Anne Bradstreets The Flesh and the Spirit Essay - 1128 Words

Anne Bradstreets The Flesh and the Spirit The Flesh and the Spirit by Anne Bradstreet is basically a conversation between two sisters--the worldly body and the spiritual soul. Their heated argument concerns the value of life and what really matters in our human lives. The Flesh, who presents her side first, argues that the world offers pleasure, wealth, and fame to those who readily partake. Satisfaction for her is found in the reality of earthly possessions and the fulfillment of her desires. The Spirit, on the other hand, finds her true satisfaction in God and stores up eternal treasures in Heaven. Their sisterhood is an ongoing battle that ends in ultimate separation. The following is an excerpt from the whole poem in which†¦show more content†¦return to top She sees the Flesh as her enemy endash; the exact opposite of herself. And here she states that she will combat the Flesh until she has victory over her. Laid in th dust suggests that the Flesh will die completely, which is the only way the Spirit can ultimately live. return to top The Spirit affirms that they are twin sisters. However, they cannot agree because they do not have the same father. The Fleshs father is Adam (or the world), which signifies the separation from God when man sinned for the first time. The Spirits father is the Heavenly Father. But, although they pledge their love to separate fathers, they are indefinitely united by having the same mother. And this means that they are linked as the same soul. They cannot be separated. They are closer than mere acquaintances; they are family†¦they are sisters. return to top Here the Spirit acknowledges the clever words and deceptions that the Flesh uses to tempt her. The Flesh flatters her with shews (archaic for shows) and nice words, but deep down really despises her. return to top In these lines, the Spirit confesses that she has fallen into the trap of the Flesh time and time again. Because she believed the lies that her sister told her, she became a slave to the desires of the world. The Spirit vows to not let the charming words of the Flesh fool her anymore, and then she boldly declares that the temptations of theShow MoreRelatedPuritanism And Its Negative Portrayal Of The Body1641 Words   |  7 Pagesanalyzing Puritanism philosophies, their biblical view of the Body, how they were able to resist this urge, and also their literary work. A work from Puritan times that allows us to further explore this idea would be â€Å"The Flesh and the Spirit† by Anne Bradstreet. In Bradstreet’s writing we are able to see how The Body’s immense power over Puritans was a constant threat. This paper will analyze Puritanism and its negative portrayal of The Body. Understanding Puritanism First and foremost, PuritanismRead MoreAnalysis Of Anne Bradstreet s Writing1105 Words   |  5 PagesAnne Bradstreet is a poet of the seventeenth century who has an extremely solid Puritan voice. The Puritans were an assembly of English Protestants that formed in the sixteenth century. The Puritans wanted to purify the church by following powerful, strict religious philosophies which later on earned them the name Puritans. They assumed that they were God’s chosen people and that they are an admirable example for the rest of the world, attempting to create a model for America. Bradstreet is one ofRead MoreLiterary Elements Of The Flesh And The Spirit1472 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Elements in â€Å"The Flesh and the Spirit† The struggle between â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad† is a conflict in which the human race faces. 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