Criticle research

Student Name Instructor’s Name Course Section Date Title While traversing the harsh natural terrain and navigating the unbending sociological landscape of early America, the struggles of pioneers like Anne Bradstreet and William Bradford loom large, providing insight into the multifaceted ordeals that were necessary for the emergence of a developing social order. Hardships of early American life can be shown through two literary writings Bradstreet’s “The Prologue”, and Bradford’s “Of Plymouth’s Plantation.” Bradstreet became an early-American literary trailblazer. Involving her Puritan beliefs, Bradstreet’s poetry can help to explore the diversity of struggles that happened in the New World. Despite the limitations that the society established towards women, her talent in art flourished. Bradford, meanwhile, emerged as an exemplary Separatist leader for the Pilgrims. Bradford played an important part in the creation of the Plymouth Colony and was governor for many years. Bradford’s history spans decades, providing precious insights into the early stages of British colonization of North America. While both Anne Bradstreet and William Bradford portray the struggles of early American life, their perspectives diverge in their emotional depth and descriptive focus. Bradstreet’s writings offer a deeply personal reflection on the emotional hardships of adapting to a new world. In “The Prologue,” Bradstreet questions societal norms and undermines conventional gender expectations, claiming her value beyond being a homemaker. She focuses on the difficulty of fitting in a patriarchal society and the strength of an emotional character needed to fight conventional values. In the lines “I am obnoxious to each carping tongue / Who says my hand a needle better fits” (Bradstreet, lines 25-26), Bradstreet challenges social conventions, defining her significance beyond the boundaries of the female gender, indicating the process of the individuals’ accepting the new society. The act of defiance by Bradstreet in this regard is an internal struggle of asserting one’s identity and talents in a patriarchal society. Rakow posits that Bradstreet’s bold defiance in “The Prologue” reflects the larger theme of women’s resistance to patriarchal fetters in colonial America. In colonial America, women frequently found themselves sequestered to some domestic roles and were meant to submit to society structures of servitude. Though Bradstreet also did not wish to be locked down within these limits, her longing for recognition of her intellectual capabilities is reflected from her poetry writings. Throughout her poetry, Bradstreet highlights the emotional fortitude needed to defy the dictates of society, attesting to the unwavering power and persistence of women in taking their place in a society dominated...