Anne Bradstreet

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception 

Anne Bradstreet – America’s First Feminist?

Anne Bradstreet

In reading Anne Bradstreet’s “The Prologue,” I sense what might be America’s first feminist publication. This poem, printed in 1650, contains overtones of anti-Puritan views; specifically, in regard as to how New England Puritans viewed women in their society. The following is my analysis of “The Prologue.”

To sing of Wars, of Captains, and of Kings,
Of Cities founded, Common-wealths 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. 

Anne Bradstreet starts the poem by describing several notable events and people that her “mean Pen” (mean in this instance meaning humble) are unworthy of her writing. She further states that she would not do such historic events justice with her writing, that event worth recording should be so by a poet or historian. continue