Though certain prejudices exist today, never were these prejudices more evident than in the Puritan times. Many biases today can trace their roots back to this era, if not earlier. Such is the case of sexism. Yes, sexism spans much further than the 17th century, but it is here that women began to speak out against it, and these views come to a head. In The Prologue, Anne Bradstreet expresses the general consensus of the Puritan society. Through sarcasm and irony, she portrays her hopeless sense of failure against such tremendous injustice shown to women who dared t have aspirations. .
If not for the support of her family and close friends, Bradstreet's poems would never have seen the light of day. However, "despite opposition's from `carping tongues," who said her `hand a needle better fits than a pen," Bradstreet continued to write" (Lauter 383). Such horrid acts as writing poetry were seen as neglect of family duties. Her brother-in-law, the man responsible for having her work published, inserted a preface to her book which stated, "it is the work of a woman, honored, and esteemed where she lives, for her gracious demeanor, her eminent parts, her diligence in her place, and her discreet managing of her family occasions" (Lauter 383). Woodbridge realized that this book would gather suspicions regarding literary women (Lauter 383). Though Woodbridge spoke so highly of Bradstreet, this was still not enough to appease some readers. Bradstreet highlights a controversial subject matter in several of her poems that is certain to turn heads. "Bradstreet's poetry consistently reflects the Puritan spiritual and communal vision that informed her life. Further, the assertiveness about women's abilities in public pieces such as The Prologue grows into an uninhibited use of images drawn from women's experiences, particularly her own" (Lauter 383). These reflections shocked Puritan Massachusetts, and caught the attention of influential people in those communities.
