Alex Kannel
ENH241

Tales of a Puritan

“The term ‘Puritan’ first began as a taunt or insult applied by traditional Anglicans to those who criticized or wished to ‘purify’ the Church of England” (Campbell). The Puritans had many strong religious convictions that set them apart from other Christian religions; because of their ideas they were forced to escape across an ocean to America. God was who they answered to, one and only; He was the deciding factor in all their decisions. He affected their daily lives; in fact he motivated their moment to moment thoughts. This was how much of their writing began, as diaries, keeping track of what happened. Critics argue whether the Puritans are even considered creative writers because much of what they wrote might just be considered historical documentation.
“Some would argue that American literature simply grew out of changing historical factors that had little or nothing to do with the religious questioning done by the Puritans. Still, the question becomes whether Puritan writing should be seen as simply historic documentation, or does their writing have literary merit” (Puritanism).
Samuel Sewall is an example of this type of author famous for his accounts in his diary. However, as more people were surviving in the colonies, not only was the population flourishing, but the writing was broadening as well as becoming more in tune with the similar styles of English writers, and more poetic.
One of these poets from this time was Anne Bradstreet. Bradstreet was educated by her father; she did not receive a public education. Upon coming to America she was already married and educated. Bradstreet and her family settled in a town called Ipswich. Although she went on to have eight children she still managed to find time to write her poetry. “Her work reflects the religious and emotional conflicts she experienced as a woman writer and as a puritan” (Character). This is significant because as a Puritan she had to find time for God in her daily life, this is reflected in much of her poetry and how she struggles with coping with these ideas.

“And if I see not half my days that's due,
What nature would, God grant to yours and you;
The many faults that well you know I have
Let be interred in my oblivious grave” (Before).

Here in the poem Before the Birth of One of Her Children, she states that God sees everything she does and knows, so if she has done anything in sin, He should take her now. This is how much of her poetry translates a constant struggle between the good and bad inside.
An interesting aspect of Puritan poetry is that it is very plain. There is nothing fancy or extreme about it. There are no fancy rhyme schemes, or beautiful rhythms. The imagery is nothing that sticks into your mind. The only thing the Puritans focus on is God and themselves. Merriam-Webster online dictionary says a character is “one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual… a short literary sketch of the qualities of a social type.” I think this applies in all ways to Puritan writing and to Anne Bradstreet’s poetry. In Bradstreet’s writing she is giving a constant character sketch of herself, using the poetry to explore her thoughts and ideas. “We both are ignorant, yet love bids me, These farewell lines to recommend to thee” (Before). Here she outlines ideas of herself, while speaking to someone else in her poetry.
Altogether, Bradstreet helped pave the way towards the new movement of writing. Without her and the various other Puritan writers, the literature would not have evolved the way it had. Although, they were just writing to record God in their daily lives, it was much more then that. It was an outlet from the pressures of womanhood in a Puritanism colony.