During the 17th century, Puritan society emphasized subdued emotions and spiritual love over worldly passions. While love was acknowledged within marriage, expressing it openly and intensely was seen as inappropriate and potentially disruptive to the social order.
Bradstreet, however, challenged these norms in poems like "To My Dear and Loving Husband," where she writes with unabashed affection about her deep love and admiration for her spouse. She compares her love to a "mine of gold" and "riches" and uses powerful imagery to convey the intensity of her feelings.
This direct and emotional portrayal of love, especially within the context of a woman's writing, was groundbreaking for the time. It challenged the prevailing social expectations and paved the way for a more open and honest discussion of love and relationships in subsequent literature.