The Flesh and the Spirit - 1269 Words

Anne Bradstreet’s poem â€Å"The Flesh and the Spirit† shows us the duality of man that her audience was having to deal with at the spiritual level. While this poem was written back in 1643 it still shows us as Christians what we have come from and how easy it would be to go back to a life of the â€Å"flesh†. This poem also goes about giving us details about what we should be striving for and what we have to look forward to if we strive toward the real or ultimate goals or rather possessions. The poem is written in two different parts starting with the ways and things of the flesh, that being material possessions that are for our enjoyment here on earth. The second part consists of more spiritual based â€Å"possessions† and also chastises the sister†¦show more content†¦Spirit continues rebuking Flesh about how vanity is not what is to be sought after. Spirit may not have silk garments here on earth but in heaven she will have royal robes  "More glorious than the glist’ring sun† (82). Spirit tells us the difference between the places in which she and her sister are trying to accumulate their possessions for and tells us the importance of choosing the correct destination. â€Å"The city where I hope to dwell† (85) is talking about Spirits desire to live in God’s holy city and that this city, â€Å"There’s none on earth can parallel† (86), is absolutely better that the best places here on earth. Lines 87-104 is the description of the city and how the most precious gems and metals that we have here on earth are the basic building blocks for the city and its landscape. It continues telling us that there is no night and day which alludes to time no longer being a factor. Spirit also describes there being no sickness and with that no more death. This part ends with â€Å"But beauty shall be bright and clear† (104) which goes back to what Flesh trying to get Spirit to get nicer cloths and jewelry so that people would see her as attractive. Although Spirit and Flesh are sisters, they are very different in every aspect of life and are basic mirrors of each other showing the duality that man has with God. In lines 40-54 Spirit is describing her relationship with herShow MoreRelatedLiterary 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. For puritans, the common substance is only a shadow and immediate, while everything in the Heavens is interminable. Puritans weigh on self-control and thoughtfulness to keep their hearts clean so that after their passing they can enter Heaven and be eternal. The battle between the common substance and religious confidence is regularly so warmed that one can not generallyRead MoreAnne Bradstreet The Flesh and the Spirit1698 Words   |  7 PagesAnne Bradstreet: The Flesh and the Spirit Anne Bradstreet Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612 in  Northampton shire,  England. Anne along with her husband and parents emigrated to America with a  Puritan  group. They settled in Massachusetts. She became one of the first poets to write  English verse  in the  American colonies. However, the idea of the women writer was not popular at this time. It was quite rare and uncommon thing to find a woman writing poems or essays. She was also a daughter of a PuritanRead More Anne Bradstreets The Flesh and the Spirit Essay1128 Words   |  5 PagesAnne 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. 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