How would Anne Bradstreet’s life have been different without such a heavily religious influence?

Reading the poems of Anne Bradstreet, has not only inspired me, but many generations before my time. Bradstreet was the first woman in America to have a book of her poetry published. [http://www.annebradstreet.com/] This was a huge stride for the beginning of feminine recognition. Bradstreet wrote about things that were important to her, such as her husband, family, and her faith. Having read a few of her poems, the religious impact of the Puritan lifestyle is very obvious. It made me however, question the integrity of her religious beliefs, and what her life would have been like without them. Just how much of an effect does religion have on a person’s everyday life?

[http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1IOIlpKaw]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Annebradstreet.jpg]

What isn’t always told about Anne Bradstreet is her many life struggles. Bradstreet had difficulties adjusting to the new land, and was constantly suffering from various illnesses. Another struggle Bradstreet faced was loneliness. The majority of Bradstreet’s poems were written while her husband was away handling political issues. [http://www.annebradstreet.com/] It could be a common assumption that Bradstreet had came up with ways of dealing with these problems. But just what were these ways?

According to studies done by Patrick Fagan, Ph.D., religion has many benefits, especially on those going through difficult times. Over the past decade Fagan’s studies have shown that regular attendance at religious services can be linked with stable family life, and strong marriages (two things of which Bradstreet often wrote about). There were also signs that religion can be linked with mental health and happiness. [http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/12/why-religion-matters-even-more-the-impact-of-religious-practice-on-social-stability] In my opinion, religion is proven to be the obvious reason why Bradstreet was able to hold her life together.

[http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/gelfandwq1.html]

I believe that Bradstreet’s religion helped brighten her daily life, but also put a damper on her writing. Bradstreet had a huge fascination with the human mind, spirit, and inner guidance. [http://www.annebradstreet.com/] However, her writing was mostly constricted to that of the Puritan ethics. Even so, Bradstreet did often question Puritan life, and even questioned God. [http://suite101.com/article/the-influence-of-religion-on-anne-bradstreets-writings-a320433] Needless to say, Bradstreet never left her community or religion. Had she left though, I believe her life would have been changed enormously. Bradstreet would have been given the ability to speak and write freely of her inner most thoughts, and not always have to abide by the standards of what men deemed the proper place for women in society. However, leaving behind her life in that time period would have been rather hard for any woman to do successfully alone.

What advantages/disadvantages did the pilgrims have versus the Indians during harsh weather conditions?

As a fashion merchandising major, while reading the John Smith stories, one of the first things I noticed was the weather conditions. I immediately thought of the textile advantage that the Pilgrims had over the Indians to withstand harsher conditions more adequately. In Smith’s story, he talks about the natives, saying “The difficultie and danger, he told the Salvages, of the Mines, great gunnes, and other Engins exceedingly affrighted them, yet according to his request they went to Iames towne, in as bitter weather as could be of frost and snow, and within three dayes returned with an answer.” While this example, and much of the reading, did not go into great detail when it came with sustaining to the weather, it played more of an effect on their lives than recognized.

[http://mrhousch.com/imgs/lessons/plymouth/plymouth005.png]

Clothing of this time period is often depicted incorrectly. Most of the natives living around Jamestown actually wore breechcloth. This is a material made from deerskin, wore between the legs and held up by a belt. As winter conditions approached, most Indian men and women switched to wearing mantles. Mantles were made of various animals that were wrapped around the body with the fur side facing inward for warmth. There was also a form of leggings worn by both sexes to help with the harsher conditions, along with wearing moccasinash (now today knew as moccasins) to protect their feet from the cold ground.

When it came to the pilgrims, clothing was a little more advanced. Most of their clothing came in colors such as brown, brick red, yellow, and blue. There were also un-dyed linens in shades of white and gray. However, their best clothes were always made in black (most pictures depict pilgrims wearing black because they usually wore their best for portraits). When it came to dressing for certain ages, most boys and girls just wore gowns until they turned 6 or 7. At this age, the children began to dress like their parents. Men would wear a doublet and breeches (appearing to look like the form of a suit),while women would wear stays (also known as a corset), a waistcoat, and petticoats. Both sexes also had forms of underwear. The men wore lose fitting shirts and women wore smocks. Some clothing worn by everyone that really helped during the bad weather conditions were stallings, boots, caps or hats, cloaks, mittens, and collars of linen around their necks.

[http://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/what-wear]

[http://web.ccsd.k12.wy.us/techcurr/social%20studies/05/0101pilcloth.html]

[http://web.ccsd.k12.wy.us/techcurr/social%20studies/05/0101nacostum.html]

Another advantage the pilgrims had over the Indians was food. While the Indians taught the English about the land, such as what crops to plant and how to fertilize, most Indians still preferred to obtain their food from the pilgrims (the Indians had a hard time stably their food supply). [http://truefoodsolutions.com/blog/the-pilgrims-in-1621-agriculture/] The pilgrims had an the advantage of portioning over the Indians to know how to ration during the winter. They also had the tools and modern day resources (of the time) to help with living conditions such as their housing.

One main disadvantage for the pilgrims was disease. Since their bodies were not immune to things such as smallpox, when harsh weather conditions were added to the equation, many often did not survive. [http://www.manataka.org/page269.html] Most of the diseases were ones that the natives had already been accustomed to for years. Overall, even though the Indians knew the land and had a health advantage, modern civilization overcame the land with all the advantages the pilgrims brought with them.

[http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbo=d&biw=768&bih=928&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=pilgrim+housing+in+jamestown&oq=pilgrim+housing+in+jamestown&gs_l=img.12…13963.15973.0.16912.13.2.0.11.0.0.127.245.0j2.2.0…0.0…1ac.1._7cQ3q3nU-E#biv=i%7C16;d%7CBtIWS8sAjcpXUM:]

EH201 self bio

My name is Lindsey Renee Webb and I am 21 years old. I am a fashion merchandising major and in my fourth year of college at JSU. My hobbies include hanging out with my Phi Mu sisters, spending time with boyfriend, horseback riding, photography, camping, and shopping. I also enjoy reading; however, I’ve never been a huge fan of American literature. I’m hope my experience with receiving an iPad will help change my mind and enlighten my perspective on the subject. Overall, I am very excited to see what this semester has in store!