Bradstreet and Wheatley Analytical Essay by premium papers

Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley have the unique distinction of being two firsts in American feminism. Bradstreet was the first American female poet to have her work published and Phillis Wheatley was the first black female poet to have her work become known and published. This paper shows that, because of their bravery and fame for breaking the gender and race barriers to the expression of women's voices, Bradstreet and Wheatley are intrinsically feminist artists -- for no other reason than that they were female and they were influential in the advancement of female art. On the other hand, the paper shows that neither woman could particularly be considered revolutionaries in their own time (both catered to the existing system rather exaggeratedly) and in this time would certainly not even be considered feminists. Both Bradstreet and Wheatley conformed to what was expected of them. With their subtle way of being feminist by conducting themselves within their proper gender roles and imitating male forms in their art, these two prefigured the entire vein of feminist thought and action which attempts to win a place for woman by acting professionally male and privately feminine.