The Pilgrims had many problems in their history, but they remained faithful to their Puritan beliefs (Divine). They originally had to migrate to the Netherlands because of religious persecution, and then they had to go to America because they did not want their children adopting the Dutch culture. They were headed for Virginia where they had the right to land, but they landed in Massachusetts. Before they even knew it they were already facing many problems. They had even lost roughly half of their people to disease. After settling in Massachusetts the Pilgrims would experience a harsh winter leading into what would be called the Starving Times. The Starving Times would be a horrific moment in Pilgrim history where some people would even resort to cannibalism. Even with all of these troubles the people remained true to what they believed (Divine).
Both passages from William Bradford are good representations of Puritan writing. In his first passage it tells of a man who is constantly swearing and cursing at others. He wanted to get rid of half of the passengers, and eventually he was stricken with a disease that would soon take his life. Bradford and the others would believe that he died by the hand of God. They believe that He took his life because he was not following the laws of God, and he was shaming the Puritan ideals.
The second passage is a more upbeat view on Puritanism. It deals more with thanking God for things than with God making others suffer for wrongdoings. From the time that they land near Cape Cod they are already thanking the Providence of God (Bradford 64). It is a strange thing because they have lost many companions and landed in the completely wrong place, but they still manage to thank their God. They are thanking Him because he has allowed them to reach land, but I think many people today would upset with their god if they were placed in a similar situation. Soon after this they are subjected to a unrelenting winter, and even in times of immense difficulty there are people who simply try to work to help others. These people are said to never receive the sickness that is tormenting many, and it is assumed by the people that it was the act of God. They think that because these people were helping others and doing what God would want them to do that this is why they do not get sick. After this they interact with the Native Americans. Squanto provides the Pilgrims with many services and teaches them many things, so he is considered to have been sent by God. Squanto acted as an interpreter to the Pilgrims, and along with this he also taught them to cultivate corn and where to fish. Almost everything that happened to the Pilgrims was just thought of as an act of God. They had made God out to be someone that could do nothing wrong. When something bad happened they were optimistic about it, and thanked God for even the smallest goodness that came out of it. Whenever there was something good it was a gift given by God for them being good followers (Bradford 64-67). It is amazing the impact that religion had on not just the Pilgrims, but on all peoples throughout history.
Bradford, William. "Of Plymouth Plantation." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 64-67. Print.
Divine, Robert A., T. H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, R. Hal Williams, H. W. Brands, and Ariela J. Gross. America Past and Present AP Edition. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print.
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