Women Writers (Revolutionary Era)
Kelly, Jack, Chas, Royce, Mobeena
How did female writers influence the writings during the Revolutionary Time?
Female writers influenced the writings of the during the Revolutionary Time by giving a different perspective and focusing on new topics( society, religion, etc.). There were many new faces during the Revolutionary Era regarding women writers. Their willingness to step outside the norm despite the consequences, was of not incredibly common. Many of the women produce influential pieces of literature that is still relevant and celebrated in today's society.
Anne Bradstreet
Anne was America's first published poet. Anne is known for her writings and for her intimate view of life in Puritan New England. Anne's husband was a lawyer, judge and legislator.
Anne was born on March 20, 1612, Anne died on September 16, 1672. They Anne's first published was The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung in America
Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643)
Accomplishments:
Had a major role in the antinomian controversy
Was the first woman to preach the bible to the public
educated in theology by her father
born in England and moved to Boston
Anne Hutchinson was the first women to preach the gospel of God to the public. During her time period an antinomian controversy was taking place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony which basically was a religious and political argument between people who thought you can only go to heaven by human efforts. At the center of the controversy was John Cotton and by his side was Hutchinson they believed and knew that from the bible was that “redemption was God`s gift to the elect and could not be earned by human effort.” (Dailey 4) Although she did not write anything in her lifetime her words still influenced a lot of people abouts gods word and what his plans are for us and how to reach the extents of his kingdom.
Sarah Kemble Knight
Sarah Kemble was the daughter of a merchant. Sometime before 1689 she married Richard Knight, of whom little is known. She is said to have taken over the family business after her father’s death in 1689, and it may have been in that connection that she set out on an unchaperoned journey on horseback in October 1704. Her successful completion of the trip from Boston to New York speaks volumes for Knight’s energy, self-reliance, and courage. She returned to Boston in March, having kept along the way a detailed journal account of her travels and adventures, her food and lodgings, and the speech and customs of people she met throughout the journey.
Knight remained active in business as well as legal affairs, and she also conducted a school. She is said to have had young Benjamin Franklin for a pupil, though there is no factual basis for this claim. About 1714 she followed her married daughter to New London, Connecticut. She prospered over the next several years as a shopkeeper and accumulated property in Norwich and New London. At her death in 1727, Knight left a sizable estate. Her diary passed into private hands and lay unknown until 1825, when it was published as The Journal of Mme Knight by Theodore Dwight, Jr. The graphic and often amusing account of her journey proved to be of enduring interest, and the Journal was frequently reprinted thereafter. It has remained a valuable historical source and a unique literary work.
Susanna Rowson (1762-1824)
Accomplishments:
- Wrote "Charlotte Temple"
- In Boston, she made an all- girls school. She taught
- editor of the Boston Weekly Magazine
("SUSANNA ROWSON.")
Charlotte Temple:
The book is about a girl named Charlotte that falls in love with a British soldier. She ends up pregnant and the soldier leaves her. She dies during childbirth.
Why is it significant:
"Charlotte Temple was very much a moral story designed to reveal the dangers of treading away from the social norm." ("Charlotte Temple.") The story was to teach women why it matter to stay away from scandal. It demonstrated the consequences and encouraged women to do good and be faithful. It was, also, to say that one woman somewhere represents every woman everywhere. How are men supposed to respect the gender of women if some of them do terrible things. (About Charlotte Temple)
Hannah Foster (1758 - 1840)
Accomplishments:
- In the 1770s she began writing political articles for Boston newspapers.
- Her first novel "The Coquette" was one of the best-selling novels of its time and was reprinted eight times between 1824 and 1828.
- Her 2nd novel" The Boarding School "was published in 1798.
Hannah Foster was an early American novelist. Born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, it is likely that hannah attended an academy for women like the one she described in her 2nd novel "The Boarding School"; certainly, the literary historical facts contained in her work indicate an outstanding education.Her novel, The Coquette or, The History of Eliza Wharton, was published in 1797 - as written by A Lady of Massachusetts. It was the first novel written by a native-born American. It is a novel in which the plot is revealed in letters between friends and confidants.
Abigail Adams
- First Lady
- Married John Adams
- supported women's rights
Abigail Adams and all women across the United States were not treated as equal as men and didn't have a lot of the same rights. Being the First Lady to John Adams she strongly enforced to her husband that all women be mentioned to be as equal as men in the constitution. But he and other political advisors knew that that was not possible. She did not coward in her beliefs, her writings and words would influence women across the states and would soon gain equility throughout the United States.
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
- African American
- Poet
- Educated by the Wheatley's (her owner)
(bio.com)
- Wrote An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of that Celebrated Divine, and Eminent Servant of Jesus Christ, etc
- "first black poet in America to publish a book" (poets.org)
- Poems discussed race, religion, moral, etc(poets.org)
Why is this significant:
Slavery was still in occurrence during this time, as well as racial discrimination. And Wheatley, being a woman and African, proved that not only men can be talented writers. She even went to London for her writings, where she was welcomed with open arms. She inspired not just women, but Africans in America during this time. She proved that Africans were intelligent, they just needed the option to learn. She proved that women were smart and could do more than just be a housewife. Wheatley was an icon for both.
Work Cited
Dailey, Barbara R. "Anne Hutchinson." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
"Mary Ann Cotton | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers." Mary Ann Cotton | Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://murderpedia.org/female.C/c/cotton-mary-ann.htm>.
"The Story of Mary Anne Cotton." Alan Whites Conucopia RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.
"Heath Anthology of American LiteratureHannah Webster Foster - Author Page." Heath Anthology of American LiteratureHannah Webster Foster - Author Page. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://college.cengage.com/english/lauter/heath/4e/students/author_pages/eighteenth/foster_ha.html>.
"History of American Women." Hannah Foster. Web. 6 Dec. 2014. <http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2011/12/hannah-foster.html>.
Copy & Paste | Parenthetical
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.biography.com/people/phillis-wheatley-9528784>.
"SUSANNA ROWSON." SUSANNA ROWSON. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ulib.niu.edu/badndp/rowson_susanna.html>.
"About Charlotte Temple." About Charlotte Temple. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://people.virginia.edu/~sfr/enam854/ctemple.html>.
Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/phillis-wheatley>.
"Charlotte Temple." Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/hist3164s13/tag/charlotte-temple/>.
"Anne Bradstreet." - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.