Upon The Burning Of Our House Analysis

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Nathan Nguyen Mr. Healy English 2 H Period 2 "Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666" 9/15/14 Material Possessions, are They Worth Dying For? Nowadays, in the technology riddled time period of the 21st century, people often buy products from their favorite brands, purchase new electronic devices from companies like Apple, and drool after the latest consumer products. Materialism is present everywhere in modern socie- ty, and more often than not, these physical gadgets and material goods can take up a large part of our priorities; focusing our attention on buying the latest clothes and merchandise certainly dwarfs out other priorities like being religious and faithful. Amazingly, people who lived during the American Puritan dominated society of the 17th century also believed in materialism, and believed that God loved them based on how many belongings they owned. However, there were more than a few that begged to differ. In Anne Bradstreet's "Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666”, Anne argues that material…show more content…
And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took" (11-14). Anne Bradstreet realizes, at this point, that nothing she ever owned belongs to her, and that God has complete control over her belongings. She also knows that God can take them away whenev- er he wants and that he has the power to lay her, "goods now in the dust", at any time, and with- out warning (15). No matter what precautions she takes to avoid a fire, Bradstreet recognizes God can burn her house and destroy her possessions whenever he pleases. Anne Bradstreet ulti- mately realizes the perishable nature of physical objects and becomes aware that her belongings can be seized by God at any time. Anne also displays the temporary nature of physical belongings and property, and how they can be so suddenly and abruptly taken away in comparison to eternal salvation with God. Nguyen

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