Lori Arnold

March 12, 2010

Midterm: Women in Early American Literature

          Students of literature often find early American literature boring and irrelevant to modern society. They express little interest in literature primarily composed of factual historical accounts. Early American literature can seem boring because the texts assigned are primarily authored by Anglo-Saxon Puritans. On the other hand, the modern United States is composed of many different cultures and ethnicities. Early American literature can become more relevant by examining multiple views of America. This is objective number four of our early American literature course. Reading and studying literature written by women is one way to obtain a different view of America than is usually portrayed. In this class I have studied several different texts either written by women or that portray women in early American history. The texts of Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson and Cotton Mather demonstrate the role of women in early America, which can help modern students connect with these texts.

          While Puritan men may discount or ignore the mundane chores of life in early America, in favor of addressing lofty ideals, women often express great concern with every day life and emotions. The poems of Anne Bradstreet address important themes of Puritan life in early colonial America. In the poem, “Before the Birth of One of her Children” Bradstreet addresses the theme of motherhood. This is an important theme because the majority of female settlers of seventeenth century America were married women who would have spent most of their lives bearing and raising children. Although this poem’s title references birth, the primary message of the poem relates to death. Bradstreet expresses a legitimate concern about dying during or after childbirth: “And if I see not half my days that's due,/What nature would, God grant to yours and you” (ll. 13-14). With the limited health care available in the colonies, fear of death was quite normal at the time. Bradstreet writes she is resigned to death, but her language is concerned with the children and husband she leaves behind. She wants the best for her family even if she dies. The emotions that Bradstreet expresses transcend time. Although women today are not likely to die in childbirth, they can still relate to the emotion of love for family. Emotional connection is one way that Bradstreet’s poetry speaks to twenty-first century audiences.

          This poetry also connects well with modern audiences because of the language Bradstreet uses. It is obvious from her poetry that Bradstreet was well educated and a great writer. Unlike the ornate poetry written by Shakespeare or Milton, Bradstreet employs simple language to communicate with great feeling. The opening of the poem is especially moving: “All things within this fading world hath end,/Adversity doth still our joys attend;/No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,/But with death's parting blow are sure to meet” (ll. 1-4). Bradstreet does not use elaborate similes or metaphors. The language is simple and flows well. Her use of language makes the poetry very comprehensible and enables modern audiences to connect with her life experiences.

          The captivity narrative of Mary Rowlandson also addresses a different viewpoint of America than is normally portrayed. In A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration, Rowlandson gives a very personal account of her experience as a Native American captive during King Philip’s War. Instead of giving a military account of the war, Rowlandson movingly describes her experiences. Although her narrative includes many personal details, it also could be considered an early anthropological study of Native Americans. As their captive, Rowlandson has the opportunity to observe the daily life of her captors. Even more remarkable is that Rowlandson also has the education to accurately record her observations. Her clearly written narrative could be viewed as evidence that Puritan women were often as well educated as the men. This could be seen as an early example of the anthropological method known as participant observation. A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration demonstrates that Rowlandson possessed the same abilities as men to observe and record her experiences. Rowlandson’s writing also anticipates the popular fiction that appeared later in American literature.

Both Bradstreet and Rowlandson have a similar ability to describe life in the New World. Their writing appeals to audiences because the descriptions are gothic and vivid. Early in her narrative Rowlandson describes life with the Native Americans: “This was the dolefulest [most dreadful] night that ever my eyes saw. Oh the roaring, and singing and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance of hell” (1.1). Throughout the narrative Native Americans and their actions are compared to the devil and hell. This description vividly portrays an evil people; however, other descriptions of the Native Americans by Rowlandson seem to contradict this theme. Rowlandson could easily be using this moving description to captivate her audience. Rowlandson’s gothic language is not unique. Earlier, in Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford uses gothic language to describe the maypole of Merry Mount. Bradstreet also uses gothic language in “The Flesh and the Spirit.” The vivid, gothic descriptions employed by these early writers and clearly displayed by Rowlandson are fascinating to modern audiences. I believe that including Rowlandson’s writing in the study of early American literature could help engage students in this study.

Although a woman did not write this text, The Wonders of the Invisible World by Cotton Mather gives a very interesting view of young women in the late seventeenth century. The Wonders of the Invisible World describes the events of the Salem Witch trials. Americans have long been fascinated with the Salem Witch trials because they represent a dark period of the Puritan’s history. The trials are fascinating because women played such a crucial role in these events. Mather’s descriptions of the women involved with the Salem Witch trials, unintentionally express what a narrow existence the young girls of that time must have had. In the trial of G.B., two women serve as the primary witnesses (ch. 6). These women are the two wives of G.B. and they make several claims that he forced them to do demonic acts. It is hard to make literal sense of these events; however, it could be interesting to explore this event symbolically. Perhaps G.B.’s wives are trying to escape the oppression they are experiencing by accusing their oppressors of witchcraft. This can be a fascinating reading of these events. As a strict Puritan, Mather does not mean to communicate this message. According to Mather, the insanity of the Salem Witch trials could be the result of women who let their emotions run free.

Objective four from our class is concerned with which view of America to teach. So far, I feel that it is very interesting to study different perspectives of American history and literature in LITR 4231. I am especially interested in studying the women’s perspective of early American literature. These authors and texts are particularly fascinating because of the different perspective they give of life in early America. While the men I have read so far primarily focus on ideals and religion, the women focus more on details of every day life and the emotions that accompany them. It is easier for me to relate the past when I am reading early American female authors because I can understand their life better.