Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford

Sanne Bergh
Eng48A
Journal for Bradford
Dec. 1, 2011

Author Quote
"But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people's present condition, and so I think will the reader, too, when he well considers the same (115)".

Internet Quote
"Bradford writes most of his history out of his nostalgia, long after the decline of Pilgrim fervor and commitment had become apparent. Both the early annals which express his confidence in the Pilgrim mission and the later annals, some of which reveal his dismay and disappointment, were written at about the same time."

Brief Summary
Bradford talks about how it is to live as a pilgrim and the misgivings and difficulties that were faced. In his books, he justifies the hardships with the will of God and fate. Everything happens for a reason.

Your Ideas/Reactions/Responses to the Author's Ideas
In times when people had nothing or very little, or even in places where people do not own very much, religion plays a large role in the well-being and happiness of the people. Puritan faith was founded because they didn't want to worship God in the same way Europeans did. As a result, pilgrims fled to America to practice religion in ways that they saw fit. In complete isolation, beliefs tend to take on a whole new form. For example, there's a village in the South Pacific that worships a war veteran named John Frum Day. As a cargo cult, the group of people worship someone or something that is completely arbitrary. However, it is for the simple sake of worship that they do believe so strongly in something that might seem ridiculous. People need something to believe in. Compared to Puritans, this village is not so different. However, to look upon the "poor people's condition" is a rendition of the inherent cause of the intensity of the Puritan faith. It is what triggered people's ability to accept and understand why the world was so cruel. From an Atheist point of view, one might think that the land was simply harsh and inhospitable to people's needs and that there is no alternative belief besides geographical conditions. When Bradford "stops to stare" there is an inherent acknowledgement for the poor conditions of the land. People are undoubtedly left with nothing else but their faith. Essentially, isolationism makes people do things that might make people do crazy things.