– Interpretation Essay, Research Paper
Literature, unlike a more exacting subject such as math, is open to several
interpretations. There are no right or wrong answers – - just varying theories. The poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet is such a case. The poem is interpreted differently by different people, however two theories appear most evident. On a literal level there is a sincere meaning found in the poem. There is suitable evidence that support Bradstreet’s sincere love, such as metaphors used, in addition to several lines in
the poem. As the reader goes deeper into the meaning of the poem he will realize there is more to the poem than the apparent. The poem tends to take on an ironic insight to the situation and there are indications that Bradstreet was trying to depict a different message to her husband. The justification for this ironic interpretation comes from the era in which the poem was written, the belief system of Puritans, metaphors used by Bradstreet, and many lines in the poem. This remarkable poem can be interpreted solely on the surface
level, however a deeper understanding may be evident after careful analysis of the hidden meaning.
When Bradstreet’s poem is interpreted only on the surface level, a very literal meaning of her love comes across. It is inferred that she was writing a sincere love poem to her husband. After reading the poem, the reader will have an initial impression that Bradstreet thinks that the love she shared with her husband was bigger than life itself. The general perception from the initial reading is that Bradstreet values her love greatly. An example of this significance occurs in the opening of the poem when she writes “If ever two were one, then surely we.” (Line one) This line conveys to the reader that Bradstreet feels that she and her spouse are a team – - what happens to one, will happen to the other. Another thing Bradstreet did in this line was put herself and her husband on equal terms. Both ideas, that the husband and wife were a team and that they were equal, were not acceptable in Bradstreet’s Puritan Society. Bradstreet was a devoted Puritan, (Department of English – University of Toronto, 1997) so when she went against her beliefs to write
this poem, she was taking a great risk. This risk showed that she really did love her husband. In fact she loved him enough to jeopardize herself to express these feelings. Another detail in the poem that supports this abiding love is the rhyming throughout the poem. This rhyming indicates the their love is ideal, because this arrangement has nice tone, and it flows well. Further demonstration of her love in the image of its value. Bradstreet writes “Or all the riches that the East doth hold” (Line six) referring to the East Indies, where there was an abundance of riches (gold, jewels) believed to be there. This land was looked at with awe, and Bradstreet wanted others to look at her relationship with amazement as well. Bradstreet wrote this poem to other women, as well as her husband. “Compare with me, ye women, if you can.” (Line Four) She wanted other women to look at her relationship and be jealous for what she had, and she wanted other women to compare themselves to her so they would look at her in awe just as they looked at the east. In the end of Bradstreet’s poem “Then while we live, in love let’s so pers ver / That
when we live no more, we may live ever” (Lines 11-12) she encourages her husband to continue on with their love, so when they die God will reward them with eternal life and love. This idea was a firm belief by Puritans in the era. Furthermore Bradstreet writes “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold”. (Line five) This means that she considers her husband not to be a possession, such as gold, which shows that she truly cares about him. Bradstreet also writes how her love for her husband could never run out. “My love is such that rivers cannot quench” (Line seven) This quote portrays the idea that their love is everlasting, as well as it says that her love is so strong that nothing could change her feelings. The final evidence of the sincerity of her vow of love is the fact that the first three lines:
“If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,” (Lines 1-3)
have appeared on an oath that some Puritan women recite upon marriage. This vow
connects the sincerity of her own love to the Puritan values. The surface interpretation leaves the reader to conclude that Bradstreet’s poem was an honest and sincere portrayal of her love.
