Itzel Esparza

Mrs. Storer

Block 5 English 3H

8/29/19

Relationships in the Eye of the Beholder

Relationships can take many perspectives for different people. In Anne Bradstreet’s

“Upon the Burning of Our House” and “To My Dear Loving Husband” and in Jonathan

Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, both authors use their pieces to express how

they see their relationship with God. Both Bradstreet and Edwards display the image of an

omnipotent God, however while Bradstreet sees the Almighty as caring and loving, Edward’s

view is one of a harsh and violent God.

Bradstreet and Edwards share the image of an omnipotent God. In one of Bradstreet’s

poems she alludes to God as “that mighty architect” (Upon the Burning of Our House Line 44).

She says this to display that God is the creator and is almighty. Her choice of words shows how

God is viewed, as a powerful, all knowing, and powerful being. This shows that she knows that

He is the one that created her and her whole existence. As Edwards describes being held over

hell by God, he states “the mighty power of the spirit of God” (Edwards 98). Saying that

displays how Edwards feels that God’s spirit is so powerful that he cannot fathom to imagine the

extent of his capabilities. Edwards constantly alludes to this image of a powerful God because

that is an image, he wants in the minds of those hearing the sermon. He believes that God is

powerful and believes that it is the powerful and terrifying spirit in charge of not only his fate but

everyone else’s too. While both acknowledge God’s power, Bradstreet’s of the all-knowing God

takes a softer perspective.

 Anne Bradstreet sees God as a powerful yet loving spirit. In her poem, Bradstreet refers

to her “hopes and treasures [laying] above” (Upon the Burning of Our House Line 54). This is

how she says she entrusts everything, her life, her faith, her well-being, her possessions and her

happiness to God. She sees her love for him as more important than anything else she could ever

have. She believes that his love is all she needs because she trusts He cares for her. She values

this relationship with her loving God deeply. While describing the love she has for her husband

she states she “prize[s] [his] love more than whole mines of gold” (To My Dear and Loving

Husband Line 5). The way she treasures God’s love more than anything shows how connected

she feels to this far and powerful spirit in her everyday life. She values her relationship with God

more than the most valuable things on Earth. She is so sure of how loving, affectionate, and

caring her God is that she is willing and ready to put Him before everything. Bradstreet’s loving

view of God is the opposite of the relationship perspective Edwards has with God.

Edwards’ relationship with God is one that is rough and fearful. When Edwards describes

to the congregation what they are stuck in, saying “there is nothing between you and hell but the

air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up” (Edwards 97). This

viewpoint of fear and anger between God and Edwards shows how not only has believed God to

be but it gives a glimpse into how the way he lives affects the perspective. The harshness of

colonial life reflects in the way Edwards sees God. This life or death relationship is based off

how colonial life really had no guaranteed of surviving. This intense and threatening relationship

Edwards has with God, is spread throughout the congregation. At the finishing part of the

sermon, Edwards gives one last warning to his listeners about the wrathful God telling them,

“The wrath of the Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this

congregation: Let everyone fly out of Sodom” (Edwards 99). This warning gives insight as to
how Edwards believes God sees humans. He has this imagery of humans being annoying pest

that have no other purpose than to just be sent to hell, that is all he believes God sees them as.

This viewpoint is influenced by the lifestyle of the author.

Through both Bradstreet’s and Edwards’ words, we see that a relationships’ viewpoint

can be heavily be influenced by the people’s personal experiences and lifestyle. While Bradstreet

saw a more loving and caring force in her life where Edwards saw a rough and intimidating

figure, both concluded that God is a powerful spirit that is omnipotent in his very being. The way

both were able to reflect their relationship to their God, one should take a deeper look at how the

relationships in life can be affected through experiences and lifestyle.

 Works Cited

Bradstreet, Anne. “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” Glencoe American Literature, by Jeffrey

D. Wilhelm et al., Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009, pp. 92.

Bradstreet, Anne. “Upon the Burning of Our House.” Glencoe American Literature, by Jeffrey

D. Wilhelm et al., Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009, pp. 91.

Edwards, Jonathan. “from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Glencoe American

Literature, by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm et al., Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009, pp. 97-99.