"O Pregnant Brain": Procreation and Power in Anne Bradstreet's Poetry Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

This thesis enters a vibrant conversation in feminist criticism regarding Anne Bradstreet’s dual position as a mother and author. This project specifically examines Bradstreet’s literal and figurative references to childbirth throughout her corpus, tracking how her thinking evolved as she transitioned from childless bride to bountiful grandmother. By employing a developmental approach to her works, this thesis explores shifts in her understanding and employment of birth, revealing her dynamic portrayal of maternity and birth. Chapter One begins by providing a detailed account of childbirth in colonial America, highlighting gendered differences in power and control of birth. The following two chapters analyze Bradstreet’s early and late work respectively. Chapter Two reveals her initial depiction of mothers as passive and suffering. Additionally, this section illustrates her gradual transition to representing women as active in literary and physical creation. Chapter Three studies her late work, demonstrating how her intimate, rather than public, audience permitted her the space to offer a tender and proud reflection on her maternity experiences. Ultimately, by tracking birth across Bradstreet’s corpus, one understands the deeply personal, fluctuating and complex meaning childbirth holds, allowing the modern reader to apply these lessons to America’s current maternal health crisis.

Table of Contents

Introduction.............................................................................8

Chapter One: Control and Interpretation of Puritan Childbirth....14

Chapter Two: Born in Sorrow.....................................................29

Chapter Three: “Your Affectionate Mother, A.B.”.........................54

Conclusion...............................................................................69

Works Cited..............................................................................72

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Literature, English
Keyword	poetry seventeenth-century childbirth colonial America medical humanities
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Reiss, Benjamin, Emory University
Committee Members	Nickerson, Catherine, Emory University Idler, Ellen, Emory University

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