Taylor vs. Bradstreet

I know we haven't extensively discussed Edward Taylor's "Upon a Wasp Chilled With Cold", and I know that we haven't even touched upon Anne Dudley Bradstreet's writing, but I just thought I'd share some of my own personal observations before we begin class discussion. This way, we might have something to build/extrapolate from.

I interpret Taylor's utilization of metaphysical conceit in his writing as a warning to the reader. It demonstrates a cause and effect relationship between earthly, materialistic life and heavenly, divine afterlife. If one allows himself/herself (fly) to be entangled within the web of the spider (devil), then he/she deserves to be sent to hell. Paradoxically, the nightingaile is the only individual (the elect) worthy of eternal salvation. So why did the Puritans even bother? Well, because that's what a good Puritan did. There was always a chance of proving yourself to be one of the higher members of the Church. Or maybe, it is that we are but mere wasps, too insignificant to be acknowledged in God's world.

Anne Bradstreet, however, met ambivalence on her unsuccessful journey to believe blindly. What caught my eye was that her father exposed her to the writing of Hobbes at a young age. He was a thinker of the Enlightenment era, known for his secularism, atheism, and encouragement of self-interest. In her "Contemplations", Bradstreet concluded her poem by committing herself to the concept of salvation. She did this, however, because of her love of earth. Her ideal heaven was one that eternally extended the pleasures that she met on earth through her children, husband, and community.

Both of these poets were greatly renowned. Yet, to me, it seems that they wrote at opposite ends of the spectrum. Just some thoughts..

(Sam Maliha)