Emotions In Anne Bradstreet And Emily Dickinson Poetry example essay topic

Anne Bradstreet and Emily Dickinson are both respected women poets in their own rights. Although in different manners, both poets discuss their poetry within their poetry. Bradstreet and Dickinson, as poets, were able to break free of male oppression and literary traditions of the period, to portray their emotions and imagination through their works, expressing their freedom and the construction of being a poet within the works. Dickinson and Bradstreet, however, wrote during different periods, where their styles greatly differed. During the period in which Bradstreet published her works, males were the driving force in literature.

For a woman to be publishing in the 1600's was very rare. Although schoolgirls during the period were encouraged to read and become educated at a basic level, these endeavors were not intended to produce women in the intellectual sphere. Rather, this education was to allow them an intellectual and spiritual quest, at the conclusion of which, the women were expected to stay in their designated place in society. Their "quest" was deemed of a lesser value than a male's because women were not given as many benefits as men. Anne not only had to confront this opposition during her career, but she also faced creative differences among her peers. Many of the writers from the late 1600's were writing theoretical works about divine will, the universal order of life, and God's justness.

Bradstreet differed yet again from them, using emotion and imagination to fuel her works -- something very new to that period. Since Bradstreet allows more emotion to come through in her works than some men, she appears very private at times, while still focusing on the topic of her work, sometimes including historical commentaries. Bradstreet's use of pronouns such as I, me, and my in her poetry also differ from the masculine writers of her period. Since Bradstreet allowed her emotions and imagination to rule her works, this easily portrayed the freedom and construction in being a poet in her works. Dickinson, however, wrote for herself, and only planned to publish little of her writings. Dickinson was formally educated beyond the level many male of female Americans achieved in the 1800's (Norton 2488).

This placed Emily intellectually above much of her male counterparts. She also differed from them in style, using different meter and rhyme while adding unique style of punctuation. Dickinson's powerful emotions can be perceived in poem 441, where she speaks of her own writings within her poetry. "This is my letter to the World That never wrote to Me -- The simple News that Nature told -- With tender Majesty / Her Message is committed To Hands I cannot see-For love of Her-Sweet-countrymen-Judge tenderly-of Me" (Dickinson 2503, ln 1-8). Dickinson's letter is to the world, which ignores her, tells of Nature's message about her works, and asks the world to judge them kindly. However, since this most likely was not actually written for people to read, it is Emily's own acceptance of her work, written only for herself.

This emotional plea with herself helps the readers see her dedication and passion for her writing. This letter can also be seen as Dickinson's acceptance of rejection, when a few of her poems were submitted for publishing, and denied. She was confident enough to know that her poetry was incredible, and that men involved in publishing were too closed minded to allow her work to be printed. Dickinson is creatively able to place two different meanings into one poem, depending on how the reader choices to perceive it. By intertwining the idea of nature into her poem, while refereeing to it as something else, her abstract meanings can be taken at different levels. Bradstreet's poems "The Author to Her Book" (p 270) and "The Prologue" (p 247-8) express her use of emotions within her work, while still applying them to plausible arguments.

These poems also express her status of being a woman in a man's world. "The Author to Her Book" takes on a very feminine manner of describing her book as a child, which illustrates it in a clear and unique way". Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth didst by my side remain, ... Who thee abroad, exposed to public view, Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge, Where errors were not lessened (all may judge) " (Bradstreet 270, ln 1-2, 4-6). This excerpt allows readers to perceive Anne's spirit and imagination as she compares authoring a book to having a child. It also clearly describes her book as both her creation and as her child, referencing both as a personal piece of herself.

By portraying the book as something as personal and special as her own child, the reader is able to perceive the private emotions of its author. Bradstreet's embarrassment and fear of the public's reaction amplifies the comparison of the child coming from wedlock". In this array 'mong st vulgar's may " st thou roam. In critic's hands beware thou dost not come, And take thy way where yet thou art not known; If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none; And for thy mother, she alas is poor, Which caused her thus to send thee out of door" (271, ln 19-24).

This playful poem touches on a theme often used by Bradstreet, discussing her poetry within her poetry. There, she expresses the book / child as fatherless because she is its sole creator. This reference to the missing father shows Bradstreet's independence and doubts as a female writer in a predominately male profession. By stating it doesn't have a father, she also makes what would normally be a serious statement humorous. This is because, in reality, a book doesn't need a father, thus portraying the playful side of Anne. Dickinson, however, chose to write for herself, and not try to outshine other writers because she knew she was good.

