The Struggle of Authority

Some would call Anne Hutchinson a peculiar leader in a time of consistent uniformity. Others might say that she took a stand against male dominance in a male society by inserting her female authority. And still others, such as Marilyn Westerkamp, might call her a religious nutritionist, nourishing her public’s constant hunger for spiritual and religious exploration. Anne Hutchinson was a leading example of dissent of the people in early America and she, as a character in history, embodies the spirit of America in all of her actions, beliefs and teachings.

            Born in England of a prominent clergyman, Anne soon made her way to New England while following John Cotton, who preached words of puritan appeal. It is very important to note that her father owned a library where Anne learned to read and write, an uncommon theme for women in that time period.  After settling down and marrying, Anne began her legacy by offering meetings to the community around her. As Anne played a prominent role as a midwife throughout New England, many women had a close relationship with Anne and could easily relate to her therefore attendance at these meetings at first consisted solely of women. Soon her assemblies became a place where men and women could come together and discuss their relationships with God. At these meetings, as Margaret Bendroth would put it in “Feminism, Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy,” Anne’s teachings would stray away from the common instruction of the day that declared that grace must be used as an assurance for being saved by God but instead believed that one had a very personal and individual relationship with God without outside inquiry or judgment. Through her success, Anne soon met troubles that would dissemble her power and authority in New England.

 As Anne was becoming an important member of her New England society, she was soon considered a threat by a man named John Winthrop. John Winthrop, a prominent citizen in puritan society, strongly opposed her views and, after being elected as governor of New England, lead the movement against her deviance. During a trial that was called for by Winthrop, Anne made a very costly mistake and declared that she spoke directly with the Holy Spirit. By saying this, she now was guilty of blasphemy and was quickly banished from society as the masses soon were against her. It seems very peculiar to us at why Anne was treated the way she was, but she was in an obvious battle for ideological authority.  In her battle with John Winthrop, she has an intellectual advantage against John’s power to turn the public away from her. The ideals of the Puritans seem to be exactly what Anne does, fight for and preach what she believes in and stray away from the corrupt and the overpowered. Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan American and a symbol of what the spirit of America will come to be.