Entry 3: Possessions

Anne Bradstreet wrote about the loss she and her family suffered when their house burned down, including many irreplaceable possessions. How did she respond to this loss? Do you agree with her reaction to and interpretation of the event? How important are material possessions to you? How would you deal with the destruction of your home and all of your belongings? What things would be hardest to lose? What do you think you could most easily live without?

• Anne's response to her situation was to acceptance. To me, it felt like a defeated acceptance - that she cannot change what has already happened and that that is the will of God Himself. She also blessed God because she believed that God had a reason for taking away her belongings and other material wealth.
• I do not agree at all with Anne's point of view. To me, her point of view seems totally ridiculous. So ridiculous that I might have laughed at her if she were here. However, I also have to take in the fact that Anne is religious while I am not (personally, not family). I don't believe in God, so if bad things happen, I would blame it on luck.
• If I were to lose all my belongings and other material wealth like Anne, I would feel really upset, frustrated, and angry. I might even complain to the fire department or the government, since in modern days, we have these departments to take care of us. Anyways, I would definitely find something to vent my frustration upon.
• I believe that the hardest things to lose include my computer, my iPod, my passport and other ID, and money (though money can hardly be counted as a possession, according to Mr. McCool; I disagree). The easiest things to live without would be my early and unused possessions - those that have been in my drawer and not used for at least two years.