The selected book for discourse is Of Plymouth Plantation penned by William Bradford, which I discover notably impressive owing to his noteworthy contributions to the Pilgrims. Following John Carver’s demise, Bradford assumed the role of governor of Plymouth and occupied the position for over thirty years. He not only served as a influential leader within the Plymouth Plantation but was also considered a kin member by all the Pilgrims. Bradford consistently stood alongside the Pilgrims, offering influence and backing in all their undertakings.
Bradford held the Pilgrims in high esteem, viewing them as his own children. In his journal, he chronicles their expeditions and escapades starting from 1608. He commenced writing the journal in 1630, a decade after their arrival in 1620, and regularly updated it until 1650. This book proved enlightening to me regarding the Pilgrims because despite being aware of their contribution to Thanksgiving’s inception, I was unaware of the hardships they encountered while leaving an indelible mark on our history.
The book Of Plymouth Plantation is highly recommended for those interested in the Pilgrims’ story. It begins with an introduction by Harold Paget, providing readers with an overview of what to expect when reading the book. Paget covers various topics discussed in the book, including the passing of Governor John Carver shortly after the Pilgrims’ arrival in America and continues until Bradford’s death in 1657. In essence, this literary piece offers a comprehensive narrative of the remarkable journey undertaken by the Pilgrims.
The book “Of Plymouth Plantation” documents the Pilgrims’ time in Holland, their journey on the Mayflower, and their difficult first winter in the New World. It also highlights how the native inhabitants of America helped them survive and defended them. The Native Americans taught them skills like farming, trading, medicinal plant use, and survival during a harsh winter. Without the invaluable help of these Native Americans,
Americans owe their knowledge to the Pilgrims, who were documented in the book Of Plymouth Plantation. This book is comprised of two books and encompasses a total of thirty six chapters. The author, Bradford, starts by elucidating the reasons behind the Separatists’ migration from England. Their motive was to evade the regulations enforced by the Church of England and establish their own religious institution. The Separatists firmly believed that they could exercise their faith more liberally in America. Bradford emphasizes the hardships they encountered due to their beliefs, such as being apprehended, tortured, killed, and incarcerated.
In an attempt to avoid rejection, the Puritans sought sanctuary in Holland. Regrettably, their escape was not as straightforward as they had anticipated. Abandoning their loved ones and familiar surroundings was already a difficult task, but the ports were inaccessible to them, compelling them to find clandestine methods of transportation. The passage to Holland proved intricate for both the Separatists and Puritans. Additionally, Bradford references the Pilgrims’ expedition on the Mayflower as they set sail towards the New World.
On September 6th, 1620, approximately 102 passengers and 30 crew members embarked on a challenging expedition aboard the Mayflower. The Pilgrims encountered various difficulties, including worries about the ship’s durability during their journey from Holland. Limited funds prevented them from acquiring a robust vessel, resulting in the creaky and leaky condition of the Mayflower. This situation led to contemplation among the Pilgrims about abandoning their plan and returning home. Their previous trip to Holland had dampened their spirits, as they feared that their current endeavor might not yield success.
Despite the challenges faced by the Pilgrims, they persevered and found solutions. A carpenter used a large screw to fix the main beam, while the ship’s crew caulked the leaks. This boosted their confidence for the journey. However, their path to the New World was treacherous with rough waters and stormy skies. The severity of the seas even led to a Pilgrim falling overboard. Just as they thought their troubles were over, Bradford’s wife tragically took her own life as the boat arrived at their destination. This left Bradford devastated and in despair.
The mayflower spotted Cape Cod on November 11th, 1620, marking their arrival to the New World. The Pilgrims discovered that Native Indians inhabited Cape Cod alongside them. Initially, the Pilgrims and Indians had a troubled relationship, with the Indians frequently observing and stealing the Pilgrims’ tools. Being unfamiliar and unfriendly towards one another, it wasn’t until March when Samoset began building a rapport with the colonists. Samoset and the Pilgrims formed a strong bond, with him even returning their tools.
After some time, Samoset introduced the Pilgrims to a fellow Indian, Squanto, who spoke English. The two groups quickly developed a bond, and Squanto proceeded to teach the colonists how to fish, hunt, and farm. Recognizing their long-term coexistence, they decided to establish a peace treaty, where both Indians and Pilgrims agreed to take responsibility for their actions and live harmoniously without conflict. This agreement lasted for a considerable period, prompting the groups to contemplate a joint act of gratitude.
The Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for the First Thanksgiving feast, celebrating a plentiful harvest after a successful summer. However, their happiness was short-lived as they faced an extremely harsh winter, which turned out to be the worst ever experienced by the Pilgrims. Within three months, more than half of them died due to starvation or illnesses caused by the severe weather. Some days witnessed the loss of two or three colonists’ lives. Out of the original group, only fifty individuals survived, with all but a small group of five or six being gravely ill. Despite these dire circumstances, the few healthy Puritans selflessly cared for the sick without complaining, showing unwavering dedication in taking on this complex and unsanitary task.
The sailors prevented the sick colonists from boarding the boat. At first, they refused to share their beer and only gave them water. Over time, the sailors also fell ill, with a death rate of 50%. Despite mockery from the sailors, the captain was the only one who shared beer with the sick Pilgrims. However, even in their time of need, the Pilgrims still offered help to the sailors.
The book concludes with a chapter titled “The names of those who came very first in the Mayflower, in the year 1620 and were, by God’s blessing, the first pioneers and founders of New England Settlements and Colonies.” In this chapter, Bradford expresses his condolences for those who died on thMayflower and their families. The list includes around one hundred individuals; half of them perished due to sickness.
Bradford ends by saying “Let the Lord have praise, Who is the High Preserver of men.” (Bradford,W(1920). Of Plymouth Plantation.New York: E.P.Dutton and Company).
Bradford expressed his point of view, aim, and bias in Of Plymouth Plantation to inform the next generation of pilgrims about his perspective on the New World. The book mostly used third person point of view to tell the story, allowing Bradford to present facts and prove his point. However, he also sporadically switched to first person point of view to communicate directly with the readers and share his interpretations of the New World.
The text highlights how Bradford’s writing in the story incorporates chronological, historical facts to convey his perspective on the New World. By utilizing examples such as death rate, surroundings, and the Pilgrims’ way of life, the author not only aims to inform but also employs bias to persuade the audience. In my perspective, Bradford effectively defends his viewpoint by presenting clear examples, strong arguments, and historical evidence. Additionally, since the book predominantly adopts a third-person point of view, Bradford can easily support his claims by recounting his personal experiences.
Overall, Of Plymouth Plantation is an impressive book that showcases William Bradford’s exceptional writing and organizational abilities. It presents clear examples and facts to assist readers in comprehending the author’s perspective. In essence, this remarkable book effectively conveys information about the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World in a manner that is both informative and engaging. Personally, I found it exhilarating and pleasurable to read. As previously mentioned, I highly recommend Of Plymouth Plantation to anyone interested in delving further into the captivating story of the Pilgrims.