However with careful and in depth analysis, a deeper interpretation is found. This interpretation of “To My Dear and Loving Husband” is quite ironic, because a totally different message is conveyed from the obvious when the poem in re-read and analyzed. The impression that Bradstreet leaves is that it is not a true love at all that she shares with her husband. There seems to a hidden sarcasm in the poem. In some instances in this poem the passion seems to be forced, and the sincerity of the poem is questioned by the reader. An explanation for this lack of passion and sincerity may be due to the time era in
which the poem was written, and the role of women in a Puritan society. During this era, and in Bradstreet’s society, women were expected to care deeply for their husbands, regardless of what they really thought. This gender struggle may be why there is a sense of verbal irony in the poem and why the passion seems insincere. Another point that suggests that the poem is ironic is when the reader looks at the intended audience. This poem would not have been published if it was not for Bradstreet’s brother-in-law taking the poem in manuscript form without consent back to England for publication. (Department of English – University of Toronto, 1997) This unawareness gives the reader
an idea that the poem was not intended for public reading which supposes a notion that the poem was for Bradstreet’s eyes only. Throughout the poem Bradstreet is writing only about her love, not the love that she is receiving. This omission indicates that only she is putting in the effort, which is not true love. There is a question if there is a equal input, but after analyzing the poem it looks as if Bradstreet puts a majority of the effort in herself. Furthermore, women could not voice their opinion in public during her time, and
this may have been a way for Bradstreet to voice her opinion without reprisal. In addition, the word “if” occurs at the beginning in each of the first three lines of the poem. The fact that she uses “if” makes it seem as if she is trying to tell her husband how she thinks the marriage should be, and that she may be wishing for that kind of love. Bradstreet describes her love to be so great, yet she continues to use the word “if”. This contradiction shows how her love may not be true, and she does not approve of this lack of reality. Bradstreet knew that she could not write openly for fear of some type of
penalty, which also explains the contradiction. The words “recompense” (Line eight), and “repay” (Line nine) show that Bradstreet has feeling of insecurity and even doubt, which she has to mask or repress because of the society she lives in. Another indication that this is not true love is that Bradstreet feels she has to repay her husband for the time they’ve spent. Obviously these feelings of “recompense” and “repay” are not those associated with real love. Another point that comes up is the comparisons made in the poem. When
someone’s love is true there is no need to compare it to anything. The comparison that Bradstreet makes “I prize my love more than whole mines of gold” (Line five) show that there is a feeling of imbalance rather than unity from her A crucial point that supports the irony of this poem is found in a metaphor that reflects the insincerity of their love. “Or all the riches that the East doth hold.” (Line six) During the 1600’s when Bradstreet lived,
the East Indies was a land where many North Americans (Bradstreet lived in
Massachusetts) believed there were lost riches. This metaphor suggests that Bradstreet is looking for lost love or a love once had, because she compares it to the “riches” that were never found in the Indies. When a deeper examination is taken, one can see how Bradstreet may have been trying to portray a sense of irony when describing the love with her husband. This exploration for a new interpretation allows the reader to think in such a way that others may not think of. This search for deeper meaning is essential to literature,
because it adds variance and diversity to the interpretations.
Anne Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” is capable of being interpreted in more than one way. This ambiguity allows the reader to understand the poem on the surface, and on a deeper level as well. The surface interpretation seems to be a sincere love poem written from a loving wife to her husband. This literal perception makes the poem quite clear, as well as portraying an image of true love. This interpretation is supported throughout the poem with the use of metaphors and certain passages. The second main understanding is that Bradstreet wrote this poem with an ironic tone. It can be interpreted that she was not truly in love and she was writing this poem as a complaint about her relationship. The justification for this theory is found with careful analysis of the poem’s hidden metaphors, and hints used by Bradstreet. The Puritan times were an influence in interpreting the poem both on the literal and profound levels. Anne Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” can be understood literally, or it can be taken deeper, and be perceived differently with tactful analysis. The ability to understand literature in great depth is significant. It is important to probe deeper in order to gain a new perspective.
Другие работы по теме:
Love Vs Society In Madame Bovary Essay
, Research Paper Jennifer Bigsby November 27, 2000 In an ideal world, like the one Emma Bovary yearns for in Flaubert?s book Madame Bovary, romantic relationships are based on the principle that the two participants are madly in love with each other. But in the world Gustave Flaubert paints in his book, as in the real world, passion and personal gain are the only reasons people enter into a relationship.
Cover Letter Proctology Essay Research Paper Dear
Cover Letter: Proctology Essay, Research Paper Dear Mr. I am writing you this letter to ask you to write me a letter of recommendation for a college. I will be applying to many and would be honored to have a letter from you
Who Grieved Correctly In Home Burial Essay
, Research Paper In order to understand “Home Burial,” one must look into how the husband and wife each deal with the loss of their child. The husband is the type of person who talks about his pains and wants to talk to his wife. The wife, however, does not want to talk to her husband; she wants to talk to someone else.
Macbeth Essay Research Paper Lady MacBeth hated
Macbeth Essay, Research Paper Lady MacBeth hated Duncan when he came to the land. She hated the fact that he stood a chance of being king over her husband which ment she stood a chance of not being queen. Knowing this,
Sense Of Lost Love Essay Research Paper
Love bears all the happiness and all the pain; true satisfaction will come from loving another with all your heart. My mother always told me to remember that because that to her creates and embodies the genuine essence of life. Those words still echo through my head like ringing chime bells lost in the mist. She never hurt another soul, nobody as kind as she.
