The Melee toward Justice for Women- Anne Hutchinson Essay

Anne Hutchinson was considered a threat to the Massachusetts Bay colony because she was an outspoken woman, unafraid of fracturing the role women were supposed to play in early colonial society. Aware of her intelligence and the power she held over both genders, she could begin to adjust the parochial vision of civilization. One example is in the beginning of the trial, when Governor John Winthrop states the sexist reasoning for her persecution. Another example that reflected Anne Hutchinson’s trial was her influence on both sexes. She argued why she wasn’t guilty, which prolonged the trial. Although by the end of the trial she didn’t alter the judge’s mind, she was a prodigious influence to women in that time period.
In the 17th century, there was corruption in England’s government and economy due to the French Revolution. After Christopher Columbus’s “discovery”, settlers from England began to migrate to the New World because of religious persecution and depression in Europe. One major group that migrated was called the Puritans. These pious people set up with their families on land they named the Massachusetts Bay colony. Life as a Puritan consisted of a collection of integral laws. Although they escaped Holy oppression, they themselves, did not even accept religious diversity. Women were all known as “good wives” which meant they had no rights and they followed the orders of their husbands. Anne Hutchinson was a 43 year old woman who arrived at the Massachusetts Bay colony during the age of the “Antinomian Heresy”. Antinomianism was a belief system that opposed the rules of the Puritan church. Antinomians believed that they were above the law. In their perspective, the only one who could tell them what to do was God. They also practiced personal interpretation of the Bible. Albeit the Puritan society allowed people to hold meetings and express their religious opinion for entertainment. They believed that whoever practiced the covenant of works sincerely, would never be admitted to heaven. Puritans elucidated that the only way they could achieve salvation was not by effort, but by the grace of God himself; the covenant of grace. The controversy between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace heightened the consciousness of an internal issue within early America- women’s rights. Anne Hutchinson held meetings in her house expressing her religious perspective, as many others did, and yet, she was on trial for “breaking laws”. Could it have just been that she was a forthright woman? There was no other law proven to be broken by Anne Hutchinson.
Anne Hutchinson was put on trial after the council discovered she was holding public meetings in her home preaching her rebellious religious beliefs. In Chapter 2, The Threat of Anne Hutchinson, Governor Winthrop accused Hutchinson of being “…a woman that hath had a great share in the promoting and divulging of those opinions that are causes of this trouble…” (Pg. 35). He already identified her as a woman with influence, and has presented the root issue of her trial. Mr. Winthrop goes onto further explain, “…and you have maintained a meeting…in your house that hath been condemned by the general assembly as a thing not tolerable nor comely in the sight of God nor fitting for your sex…” (Pg. 35). Exploiting his belief that women were inferior, he manifested a purpose to accuse her. He permitted other citizens to practice preaching in their homes, therefore openly implicated she has done wrong just by being a woman.
Hutchinson somehow used her wisdom and experience to challenge the government during the trial. Her smart remarks such as, “I am called here to answer before you but I hear no things laid to my charge.” (Pg. 36). Continuously pleading her innocence and maintaining a steady position, her arguments reveal she is guilty of nothing. After Winthrop stated she was at the court partially for spreading her teachings to both male and female, witty Hutchinson replied, “Do you think it is not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?” (Pg. 38). She has reversed the charges the governor has made against her by saying that the only men she is spreading her word upon is the court. The court didn’t usually call a trial for those who practiced antinomianism, thus the governor could not justly penalize her for having a separate belief. The underlying conflict with the Puritans was that being a woman, she was wrong to assert herself publicly and/or toward any man.
What were the “roles of women” defined as? During the time of early colonization and Puritanism, a woman’s job was to work the household and farm. When Anne Hutchinson came to Massachusetts, the repetitive conception of the supposed actions of women did not exist in her mind. With built knowledge on governmental ideals and rights of religion, she was viewed as brave. A woman with such potential had to be a threat to the rest of the population. “…economically and politically, wives were expected to help with and supplement their husband’s public activities.” (Pg. 32-33). This quote is hypocritical in society according to, “Spiritually, they were equal to their husband in the eyes of God…” (Pg. 32). Anne Hutchinson acted as though her ultimate perspective was equality, in which case, the government had to oppose on trial for the sake of the government.
Another excuse for the court to oppose Hutchinson was that she allegedly stated that the preacher who taught her (Mr. Cotton) was the only one blessed by God and qualified to teach the word. “I might say they might preach a covenant of works, as did the apostles, but to preach the covenant of works and to be under a covenant of works is another business.” Proving the court somewhat correct in their accusation, she repeated her reverse psychology and acknowledged the actual law in Massachusetts Bay. The court was completely speechless, that they solely responded with, “there have been six witnesses to prove this and yet you deny it.” The governor and people of the court somehow still standby their perspective of her as a threat to society in fear of the erosion of their administrative body. The court jumped to conclusions to try to substantiate that she violated a rule of the state. She simply implied that Mr. Cotton was the only spiritual leader eligible to preach a covenant of grace because he was blessed by God and the other church leaders were working toward their salvation. Her strong rebuttal statements proved the court had no evidence that she had disobeyed the state and God. Therefore, the court disclosed the attitude they had toward Hutchinson, saying she was guilty of dishonoring the state and God because of her audacious ability to speak her opinion (on topics such as religion) to anyone, creating an authoritative expansion throughout the community.
Anne Hutchinson was an intellectual hazard to the Massachusetts Bay colony due to her assessment on religion, nursing, medicine, and political justice as a woman. Women were compelled to have a miniscule voice. The reason why Mrs. Hutchinson was tyrannized was because she was a woman preaching her judgment to both men and women. Being that men were superior and held power in society, they could spread the word of Anne Hutchinson, if they agreed. Eventually that would put her in a high position overthrowing the government. The council concluded the trial by banishing Hutchinson. They did not want to lose power to an analytical, momentous woman. Apparently it was too late. After Anne Hutchinson was banished; women used her actions as a feminist motive. The ideals of women suffrage began to emerge.