The Genesis Of Feminism By Anne Bradstreet - 1181 Words

Paper #1 English 2510 Courtney Knight October 1, 2015 The Genesis of Feminism As a woman living in a very patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet uses reverse psychology to present her beliefs and opinions. Bradstreet’s poems show her reality, and possibly the coping mechanisms of living in a world where men were favored above women. Bradstreet’s poems are full of female strength and presence, it is almost held back by her puritan roots and roles as a woman in the 1800s. I can see the conflict within her, between being a good puritan women but still knowing her worth and standing up for women. It’s very ironic that tone of the first authors published on American soil was a woman. Bradstreet embodied the contemporary feminist. She was very intelligent and well read, women at the time were not encouraged to be educated and develop in a life of scholarship. Growing up, Anne Bradstreet received extensive education, had access to a large library and had private tutors. Learning and innovation was encouraged through her childhood. I believe that the way she was raised did much to offset her ways of thinking that resulted in public disapproval. At the end of her prologue Bradstreet writes, â€Å"Let Greeks be Greeks, and woman 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.† This may be my favorite quote in all of her poems. While I can see her sincerity, there is a small undertone of sarcasm and humor.