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Similarities Between Our House And The Tropics In New England

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Unlikely Similarities Despite having different values and writing styles, authors from different literary eras create many similar stories. Puritan era authors value their faith in God and simplicity in their writing. On the other hand, authors from the Harlem Renaissance focus on creativity and pride. In spite of this, both eras share the common theme of connectedness and kinship. Hence, while there are vast differences in their writing styles, common themes have created connections between the eras. Figurative language, plot elements, and internal conflicts are similarities found in the poems “Upon the Burning of Our House”, by Anne Bradstreet, and “The Tropics in New York”, by Claude McKay. Both authors rely heavily on the use of figurative …show more content…

Bradstreet writes that she must choose between the sorrow she feels and her faith in God. When she realizes her focus has been on the loss of her possessions she says, “then…[again] my heart to chide” (Bradstreet 37). Hence, she begins to scold herself for thinking of material belongings instead of focusing on her faith in God. She believes that God is more meaningful than anything on Earth and wonders why she put so much meaning into her belongings. Furthermore, as she questions her motives she asks herself why she set her hopes on such “moldering dust” (Bradstreet 39). Unlike God, material possessions decay over time. Bradstreet is frustrated that she put so much hope in the survival of her belongings despite knowing they would not last forever like God. McKay’s poem also writes about an internal conflict, however, he feels conflicted between New York and his homeland. Being away from where he once called home creates “a wave of longing” and desire to go back (McKay 10). As he remembers his home his mind battles between the want to go back and his desire to be in New York. He wishes to be in the familiar land he once lived in, however, he also wants to be in New York. Similarly, Bradstreet longs to have her belongings that got burnt in the fire, however, she knows they would not last forever anyway. Hence, both authors use internal struggles to share the anguish and hardship they are going

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However, whenever she passes the ruins, she recollects times she was able to enjoy herself with her possessions: “Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest / … Under thy roof no guest shall sitt, / Nor at thy Table eat a bitt / … No Candle ‘ere shall shine in Thee,” (lines 25, 29-30, 33). The capitalization of inanimate objects like a ‘trunk,’ ‘table,’ or ‘candle’ exposes Bradstreet’s materialistic desires overwhelming her piety. She cannot help but mourn the loss of her

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This shows she communicates with God through prayer giving evidence to her trust in Him. Likewise, in Burning House, Bradstreet uses fire to describe the all-consuming fire of hell, but she portrays God as personal and responsive as she cries out “I, starting up, the light did spy, And to my God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my distress And not to leave me succorless.” (Line 7). Here again she stresses her trust in God’s mercy (to strengthen her and not leave her).

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