Anne Bradstreet was the first published American poet in colonial America (Norton, Bradstreet), and as such was one of the first to utilize the muse of America in her literature. While most women in the seventeenth century were not encouraged to write, Bradstreet’s father encouraged her to learn how to read and write at a young age (Belasco, 150). Bradstreet immigrated to America after her husband, with whom she shared a deep connection with, began working with the Massachusetts Bay Company and moved from Charleston to Cambridge before finally ending up in Andover, Massachusetts where her husband served as magistrate and governor of the colony (Belasco, 150).
Bradstreet’s writings were brought to Britain by her brother-in-law John Woodbridge where he oversaw the publication of her works. Many of her works were well received, and she was regarded as an exception to the rule that men dominated contemporary literature (Belasco, 152). Bradstreet spoke about numerous topics in her writings, including the Bible, history, and natural science, showing that her knowledge was even more multi-dimensional than some of her male peers.
One of Bradstreet’s most notable pieces was her piece “Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666.” In this piece, Bradstreet displays remarkable writing depth when she explains what she lost in the fire and its importance to her. She laments the loss of her corporal belongings in the lines, “Here stood that trunk, and there that chest, there that lay store I counted best…” but smoothly transitions to regretting the loss of memories yet to be made as she wrote of how “Under thy roof no guest shall sit, nor at thy table eat a bit.” However, she shows how God takes prominence in her life even over all the memories and belongings with the single line “My hope and treasure lies above.”
From reading this one piece, one can observe how Bradstreet keeps her literature personal while showing aspects of herself, such as her religious nature, that are relatable to others who read her work. By showing off her experiences, Bradstreet adds her own perspective and emotions to the image of America that colonial-era readers must have had while they read her work.
