Mamou 1

Adriana Mamou

Mrs. Storer

English 3 Honors American Literature

August 3, 2019

The True Treasure Above all

What is the true meaning of life? Is one’s sole purpose on this Earth to simply serve

themselves for their own purpose, or is it God that is meant to be served? In the poem, “Upon the

burning House of Our House,” the author, Anne Bradstreet expresses her perspective to viewers.

Bradstreet provides a clear message that life on Earth has no significance as the life in Heaven

with God does, through the use of literary devices, including personification, imagery, and

allusion.

Bradstreet’s use of personification emphasizes her opinion heavily. For example, as

Bradstreet’s describes her emotions of sadness she says, “And to my God my heart did cry to

strengthen me in my distress” (Bradstreet 8-9). Here, the writer is informing the reader of the

pain she is feeling. The use of personification (my heart did cry…) reveals the audience of her

true emotions, pain and loss. One’s heart is viewed as the path way of feeling emotions such as

happiness, love, fear, hatred, sadness, and so on. To view that Bradstreet’s heart feels this way

further acknowledge here feelings of anguish. Although, she does ask for God’s strength to

relieve her of her pain. This allows readers to conclude that God’s love is her true form of

healing. In addition, as Bradstreet nears the end of her poem she continues, “The world no longer

let me love, My hope and treasure lies above” (Bradstreet 53-54). The text reads that she can no

longer love in this superficial world and may only do so above. By doing this Bradstreet allows
 Mamou 2

the audience to understand Anne’s feelings of the world. She comes to the conclusion that all on

Earth has no comparison to what she refers to as her “hope and treasure” up above in the

Kingdom Everlasting. The finger is pointed at the world for these feelings she has and deepens

the understanding of Bradstreet’s idea. Both uses of personification help prove the writer's

viewpoint that she is getting across.

The message Bradstreet passes along is enhanced by the use of imagery. To illustrate,

while Bradstreet begins to close her last thoughts on her situation she goes on, ”Thou hast an

house on high erect, Framed by that mighty Architect. With glory richly furnished, Stans

permanent though this be fled. It’s purchased and paid for too By him who hath enough to do”

(Bradstreet 43-48). The author informs the reader of her beautiful home above that has been

granted to her by God. This allows viewers to analyze that this is to look forward to in life. The

use of, “Stans permanent though this be led” only furthers the reader's understanding of

Bradstreet’s reasoning because she reveals that her home in the KIngdom everlasting shall ever

terminate as her home on Earth that is temporary. To add, as Bradstreet comes to the poem’s

closing she states, “ There’s wealth enough, I need no more, Farewell my pelf, farewell my

store” (Bradstreet 51-52). Here. wealth and money on Earth is no match to the love and “wealth”

God has in store above. This only clarifies Bradstreet’s message, because she expresses that

God’s love and wealth is beyond the worth of her belongings on Earth that no longer have any

meaning or value as they once had. The poem illustrates God’s love and how it cannot be

compared to how we have in this nature.

Through the use of allusions Bradstreet drives her final point across to readers.

Specifically, as the poem comes along she says, “I blest His name that gave and took” Bradstreet
 Mamou 3

14). The name of the Lord is blessed and recognized of his saving actions. The passage above

refers to Job 1:21 that, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of

the Lord”. From this it easy to evaluate that although Bradstreet is filled with such grief at the

loss of her home. She still thanks the Lord because she is well aware that he will compensate her

losses in his Kingdom. Another example of this literary device s when she is letting go of her

material items and says, “Adieu, Adieu all’s vanity” (Bradstreet 36). Bradstreet gives her

goodbyes to the loss of her once beloved treasure, yet explains that all of these things have no

relevance. Now, the use of, “All’s vanity” references back to Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 12:8. This

verse says, "“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is

meaningless”." The verse states that in this world there is nothing that can ever measure up to

God’s grace and love. By referencing back to this verse Bradstreet defines her final thoughts and

opinions on all of her belongings and life on this one-dimensional world. Her knowledge that

God has secured her life and gifts above in Heaven are revealed tremendously through the use of

allusion.

Bradstreet’s message that the world walked among today has no true meaning as the one

all should walk upon in the future has been proven through the use of personification, imagery,

and allusion. Readers may wonder and from opinions on whether or not Bradstreet’s statement is

true. Although the life lived today will never measure up to God’s promise, an exceeding love

that lies above.