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  • Essay / A Study of the Similarities Between Anne Bradstreet and John Winthrop

    Comparison between John Winthrop and Anne Bradstreet John Winthrop and Anne Bradstreet were both writers and settlers in the early colonies of America. Although they both wrote about their lives in America, as well as the basic tenets of Protestantism, their writings differ in their focus, specifically on the theme of death. John Winthrop's speech to the first settlers aboard the Arbella is inspired by the fact that they cannot die in the New World despite the obstacles that might be thrown at them. Anne Bradstreet, writing many years after the colonies were settled, wrote that her life would be much better after her death and, hopefully, that she would go to heaven. Both writers still present core Protestant values ​​in their writings, but the way they approach the subject of death varies entirely. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In the writings of Winthrop and Bradstreet, there is a clear divergence on how the two handle death. John Winthrop and others aboard the Arbella believed that they were "the chosen," a special group of people personally sent by God to the New World. In John Winthrop's speech he makes it clear to the people on the ship that their colony must survive, and never in his speech does he mention that their life will be better once they die if you are predetermined to go to heaven, which is a main ideology. of Protestantism. While John Winthrop neglects the idea of ​​life after death, he does so on purpose in order to motivate his speech. “If we treat our God falsely in this work which we have undertaken, and thereby cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall become a story and a symbol throughout this world” (Model Christianity 9). Winthrop states that no matter what happens, they must survive to establish this colony. Winthrop writes that he and the other Puritans on the ship cannot fail God because if they do, God will deny them and they will not be able to go to heaven, which is contrary to other Protestant values, especially in relation to to Bradstreet's writings. Thirty years later, Anne Bradstreet writes about the brevity of life and that if you die and believe that you are part of the positive side of predetermination, you will leave your life behind and begin a better life in heaven. “This fearful sound of 'fire' and 'fire', let man know that this is my desire” (Verses about burning our house). Bradstreet writes that she secretly wants to die and hopes that she is predetermined to go to heaven. In the poem, she explains that if she is to die in a house fire, she knows it is God's work and she believes it is time for her to go to heaven. The contrast between the idea of ​​death is quite different between the two authors. Winthrop's ideas of surviving once the colony is established and seeks to remain there for a long period of time. Once it was no longer necessary to motivate people to live, this idea seemed to disappear in favor of dying to live a better life. Both Bradstreet and Winthrop believe in the basic principle of starting a family. Winthrop mentions that providing for one's family is essential as it supports his speech to motivate the members aboard the Arbella. “Man must provide for posterity, fathers must provide for posterity and children, and he is worse than an infidel who does not take care of his own” (Model of Christian Charity 3). Winthrop expects that.