CLAIRE GALBRAITH

Michael Wigglesworth

Biography

Born in Yorkshire, England on Oct. 18 1631Moved to America at the age of seven (New

Haven)Went to Harvard- graduated in 1651 but

remained a tutor for 3 years.Moved to Malden, MA In 1663, he lived in Bermuda for 7 months to

study medicine.

More Biography

Married 3 times and had 8 children. He was a frail, sick man most of his life so he

had a lot of leisure time– began writing. Most famous writing The Day of DoomSecond famous writing was Meat Out of the

Eater.

The Day of Doom

Published in 1662- becomes America’s first best seller.

224 stanzasInspired by a dream that Wigglesworth had

that God was seated on his throne on the dreadful Day of Judgement.

The Bible is the only source of reference.

Theme

The Day of Judgement is the day that God will decide the fate of men (Heaven or hell)

The theme of theological idealism of Calvinism(4 doctrines) Total depravity: all men were born corrupt & prone to

evil (stanzas 167-168) Limited atonement: Jesus’ sacrifice earned God’s

forgiveness for only a few (stanza 25)

http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/wiggindx.htm

More Theme

Irresistible grace: one can’t win nor loose salvation by his acts. (stanza 134)

Predestination: God predicted all events; who shall go to heaven, who shall go to hell. When ever Wigglesworth mentions a sheep or goat, he’s

referring to the people of heaven and the people of hell. Also, the judge symbolizes Christ.

Had medical problems all his life which limited his preaching as a minister.

Cotton Mather is said to have called him “a little feeble shadow of a man.”-describing his health

Died on June 10, 1705 in Malden, MA “His pen did once Meat from the Eater take

And now he’s gone beyond the Eater’s reach.His body once so thin was next to noneFrom hence he’s to unbodied spirits flown.Once his rare skill did all diseases healAnd he doth nothing now uneasy feel.He to his paradise is joyful comeAnd waits with joy to see his Day of Doom.”

Death

Works Cited

Noll, Mark A. "Wigglesworth, Michael." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web.  6 Oct. 2010.

http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/wigglife.htm http://college.cengage.com/english/lauter/heath/4e/students/author_pages/colonial/wiggl

esworth_mi.html

Trent, William P., and Benjamin W. Wells. "The Beginnings of Americanism: 1650-1710." 2. (1901): 3-6. Web. 25 Oct 2010. <http://www.bartleby.com/163/203.html>.

Supardjana , Joseph. "The Apocalyptic Theme in Michael Wigglesworth's The Day of Doom." 1. (2001): 34-44. Web. 25 Oct 2010. <www.unej.ac.id/fakultas/sastra/sastra_en/jurnal/vol-01/josep.pdf>.