's inherent contradictions highlight the constraints placed upon women's voices, subtly revealing Bradstreet's rebellion against these limitations. The discussion connects this initial assertion of limitations to her later works, demonstrating a consistent pattern of subtle defiance.
"In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory": A Portrait of Female Strength: This section delves into Bradstreet's elegy for Queen Elizabeth I, focusing on how she uses the queen as a symbol to counteract prevailing notions of female inferiority. The analysis explores Bradstreet's use of masculine attributes and titles to describe Elizabeth, thus emphasizing the queen's power and skill. The discussion highlights Bradstreet's strategic choice of language to demonstrate that women could, and did, occupy positions of strength and leadership, directly contradicting the submissive ideal of the "Puritan Goodwife." Specific examples from the poem, such as the references to Elizabeth's military achievements and statesmanship, are examined to demonstrate how Bradstreet elevates the queen to a figure of exceptional strength and capabilities. This elevation of a female figure serves as a counterpoint to the subordinate societal expectations placed on women of her time.
Dependence and Independence: Contrasting Female Roles: This chapter compares and contrasts Bradstreet’s portrayal of various female figures – including Queen Elizabeth I, Semiramis, and Dido – to further illuminate her views on female roles. The analysis focuses on how Bradstreet uses these contrasting figures to demonstrate the pitfalls of dependence and the triumphs of independence. By highlighting Queen Elizabeth's success while contrasting it with the failures of other queens, she subtly argues for a path of self-reliance. The discussion explores how Bradstreet’s work demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the limitations and possibilities available to women in her society, offering a compelling case for female empowerment within the constraints of the Puritan context. Bradstreet’s use of historical figures to support this argument shows her intellectual prowess and her ability to engage in complex rhetorical strategies.
Keywords
Anne Bradstreet, Puritan society, women's roles, gender roles, poetry, hidden critique, Queen Elizabeth I, "The Prologue," "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory," female empowerment, subversion, literary techniques, contradiction, conformity, rebellion.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Anne Bradstreet's Poetry
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes Anne Bradstreet's poetry, focusing on how she subtly critiques the limited roles assigned to women in 17th-century Puritan society. It examines how Bradstreet uses poetic form and content to challenge prevailing societal expectations, particularly through her poems "The Prologue" and "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory."
Which poems are analyzed in detail?
The analysis centers on two key poems: "The Prologue," focusing on its hidden critique of societal expectations regarding female authorship, and "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory," exploring Bradstreet's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I as a symbol of female strength and independence.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include Anne Bradstreet's poetic subversion of Puritan gender roles; the use of literary techniques to express hidden critiques; contrasting portrayals of women in Bradstreet's poetry; Bradstreet's depiction of Queen Elizabeth I; and the tension between conformity and rebellion in Bradstreet's work.
How does Bradstreet challenge societal expectations in "The Prologue"?
In "The Prologue," Bradstreet employs apparent self-deprecation to mask a more assertive stance. Her seemingly humble claims of inadequacy ironically showcase her poetic mastery and her ability to address traditionally male-dominated literary subjects. The poem's contradictions highlight the constraints on women's voices and subtly reveal Bradstreet's rebellion.
How does Bradstreet portray Queen Elizabeth I in her poem?
In "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory," Bradstreet uses Queen Elizabeth I as a symbol to counteract prevailing notions of female inferiority. She employs masculine attributes and titles to emphasize the queen's power and skill, directly contradicting the submissive ideal of the "Puritan Goodwife." This elevation of a female figure serves as a counterpoint to the subordinate societal expectations placed on women of her time.
What is the significance of the chapter "Dependence and Independence: Contrasting Female Roles"?
This chapter compares Bradstreet's portrayal of various female figures (including Queen Elizabeth I, Semiramis, and Dido) to highlight the pitfalls of dependence and the triumphs of independence. By contrasting figures, Bradstreet subtly argues for self-reliance and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the limitations and possibilities available to women in her society.
What is the overall argument of the paper?
The paper argues that Anne Bradstreet, through subtle yet powerful poetic techniques, challenged the restrictive gender roles imposed on women in 17th-century Puritan society. Her work offers a compelling case for female empowerment within the constraints of the Puritan context.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Anne Bradstreet, Puritan society, women's roles, gender roles, poetry, hidden critique, Queen Elizabeth I, "The Prologue," "In Honor of that High and Mighty Princess Queen Elizabeth of Happy Memory," female empowerment, subversion, literary techniques, contradiction, conformity, and rebellion.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2015, Anne Bradstreet’s poetry as a medium to express her personal view on women’s confines in Puritan society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/502993