Due to this, it is interesting that she references and questions woman's roles in society in her poems because she does not need to prove herself to males, or criticize their writing. Poem 199 states:" This being comfort-then That other kind-was pain-But why compare? I'm "Wife"! Stop there!" (Dickinson 2494, ln 9-12).

This passage reflects Dickinson's frustration with the role of wives. She see the title as constraining because earlier in the poem the girl blossoms into a woman, but by being "wife", she is left there without possible growth. By stating, "Stop there!" after declaring herself "Wife", Dickinson alludes to a lack of identity for the woman without her husband. By marrying, the woman becomes his property, so-to-speak, and can no longer act independently. This type of relationship would contradict with Dickinson's freethinking beliefs, and hints at her disapproval of the lack of woman's roles in her society. Dickinson again comments on male restraints of women in her society in poem 326:" I cannot dance upon my Toes-No Man instructed me-But oftentimes, among my mind, A Glee possess eth me", (2500, ln 1-4).

Here, Dickinson acknowledges the role of authority men have in her society, but breaks free of it by using her imagination to guide the way. Since Emily, as the character, is not allowed to dance, she imagines herself doing so, giving her great delight and also expressing a silent rebellion of sorts. Dickinson's capitalization of "Man", and "Glee", allow the reader to put further emphasis and importance on those words. By capitalizing "Man", the reader sees dominance in that character, and also hears a bit of sarcasm from Dickinson concerning the absurdity of women not dancing merely because a man didn't tell them they could, reflecting her playful side. The capitalization of "Glee" reflects both the happy sentiments and rebellious nature that ballet embodies for her character. When the glee possesses her, it is almost like the rebellion within her breaking through, not just for happiness's sake, but also to take a stand.

Emily knows what she's imagining "shouldn't" occur, but the fact that she's even thinking about it reflects her sentiments towards male dominance in her society. This use of imagination also allows the reader to see Dickinson's emotional side because of her passion and desire to perform ballet and be independent, which reflect her deep and personal feelings. In Bradstreet's "The Prologue", she gives insights which forms a culmination of all her other poems. Throughout the poem she specifically refers to her writings, and the slanted views of males toward female writers. In stanza one, she writes:" To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings, Of cities founded, commonwealths begun, For my mean pen are too superior things: Or how they all, or each their dates have run Let poets and historians set these forth, My obscure lines shall not so dim their worth" (Bradstreet 247, ln 1-6).

This reflects Bradstreet's knowledge of the negative perception of female writers, and their supposed inability to create factual and historical poetry. In this submissive manner, Anne mocks that perception and tries to humble her own works. By stating that her works won't outshine those that she spoke of, she is sarcastically commenting on the obscurity of the males' views. Stanza five of the same poem continues her argument of male stereotyping of women, stating:" I am obnoxious to each carping tongue Who says my hand a needle better fits, A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong, For such despite they cast on female wits: If what I do prove well, it won't advance, They " ll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance" (248, ln 25-30). Here, again, Bradstreet references to her own work within her poetry. Bradstreet takes an argumentative tone in this stanza, obviously disagreeing with man's perception of woman, and confronting man's possible reaction to a good poem by a woman.

Here, Anne generalizes in the same manner, as she perceives the males are doing, to express the weakness in their beliefs. Bradstreet also provides the reader with a picture of the male poet's oppression of females in the business and their struggles to be noticed and respected. She later compares the Greek culture, which was known for its discrimination, to her own, implying that the Greeks were more supportive of woman. Stanza seven draws the comparison further:" Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are; Men have precedency and still excel, It is but vain unjustly to wage war; Men can do best, and women know it well Preeminence in all and each is yours; Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours" (248, ln 37-42). Anne continues writing passionately with a sense of anger towards man's presumptions here, but ends almost submissively; acknowledging their reasons, but asking them to see woman's efforts. This reflects the "Anne", or personal nature, in this work at the beginning, but soon shifts to a more private poet at the end.

This plea to men reflects her deep emotions within her poetry, although it seems she acknowledges that her pleas will go unheard. Anne Bradstreet and Emily Dickinson's unique writing style allows them to be viewed today as gifted and respected poets. By specifically writing about their poetry within her poetry, Bradstreet and Dickinson were able to freely express their opinions and beliefs in a creative manner. These creative abilities set both Bradstreet and Dickinson apart from their peers; combining imagination, as seen through Bradstreet's "The Author to Her Book", and Dickinson's poems 326, and 441; and emotion, seen in Bradstreet's "The Prologue" and "The Author to Her Book", and Dickinson's poems 199,326, and 441, to express their ideas. Their struggle as women is also heard in much of their poetry, casting light on the male oppression of female poets.