Of Plymouth Plantation: Response

Two things that are commonly found in Puritan literature are a straight forward writing style and many points of religion. Both are found in William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation. The straight forward writing style was seen in the very beginning. With very little forward or intro into the story, Bradford introduces John Howland and his almost overboard experience. The surplus of details in the novel are also very simple. This makes the story easier to understand and follow. The novel is written almost diary-like in the way that the daily events are being told. New experiences, such as harsh storms, food shortage, and tough encounters with 'barbarians', are commonly discussed in the story. The events that the Puritans endured early on in this country were harsh. Their writings talked openly of the events and gave detailed descriptions of the issues. I was able to learn a lot of new things and even add on to what I already knew thanks the stories that we have been reading.

The story proved that God was of major importance to the Puritans. He was the first one that they honored when they arrived in the new country. "Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element (Bradford 65)." Of Plymouth Plantation also tells the tale of one man who planned on overthrowing many men on the ship. He wanted to get rid of all the diseased men on the ship by throwing them overboard. In the end, the man ended up becoming very ill and being the first to die and to be thrown overboard. The Puritans blamed this entire situation on the man being evil and his death was the way God repaid him. "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 (Bradford 15)." Religion has been used in every Puritan writing piece that we have read so far.  The people lived their lives and made decisions depending on how it would be portrayed in God's eyes.

We learn a lot about the harsh relationship between the Puritans and Indians in history class. Pilgrims took over their land and pushed them out. However, Of Plymouth Plantation shows the other side of the relationship. Puritans and Indians created a peace between them, even after the struggles they had. Squanto helped join the two sides and was described as being "a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectations (Bradford 67)." He could speak fairly well English, so he was able to translate between the Puritans and the Indians. He also helped the Puritans become comfortable with life in America. He introduced them to farming and new tools and techniques.

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.