For the purpose of this paper, I chose to focus on the writings of Anne Bradstreet, Benjamin Franklin, and Walt Whitman. Though these individual writers have their own styles and have overcome different tribulations, there exists a common link. Each writer effectively used their talents to air their resistance to the common beliefs of the world that surrounded them. For a few it is rather subtle, and for others it is plain as day. There was a lot of cultural bias towards women in Anne Bradstreet's time. The general idea was that women were meant to stay home and care for the needs of their children and husband. They had no place in the political sphere, and they need only be educated enough to read the Bible. Women were less scholarly then men so they had no business writing. These beliefs surrounded her writing and many assumed that Anne had stolen the ideas she wrote about from men. In "The Prologue " she made sure to show her resistance to such sexists' beliefs.
"I am obnoxious to each carping tongue .
Who says my hand a needle better fits; .
A poet's pen all scorn I should thus wrong, .
For such despite they cast on female wits. .
If what I do prove well, it won't advance; .
They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance" (208). " .
Anne is saying that the people who are stuck in the idea that a women's only place is at home will never be able to appreciate her writing. She proclaims that she knows that not everyone will believe that she is knowledgeable enough to create such works. She can write a million brilliant poems and there will still be people that will think they are stolen, or by chance. Her resistance is clear because she keeps on writing regardless of what people believe around her. They can hate her all they want, but that is not going to stop her writing. Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography during the age of reason. He wrote his life story at a time where some people were starting to look for more scientific reasons for happenings, rather than simply conforming to the idea that things happen because God is controlling happenings.
