William Bradford 's ' Of Plymouth Plantation '

The stories called “The General History of Virginia” and “Of Plymouth Plantation” are both similar and dissimilar stories. These stories were journals of two different people going through the process of building their own town. Even though these stories are very much different from each other, they both talk about the same thing. They both want to build a town where the number of population is very high. Although “Of Plymouth Plantation” is a story where religion is something they do, something they have faith on, it helps them. It helps them in a way because they are starving and have no food nor water. But, having faith is what helps them go through the struggle of starvation. In the other story “The General History of Virginia” they are

Even though ordinarily one would expect a lot of emotions from Bradford as he went through so much, Bradford recorded his journey in first-person with almost no tone and emotion. His book was made for the Puritans in England to see. They believed writing in “plain style” would be more effective by using

Winthrop had a similar idea to that of Bradford. He too thought there was a religious purpose to his colony. Though his thoughts were slightly different from Bradford’s in the way that Winthrop talks about the social hierarchy in importance to the community. He speaks about how there is an unequal distribution of talents among the people. Though what Winthrop really preaches about in his writing is about love and looking forward to the future. He talks about how he wants his colony to be an example to all others in how the people and the social structure should be. He wants it to be the ideal community calling it the “Citty upon a hill”.

In of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford talks about how the Puritans left England to relish in their own religion beliefs and how things should be handled. While doing so they went through tough

The ideal most important to early colonists’ survival and success was piety. One way we see this is in William Bradford’s text, “Of Plymouth Plantation”. Bradford states, “Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity.” This explains the pilgrim’s belief, that without God they would have succumbed to the harsh way of life. Piety in this moment was vital to the pilgrim’s survival, without their strong belief in God they wouldn’t have had the will to survive. Evidence of piety can also be seen in “A Model of Christian Charity”, by John Winthrop. “We must delight in each other, make others’ conditions

Where does the truth lay when there are two different perspectives on the same situations? Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer. In William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation and Thomas Morton’s New English Canaan, there are many discrepancies between each story. Both men seek to defame one another in order to preserve the innocence of their individual characters. They are not exactly successful in their mission when Morton and Bradford spend time discussing their issues with one another. There is a lot of finger pointing in these parts yet neither man assumes any responsibility for the troubles. William Bradford and Thomas Morton utilize different approaches to paint each other in an unfavorable way causing their goals to fall short.

The poems, journals, and sermons by William Bradford, John Winthrop, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards displayed these characteristics: the love of something, the courage to do something, the belief in something, and the ability to stand strong and stable in their beliefs. In “Of Plymouth Plantation” the people traveling to find the people on the ship had the love and desire to seek God in everything they did. They believed in God so much they were putting not only their health but lives in jeopardy by traveling so far. “Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.” Even though they under came harsh conditions they were determined to find a safe

When the first American settlement on Roanoke Island was established in 1585 it’s primary force, Sir Walter Raleigh, had no idea that this “New World” would evolve into one of the most powerful voices in the modern world. But before it developed it would have to shaped by it’s founders from the Western world. Two of the largest voices in America’s early development are John Smith, who with a group of English merchants, hoped to get rich in this new land, and William Bradford, a puritan farmer who was one of the most influential men involved with the Mayflower compact. In their two pieces they both convey America as a place to escape but

In the New World Bradford and Morton were both important men of our history. The stories of both great men give us an insight into the way religion and influence affected Puritan life.

America’s main influence from history has been from a religious standpoint. Common religious beliefs have been ingrained into our government bodies and even into our every day culture and tendencies. Religion has made a major impact on American lively hood since the early days of settlement. Due to Americas strong religious ties, religion has been ingrained in our literature, influencing and directing our culture. The writers Jonathan Edwards and William Bradford have had a major influence on American culture through literature in their writings, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Of Plymouth Plantation.

The English had two main colonies in the new world, Jamestown and Plymouth. The first colony was Jamestown, established in Virginia in 1607. Jamestown was settled by Captain John Smith, and was named after King James I. Tobacco was the main export of Jamestown, and became the basis of the Jamestown economy, sending more than 50,000 lbs of the plan back to Europe by 1618 (textbook 46). Jamestown had a very rocky start, many colonists dying in the first few years of the settlement, and the settlers had many problems with natives. Shortly after the arrival of English colonists the Natives attacked them, and were finally forced back by a canon from the English. A very uneasy truce was finally settled between the natives, called the Powhatans,

Within the New World, individuals such as William Bradford, a separatist religious leader as well as governor of Plymouth (131), and Thomas Morton, a lawyer and social reformer, were both very significant men within our history books. The story of Merry Mount/Ma-re Mount is shown from two different perspectives which offers the readers an awareness and understanding of the way religion and government influenced the lives of those who dwelled in Plymouth Massachusetts, and Ma-re Mount. Thomas Morton and William Bradford are somewhat like Tom and Jerry for the reason that they dislike one another and have different accounts of Ma-re Mount/Merry Mount and that they tend to dispute with one another often when it comes to religion. Bradford’s writing tells the story of Merry Mount in a narrative and formal way whereas Morton’s writing is unlike any writing during his time, it’s humorous and also told from a non-Puritans perspective. Although Bradford claims Morton to be an anarchic drunk there are many reasons to say that he was in fact a comedic hero.

William Bradford’s writing displays his Puritan faith by including many of their ideals throughout Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s beliefs give his writing a simple and unembellished style, like that of Puritan dress. Furthermore, He demonstrates his faith by including the Puritan concept of election. Foremost, Bradford displays his faith by incorporating providence into his writing. For example, he infers that their trip across the Atlantic ended safely only through God’s intervention. Throughout Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford exhibits these aspects of his Puritan faith and lifestyle through his simplistic writing style.

William Braford used allusions to the bible and referenced God’s intervention in “Of Plymouth Plantation”. In the 4th chapter, Bradford alludes to Proverbs 22:3 when he says “a wise man seeketh the plague when it cometh, and hideth himself” (Bradford A: 125). This statement basically says that when intelligent men know that evil is near they should seek refuge or hide. An example of God’s intervention can be found in Chapter IX when he states “But it pleased God to smite this young man” (Bradford A: 131). He then reinforces the notion of God’s intervention when he follows the statement with the assertion that the young man’s friends believed what happened to him was God’s will.

Through his writing, Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford emphasized the divine power and grace of God and how He was the complex being that controlled the consequences of sin and the benefits of being a good Puritan. Bradford once stated that Puritans in England were frequently “taken and clapped up in prison” or “had their houses beset and watched night and day...” For these reasons among others, Bradford and many other Puritans journeyed to America for religious and authoritative refuge. Bradford fervently believed in the capacity of God’s forgiveness but also in His punishments. In reference to seven dignified and respected men, Bradford recognizes that it was their Puritan ideals and faithfulness to their religion that kept them in God’s grace. “And yet the Lord so upheld these persons as in this general calamity they were not at all infected