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Al Sarawi
Jawa Al Sarawi

Ms. Rene O’Neall

English III/02

October 2, 2022

Anne Bradstreet’s Concerns with Death and Immortality

Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan poet, was troubled by concerns about immortality and death.

(Bradstreet) Being alive at a time when mortality rates were significantly higher than they are

now, Bradstreet was faced with countless mental obstacles. For instance, we are presented with

many poems written by Bradstreet regarding the loss of her loved ones. In her poem dedicated to

her grandchild, Anne Bradstreet, we are presented with Bradstreet’s view on death. She writes

“How oft with disappointment have I met, When I on fading things my hopes have set?

Experience might ‘fore this have made me wise, To value things according to their price.”

(Boomer [) This extract from the poem exemplifies Bradstreet’s constant battle with grief and

how she had to witness the deaths of many of her relatives. The use of the phrase “how oft”

meaning how often, further symbolizes Bradstreet’s constant entanglement in mourning

situations. In conclusion, Bradstreet perceives death as something she wishes to avoid.

Anne goes on to write more poems regarding the death of her loved ones throughout her

life. She states: “And live I still to see Relations gone, and yet survive to sound this wailing

tone.” (Boomer 1) Through this quote, we are shown Bradstreet’s feeling of helplessness towards

other people’s deaths. She almost exposes a feeling of guilt for living this long while everybody

else is dying. Overall, Bradstreet’s concerns regarding death and immortality may be tied back to

her witnessing death often.

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Al Sarawi

Works Cited

Boomer, Lee. “Mourning Poetry of Anne Bradstreet.” Women & the American Story, 8 July
2022, https://wams.nyhistory.org/early-encounters/english-colonies/anne-bradstreet-
mourning-poetry/#teaching.

“Anne Bradstreet.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 2022,

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet.

Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan poet, was troubled by concerns about immortality and death.
(Bradstreet) Being alive at a time when mortality rates were significantly higher than they are
now, Bradstreet was faced with countless mental obstacles. At the time, Bradstreet and the
majority of Puritans were concerned about life's finite nature, the certainty of death, and the
possibility of salvation. In Bradstreet’s poem “Upon a Fit of Sickness,” she writes: “Then death's
arrest I shall count best because it's thy decree.” (Bradstreet 3) This piece of writing exemplifies
how Bradstreet views death as certain and unavoidable. Unlike many who believed the afterlife
was a desolate place, Bradstreet was sure of its existence. Within her poem, the image of death
“arresting” her shows us that though she acknowledges death as one’s fate, she still views it as
God’s will, not hers. In her poem where she laments the loss of her grandchild, Anne Bradstreet,
we are further presented with her view on death. She writes, “How oft with disappointment have
I met, When I on fading things my hopes have set? Experience might ‘fore this have made me
wise, To value things according to their price.” (Boomer [Anne Bradstreet]). Bradstreet was not
one to doubt the feasibility of the afterlife, but she did have some concerns about it.
In her poem "Contemplations," Bradstreet further expresses her concerns about death and
immortality. In this poem she writes, “The more I look'd, the more I grew amaz'd… No wonder,
some made thee a Deity.”(Bradstreet 3) This quote is a reassurance from Bradstreet to herself
that the afterlife is worth more than her enjoyment on Earth. Due to the numerous difficulties
Anne encountered, she developed negative perceptions of death. Bradstreet had a bittersweet
view on death; she did not want to part ways with her current life but also wanted to reach the
afterlife. As she looks toward the sun, she begins observing the sun’s glory. This observation
leads her to contemplate God’s definite glory and his imposing presence, which she wanted to be
around. Through this extract, we can see her thinking start to shift into a more faithful and
submissive point of view. Overall, Bradstreet, like any Puritan, had her concerns about death and
immortality, but her irreconcilable thoughts eventually came to terms with them.