The Day of Doom; Or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgement (eBook)

Michael Wigglesworth (1631–1705) stands as a significant figure in early American literature, notably for his distinctively stark and fervent Puritanical writings. Born in England, Wigglesworth migrated to the New World with his family as a child, contributing to the emerging cultural and religious ethos of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He graduated from Harvard College in 1651 and stayed at the institution to serve as a teacher and later a pastor, deeply immersed in the religious community there. Wigglesworth's most acclaimed and unsettling work, 'The Day of Doom; Or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgement,' published in 1662, is emblematic of the pervasive eschatological concerns of the Puritan populace. This lengthy doggerel poem, cast in ballad meter, vividly recounts the Last Judgment, serving as a sermon meant to inspire fear and moral rectitude in its audience. Its popularity is evidenced by its widespread readership in colonial New England, making it one of the best-selling poems of the era. Wigglesworth's theological focus and foreboding literary style mirror the spirit of the early American Puritan movement, portraying the stark choices between salvation and damnation. His work is often examined for its insights into Puritan theology and the socio-religious life of early American settlers. Though best known for 'The Day of Doom,' Wigglesworth's poetic contributions significantly shaped the early American literary canon, reflecting a society deeply engaged with questions of faith, righteousness, and the afterlife.