A Bradstreet/Rowlandson Analysis
...is acceptable. It also incorporates their religious beliefs that the bond of marriage joins two souls as one under God. However, the line is intended to convey a deep love between a man and wife, which was the subject of ridicule for the time period. In another poem, Before the Birth of One of Her Children, Bradstreet writes, “And when thou feel’st no grief, as I no harms, yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms.” (6) It is almost reminiscent of a sermon. It speaks clearly without the complication of metaphors that Bradstreet wants her husband to remember her if she is to die. She addresses their love like she believes it can transcend death to follow her into the afterlife. The entire poem, in fact, has a possessive undertone. “And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains, look to my little babes, my dear remains.” (4) In other words, ‘if you move on, let my children be a reminder of the love we shared.’ Bradstreet is very clear that she adores her husband on this earth, and that she intends to still love him in the next. A contrary perspective of marital life was given subtly through the narrative of Mary Rowlandson. During her captivity by Indians, it seems she thinks very little of her husband. The first mention of him is in passing during the journey away from her house into the wilderness, stating merely, “...my husband gone... and to add to my grief, the Indians told me they would kill him as he came homeward...” (17) This small remark was the last she spoke of him for awhile. There were no woeful heralds of how she would miss him or fears for his safety. The text that followed glossed over his existence quite effectively, documenting her child’s ill health (“...such a pitiful condition, bespeaking compassion, and I had no refreshing for it...” (17)) with a sentiment she had not more than hinted at for her husband. Perhaps she chose to speak so emotionally for the child because it was no longer with here when the rest of her family had opportunity to gather after the ordeal. Later, when she had the chance to speak with an Englishman in her husband’s army, she asks about her husband and friends. She details his response as, “...he told me they all were well, and would be glad to see me.” (41) It is the same remark one would make when a vacationer phones to ask how the family is doing back home. One would expect a passionate, “He wanted me to tell you he cries whenever he thinks of the hell you must be going through,” or at least, “He misses you dearly and sends his love.” Instead, the readers are treated to a hasty postcard response. The most convincing evidence that Rowlandson and her husband had a t...