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Gender Roles in "The Prologue"

Anne Bradstreet’s poem ‘The Prologue’ is a subjective poem that is based on her own life and
experiences. She is introducing herself to the literary circle and helping the readers to know
her better as a person and as an author.

In the poem, Anne Bradstreet dwells on her writing abilities in comparison to those possessed
by men. She says that in her time the society taught every woman that they have weaker
brains. This prevents her from trying to write about historical topics that men usually write
about or about anything of earthly importance. There are several topics in poetry for a
woman's ability to write, but there are always men who may be uncomfortable with the choice
of writing instead of sewing. As an artist, she thinks she is a very good example to women
about their freedom.

Another important theme in the poem is equality. The poet is focused not directly on gender
equality in all spheres of life, but on the issue of equality in the literary world. From the very
beginning, all she wanted was to be known in the literary world dominated by men. Along the
same line, the poet chose certain topics to express her opinion that women writers should be
accepted according to their literary values, like male writers of her time, to talk about the
dignity and equality of women. She says that the problems she describes in the poem are not
only hers but also the problems of all the women who lived at that time.

The poet's pen writes for those who are not recognized enough for their gender. She attacks
the unequal treatment of women around literature, as well as the basis of her understanding of
gender. In addition, despite all the humiliation towards the women in the society; she also
celebrates her femininity in the last two lines of the poem, “This mean and unrefined ore of
mine/ Will make your glist’ring gold but more to shine.”