The poet and prominent writer Anne Bradstreet (b. 20 March — d. 16 Sep 1672) summoned the issues related to women writers who go through undeserved equality. However, maybe it does exist in today.
Likewise, Bradstreet talks about the equation of men against women in the literary era. How thinking of men dominate women writers and their literature? Here she discussed what women should be doing. As well as, according to men as per the preloaded thinking of the impoverished society.
Furthermore, Anne dig brood upon freedom and social status of women in art. As well as, deep comparison between men and women in the world of literature. The poet also recalled Bartas and Homer, the French and Greek writers respectively to her poem.
Poem: “The Prologue” by Anne Bradstreet
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.
But when my wond’ring eyes and envious heart
Great Bartas’ sugar’d lines do but read o’er,
Fool, I do grudge the Muses did not part
‘Twixt him and me that over-fluent store.
A Bartas can do what a Bartas will
But simple I according to my skill.
From School-boy’s tongue, no Rhet’ric we expect, Nor yet, a sweet Consort from broken strings, Nor perfect beauty, where’s a main defect. My foolish, broken, blemished Muse so sings, And this to mend, alas, no Art is able, ‘Cause Nature made it so irreparable.
Nor can I, like that fluent sweet-tongued Greek
Who lisp’d at first, in future times speak plain.
By Art he gladly found what he did seek,
A full requital of his striving pain.
Art can do much, but this maxim’s most sure:
A weak or wounded brain admits no cure.
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits.
A Poet’s Pen all scorn I should thus wrong,
For such despite they cast on female wits.
If what I do prove well, it won’t advance,
They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance.
But sure the antique Greeks were far more mild,
Else of our Sex, why feigned they those nine
And poesy made Calliope’s own child?
So ‘mongst the rest they placed the Arts divine,
But this weak knot they will full soon untie.
The Greeks did nought but play the fools and lie.
Let Greeks be Greeks, and Women what they are.
Men have precedency and still excel;
It is but vain unjustly to wage war.
Men can do best, and Women know it well.
Preeminence in all and each is yours;
Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours.
And oh ye high flown quills that soar the skies,
And ever with your prey still catch your praise,
If e’er you deign these lowly lines your eyes,
Give thyme or Parsley wreath, I ask no Bays.
This mean and unrefined ore of mine
Will make your glist’ring gold but more to shine.
Anne does not bring the concerns of women of the universe of all the kinds of issues. But, she practically focused on creative women that often dragged on such gender equality.
The readers quickly grasp the string that Bradstreet does not only talks about herself but all the women of creative writers. Moreover, ones who frequently brought the discussion of dominates male writers over female.
Furthermore, read about another British writer Amy Levy and her poem, “The London Tree”
