Much of the literature written in America’s infancy reflects piety and rarely speaks of human emotions, especially women’s. However, not everything written during this time in history is male centric. Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan woman, emerges during this time of male domination and writes literature that merges her love of God and of her husband.
Instead of talking about being oppressed by her husband, Bradstreet writes about her love for him and her desire to be with him. In her poem, "To My Dear and Loving Husband," she says, "I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench." She compares her love for her husband to material wealth and to an unquenchable thirst. Her words illustrate that her love for her husband is more than a religious duty but an expression of genuine emotion, even romance.
Bradstreet continues writing words of affection for her husband and of her longing for him when he is away. He speaks of missing the warmth of his body and their union in "A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment." She says "his warmth such frigid colds did cause to melt. My chilled limbs now numbed lie forlorn." Her longing for her husband is so strong that even her body can't seem to adjust without him. Her words are erotic in their descriptions of the way she feels when he is away, and the sexual undertones are contrary to common view Puritans.
However, amid the words of love and longing for her husband, Bradstreet doesn't forget that marriage is a spiritual bond. She infuses her Puritanical belief in her works, as well. "A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment" ends with the words, "Till nature's sad decree shall call thee hence; Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone, I here, thou there, yet but both one." These expressions reference the words spoken in Genesis when Adam when he first sees Eve. Thus, Bradstreet points out that, although she is physically attracted to her husband, she maintains the importance of the divine bond the two share. God occupies a significant place in their relationship.
Anne Bradstreet's poetry contradicts much of the Puritan literature written in early American history because, not only does she extol the religious ethics that many people in her colony possess, but she adds emotions to her works. She demonstrates that love of God and sexual desire work hand in hand. She makes Puritans seem more human and shows that not all women feel subjugated to their husbands, dispelling common beliefs.
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