American Literature

Think about the three readings for this week -- readings from three different viewpoints: Pilgrim
(William Bradford), Anglican (Thomas Morton), and Puritan (John Winthrop). How do these
three perspectives support or contradict your vision of the founding of America?

Pilgrims
o Separatists. Came to escape persecution and for religious freedom.

Anglicans
o Seemed to come mostly for industry and trade.

Puritans
o Came to spread their religion.
Lafayette, Boca Raton, and Santa Fe.
Similarly, the selections from the Pilgrim,
Puritan, and Anglican perspective support
the melding of cultures that I believe forms
the backbone of American diversity.

Perspectives Support My Vision

No particular society solely founded
America; hence, the country is a melting pot
of many diverse cultures and peoples. Even
today, one can see traces of different
traditions from unique lands. Look at city
names, for example. One will see names
such as Canterbury, Cornwall, Sussex, and
Windsor. All of those towns and cities were
obviously heavily influenced by English
culture. Examples of French and Spanish
town names include Baton Rouge,

Puritan Literature
A Narrative of the Captivity and
Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson was
a best seller because it was entertaining,
suspenseful, thrilling, and very well written.
Through Rowlandsons vivid diction, a
reader could easily become absorbed in the
story, feeling as though he were actually
there. She carries the reader through her
adventures, describing in graphic detail each
leg of the journey. Unlike pure fiction, this
chronicle did not come from someones
imagination, which made it even more

gripping. Who doesnt want to read a good

Rowlandson wrote, I have thought since of

adventure tale?

the wonderfull [sic] goodness of God to me,

This Indians described in Rowlandsons

in preserving me in the use of my reason and

narrative were savage, evil animals. She

senses. Given the theme of deliverance by a

variously referred to them as bloody

merciful, all-powerful God, the narrative

Heathen, Infidels, and black creatures.

was very definitely a Puritan work of

Describing a ceremony as a lively

literature.

resemblance of hell, she clearly believed

Rowlandsons unshakable faith in God, even

the Indians were minions of Satan. As she

in the midst of horror and extreme

detailed her captivity in painstaking

circumstances, was ultimately what brought

imagery, she affirmed the general Puritan

her home. She considered killing herself

view of Native Americans as savages.

after her little child died, but credited God

Puritan beliefs permeate Rowlandsons

that she then did not use wicked and violent

narrative. The Lord hereby would make us

means to end my own miserable life. Again

the more to acknowledge his hand, and to

and again, she was brought back from the

see that our help is always in him, was the

brink of despair, as she recounted

theme of her work. As she journeyed with

comforting Scriptures throughout her time

the Indians, throughout all her travails, she

of captivity. Had she lost faith, she

continued to believe that Gods purpose was

undoubtedly would have lost her life, most

to convince her of his omnipotence. Another

likely by ending it herself. Instead she kept

belief displayed was that of Gods goodness.

her eyes fixed on God, and made it back

Even after losing her young child,

home to what was left of her family.

tyranny. What could now sustain them but

A Comparison of Pilgrims,
Anglicans, and Puritans

the spirit of God and his grace? wrote

The American spirit is a combination of the

Plantation. Also survivors, the Puritans set

attitudes and beliefs of Americas founders.

themselves apart as self-sufficient builders

Trusting in God to sustain them, and with a

of a new society. In fact, they sought to

strong survivalist ethic, the Pilgrims sought

figuratively and literally build a City upon

a new beginning, free from religious

a hill, as noted in John Winthrops A

William Bradford in Of Plymouth

Model of Christian Charity. The Anglicans,

on the other hand, were much more

business-minded. Their intent to profit
commercially often conflicted with the
Pilgrims independent and self-sustaining
way of life. In Thomas Mortons description
in New English Canaan of one such
conflict, he asserted that the Pilgrims wanted
to be rid of upon any terms their Anglican
neighbors. As evidenced by the Anglicans
competitive and commerce-based nature, the
self-sustaining Pilgrims, and the
independent spirit of the Puritans, America
is truly a mosaic made stronger by the
various cultures who founded it.

Submitted by Mical Teshay