Implied Attitudes In The Work Of Kate
Chopin Essay, Research Paper ?The Story of an Hour? and ?The Storm? are two greatly appreciated pieces of work written by Kate Chopin. The two stories differentiate in attitude toward marriage and its
Females In The Odyssey Essay Research Paper
The Odyssey has much to teach us about the feminine psyche. The feminine psyche is the way that the female mind and soul react to and process situations. Females are generally faithful, giving, and respectful to their mates. We have an insight into the feminine psyche in several things that Penelope does. The weaving and unweaving of the shroud and the test of the bed are two examples of the way Penelope thinks.
Yellow Wallpaper Essay Research Paper In the
Yellow Wallpaper Essay, Research Paper In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; a central conflict centers between the narrator and her husband, John. The husband uses his power as a doctor to control her; he forces her to behave how he thinks a sick woman should. The husband can be seen as a father figure who overprotects her and makes decisions for her.
Gustave FlaubertS Madame Bovary Essay Research Paper
Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is almost cynical. Emma is flighty; she is unable to face the prospect of not being completely, happy, and rich. She turns her back on a loving husband who would give her anything it was in his power to give, and quests after a life out of a storybook. This book is satirical; Flaubert is almost poking fun at Madame Bovary’s silly reasoning.
Character Roles In Steinbeck
’s The Crhysantemums Essay, Research Paper Character Roles in Steinbeck s The Chrysanthemums In The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck, the role of Elisa shifts several times throughout the story, from the loving, sensitive wife, to strong, independent woman and back. This all comes about from a meeting with a traveling repairman.
Home Burial Essay Research Paper Home BurialThe
Home Burial Essay, Research Paper Home Burial The theme of Home Burial by Robert Frost is the missunderstanding between a husband and a wife. The wife can t handle the way that her husband has dealt with the death of their baby. The wife feels that her husband doesn t even care about the death of their baby. This is not true the husband just deals with his pain in different ways.
I Want A Husband Essay Research Paper
I Want A Husband I was dating this women for about six months when she told me she had a surprise for me at her house. I had no idea as to what it could be. When I got there she had this
Why I Want A Husband Essay Research
Paper Why I want a husband I belong to that classification of people know as males. Not to long ago my mother and father where having a conversation about are recently purchased vehicle. During this conversation my mother stated several times to my father that the car needed some minor repairs and that she need money because she was going out.
Themes Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Research
Paper In Shakespeare?s Romeo and Juliet, there are several themes. One theme deals with ?eye love? versus ?heart love?. Eye love is loving someone at first sight because of
The Odyssey And The Pearl Loyalty Essay
, Research Paper The Odyssey and The Pearl: Loyalty Loyalty to another person or to a cause may be an admirable trait, but it can lead to either positive or negative consequences. In Homer’s epic The
John Quincy Adams 2 Essay Research Paper
John Quincy Adams Good evening everyone. I, Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, will be your spiritual guide on this rainy December night to tell you about my late husband and all of his endeavors. My dear John was a wonderful man and I truly am a fortunate woman to have had him for a husband.
Bon Jovi Essay Research Paper Bon JoviThank
Bon Jovi Essay, Research Paper Bon Jovi Thank you for loving me It’s hard for me to say the things I want to say sometimes There’s no one here but you and me And that broken old street light
Colonial Times Essay Research Paper The colonial
Colonial Times Essay, Research Paper The colonial period was A time of much change, as is the modern period. Many people viewed things differently in the colonial period than they do today. The people of the colonial period had much more traditional values than the people of today.The people of the colonial period thought of religion much more sternly than I do.
Death Of A Salesman 9 Essay Research
Paper Loving a person too much can often be deceiving. Failing to act upon the truth in order to protect an individual s pride and emotions can bring about destruction for the American Dream. Lois Gordon s quote about Linda is a good example of the disillusionment that many people experience when loving someone too much, when he says, Linda, as the eternal wife and mother, the fixed point of affection both given and received, is, in many ways, the earth mother who embodies the play s ultimate moral value–love.
Diary Of A Teen Essay Research Paper
Dear Diary He’s dead, how could he just leave me like this? He’s the only one I ever had and now I have nobody. He may have been drunk most of the time but at least he was there…now I am on a bus to the middle of nowhere…alone. All alone, that’s me, all alone…forever. They’re sending me off to some foster family, I can’t believe this is happening.
