Melissa Chandler
School of Science, Liberty University
ENGL201
<Insert Professor's Name>
February 20, 2023
Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley in American Literature
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Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley in American Literature
Being a woman in early American society is far from being a woman in America today.
However, two women made their way to success by writing and publishing poetry. Anne
Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley became well-known poets in their time and broke the boundaries
of what a woman's job was. By evaluating Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley's literary works,
a greater understanding of early American literature will be gained and will show how these two
unlikely writers from diverse backgrounds helped to shape what literature is today.
Around 1612, Anne Bradstreet was born into a well-to-do family in England. Growing
up with an excellent education, uncommon for a female in her era, Bradstreet was encouraged to
read by her father (Belasco, Johnson. p. 185). By the time Bradstreet was 16, she was married
and headed to North America with her new husband and parents. Bradstreet gave birth to eight
children, making colonial life difficult, being responsible for the household responsibilities
(Belasco, Johnson. p. 185). During her time in the colonies, Bradstreet began to write poems
about religion, colonial life, and family (Engberg). It is believed by scholars that Bradstreet's
writings were created as a "diversion from the rigors and tedium of colonial life" (Belasco,
Johnson. p. 185). However, there isn't much information behind the means of her writings, only
speculations.
While Bradstreet wrote many pieces, she was unaware that her brother-in-law had gone
off to publish her first piece, "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America" (Belasco,
Johnson). Published in 1650, this was the first known poetry book to be published by any man or
woman (Belasco, Johnson.). The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America, “or several poems,
compiled with great variety...is contained a complete discourse and description of the four
elements, constitutions, ages of man, seasons of the year" (Jewell). While these were the main
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focuses of her writings, Phillis Wheatley, another known poet had similar writings for a different
era of time.
Born on the west coast of Africa, Phillis Wheatley was captured by slave traders and
brought to Boston at age seven or eight. Wheatley was bought by John Wheatley to serve as a
companion for his wife, Susanna Wheatley (Belasco, Johnson. p. 599). While Wheatley was a
slave, and remained a slave majority of her life, she was more of a family member than a slave.
She was taught to read and write by Mary Wheatley and was encouraged by the family to
write(Belasco, Johnson. p. 600). The works of Phillis Wheatley were written with a purpose
behind them and were saved by Wheatley. She "began to keep "proposals," notes about poems
she had written or that she wanted to write. Scholars have been able to piece together a
publication history of her work mainly through her notes and surviving letters" (Belasco,
Johnson. p. 600). While being a slave and a woman in this time period, Wheatley successfully
made a name for herself and defied many the idealisms of the time.
While Wheatley faced the world, her work reflected how her feelings and experiences.
According to The Bedford anthology of American literature, Wheatley’s "aspirations as a poet
were... frequently frustrated" (Belasco, Johnson. p 601), as an African American Poet living
during the Revolutionary War. “Her status in society severely limited her ability to choose
subjects, especially since she attempted to make a living as a poet" (Schlotterbeck). The
hardships she faced with race, slavery, and political standings, shaped the way her writings
would be presented.
When comparing Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatly, each woman faced hardships in
their lives. Whether it was facing childbirth, changes of locations, or hardships through slavery,
Bradstreet and Wheatley chose to define their own future by doing what they wanted to do.
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Instead of listening to what the world defined them as, these strong women ventured out to defy
all stereotypes. "Bradstreet and Wheatley emerged as powerful literary figures from very
different positions within early American society" (Engberg). The written literature by both were
similar, as Bradstreet wrote of religion, colony life, and family and Wheatley wrote of religion,
politics, and the tyranny of slavery (Engberg). The life of these two women were trying,
however, they both used their platforms to make a difference in the world.
Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley remain as inspiring and role models today for their
determination to defy stereotypical rules of a woman in what purpose they served. Each of these
women chose to define their own future, no matter what came of it. The works of Anne
Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley were written in different situations, however, hold some of the
came concepts. Finally, Bradstreet and Wheatley's literary works serve as an example of early
American literature and show how unlikely writers from diverse backgrounds help to shape what
literature is today.
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References
Belasco, S., Johnson, L. (2014). The Bedford anthology of American literature: Volume 1:
beginnings to 1865(second edition.). Bedford VA, St. Martin's.
Engberg, K. S. (2010). The right to write: The literary politics of Anne Bradstreet and Phillis
Wheatley. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Jewell, William. The Golden Cabinet of True Treasure. London: John Crosley, 1612. Early
English Books Online Text Creation Partnership, 2011,
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A04486.0001.001, accessed 12 February 2023
Schlotterbeck, M. Modestly Appropriating Conventions: Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, and
the Literary Sphere of Early America. (2002) Marian Schlotterbeck
