Anne Bradstreet's poem The Author to Her Book (1641-1643) and Flannery O'Connor's short story Good Country People (mid-1950s) both provide insight into life in the North and South during these two time periods. Both pieces of literature portray the struggles of life that women experience. In the North, women had more freedom and were able to express themselves more freely than in the South. Bradstreet was able to express herself through her writing and publishing to a larger audience than women in the South. By contrast, in O’Connor's story, the main character, Joy, is expected to conform to the expectations of her family and the society she lives in. She is not allowed to express her desires or opinions which leads to a sense of hopelessness and frustration. …show more content…
In Anne Bradstreet’s poem, the narrator is struggling with her feelings of self-doubt and is trying to come to terms with her role as a woman in society. She expresses her feelings of being trapped and unable to express herself freely. Bradstreet’s narrator is aware of the limitations placed on her, yet she manages to find a way to express herself through her writing. Similarly, in O’Connor's story, Joy is struggling with her feelings of repression and is trying to find her own identity within the confines of her oppressive family. She is also aware of the limitations that society places on her, yet she is still hopeful that she can find a way to break free from these expectations. Though there are many similarities between these two stories, there are also some differences. In Bradstreet’s poem, the narrator can express her feelings and find a way to have her voice heard. She can take ownership of her own life and make decisions that are right for her. On the other hand, Joy in O’Connor's story is not able to take control of her own life and is instead a victim of her