Calpurnia And Portia Essay Research Paper In
Calpurnia And Portia Essay, Research Paper In William Shakespeare s play Julius Caesar Calpurnia and Portia are two women of similar characters. Calpurnia is the wife of Julius Caesar, and Portia is the wife of Brutus. Both women are concerned with their husband s well being and fear for their lives. These two women of similar character show how women of early roman times acted towards their husbands.
Dear Golden One love Letter Based On
Anthem) Essay, Research Paper Dear Golden One,IT IS NOT A SIN TO WRITE THIS! I’m very tired of having to hide my feelings for you. My heart is about to explode of the passion that is burning its inside when I can’t have you. What is wrong with loving each other? Why can’t I just hold you and show you how much I care about you? My dear love, you have always being my inspiration at everything I do.
Letter To Odysseus Essay Research Paper Dear
Letter To Odysseus Essay, Research Paper Dear Great Odysseus, I am your son Telemachus. You were off at the Trojan War when I was just a baby. I am writing this letter hoping that you are still alive. Here in Ithaca things are not going good. Penelope, my lovely mother, has been plagued by the suitors. The suitors have taken over our house.
Princess Of Cleves Essay Research Paper Princess
Princess Of Cleves Essay, Research Paper Princess Of Cleves The princess of cleves is the first important novel because it s the first written by a woman, and it s the first non-romance. This is the first story where the ending is a tragedy rather then a happy ending. The psychological aspects of the characteristics are more realistic then ever before.
Anne Bradstreet Essay Research Paper A Second
Anne Bradstreet Essay, Research Paper A Second Look Anne Bradstreet lived in a time when devotion in a wife to her husband was a social law. This poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” is a loving tribute from Bradstreet to her husband. Certainly, in the early American, Puritan colonies, this work would have been seen as a wife’s duty as well as a lovely gesture.
Anne Bradstreet Vs Anne Saxto Essay Research
Paper Anne Bradstreet vs. Anne Sexton When one thinks about women in literature, the names Anne Bradstreet and Anne Sexton come to mind. They are two very passionate women who wrote about everyday life while making it seem extraordinary. However, they didn t quite express themselves in the same way. These women were different in the way they wrote about family life and the pattern in which they wrote their poetry.
Puritan Literature Essay Research Paper The Literature
Puritan Literature Essay, Research Paper The Literature of PuritanPuritan Literature is written in several forms. It expresses feelings, life, God, Gods word, Gods work and there aditudes. The main belief of the Puritan’s that was written about in the past is religon, and faith in God. They showed there feelings in stories, journals, and meny other forms.
Dear Journal Essay Research Paper Dear JournalHello
Dear Journal, Essay, Research Paper Dear Journal, Hello, my name Samuel Berkenstien. I am a 15 year old male jew from Krakow Poland. I live with my 11 year old sister Lara, my father Mark, and my mother Lynn. My town is a normal place with many kids of my same ethnicity and age for me to play with. My family is quite normal as well.
Thoughts Essay Research Paper Dear God I
Thoughts Essay, Research Paper Dear God, I come to you not in a time of need, but in a time of worry, Dear God, all I see around me now is greed, and yet, Who am I to point a finger at others, when I know deep inside,
The Black Cat A Comparison Between The
Movie And The Book Essay, Research Paper The Black Cat: A Comparison Between The Movie and The Book There are major differences between the film we saw in class and The
Princess Di Essay Research Paper THERE ARE
Princess Di Essay, Research Paper THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE MOVIE STARS, ATHLEATS, PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS, AND PEOPLE WHO HELP OTHERS. ONE PERSON WHO I BELIEVE EXCELLED IN OUR WORLD WAS PRINCESS DIANA. PRINCESS DIANA WAS A LOVING, CARING, AND HELPING WOMEN WHOM A LOT OF PEOPLE ADMIRE.
The Taiming Of The ShrewCharacter Analisis Essay
, Research Paper The Taming Of The Shrew Character Analyses: Katherine: She is called the shrew, even by her father. She is always put second in her fathers eyes, next to her sister. She alters dramatically from an ill mannered shrew to a obedient and happy wife when she discovers her husband cares enough to try to change her for her own good, as well as his own.
Aids In Africa Essay Research Paper Dear
Aids In Africa Essay, Research Paper Dear, Dr. Feedlebom of ?Conspiracies and Cover ups? magazine. I would like to share with you some information concerning the Aids epidemic in Africa. HIV, which causes