Student Essay on Puritain Literature

Structure / Format1 Bruce Bryant

Critical Thinking/logic/analysis 10/9/05

Mechanics mods ½

John Smith versus William Bradford

In the 1500's there were many great writers who wrote about the forming of the American society. The two writers who really stuck out were John Smith and William Bradford. The intentions of Bradford and Smiths writings were to state their view on the Native American, to entertain certain audiences, and to state who is the hero in the story.

Bradford and Smith had different views on the American Indians who were one of the first people on North American soil. In Smith's writing, he is sent to America to find a better place for living, however when Smith's men arrive they encounter the Native Americans. The English try to take over the land that has already been founded, therefore the Indians fight back. Smith begins to call the Native Americans savages because he believes they were selfish and useless in life. Smith believed the Indians can be easily persuade by anything "He demanding for their captain, they showed him Opechancanough, King of Pamunkey, to whom he gave a round ivory double compass dial. Much they marveled at the playing of the fly and needle" (57). Smith used the compass as a bribe to get out of the dangerous situation. Smith thought the compass will amaze the Native Americans and they will let him go. Bradford came to America looking for freedom, but when they arrived they were faced with hardships. The Puritans had to fight a deadly winter and starvation. The Native American that lived in this part of the land helped the Puritans with living in the wilderness. The Native Americans taught them how to hunt, make clothes, and also make shelter. In contrast to Smith, Bradford believed that the Indians were a "special instrument of God for their good beyond their expectation" (90).

John Smith and William Bradford were a part of two different colonies in England. Smith was apart of the wealthy side that was consumed with land ownership. Bradford came from the lesser privileged side, Bradford and his people were not given the proper freedom and treatment. Smith wrote his stories to entertain upper class England. Smith wrote about the many riches the American land would give to England, and the opportunities that could come from the American land. Smith's perspective of the world was a money making world so he believed he should tell the wealthy people of England the great news. "I have not been so ill bred, but I have tasted of plenty and pleasure, as well as want and misery; nor am I ignorant what small thanks I shall have for my pains, or that many would have the world imagine them to be of great judgment, that can but blemish these my designs, by their witty objections and detractions" (61). Bradford wrote his stories to the lesser privilege people of England. Bradford told the Puritans of England about the new world. Bradford thought the world was full of freedom and positive opportunities, so he took everyone to the new world based on his writing. He recounts their initial arrival by saying, "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" (82).

John Smith and William Bradford wrote about the road and settlement to the new world, but they each show some type of thankfulness to a hero. In this case the hero is the person who helped the people of England get to the new world. Smith believed that he was a hero for the English because he went through danger just to find a new world for wealthy people of England. Smith wrote about his encounter with the Native Americans and he believed that he should be the hero because of his dangerous journey. However, Bradford believed that God was the hero for the Puritans because the voyage that they took to get to the new world was full of trials and tribulations. The Puritans were faced with a mighty storm while they were at sea, and they were also faced with a harsh winter. Bradford constantly thanked God for his guidance "Yet by God's mercy they recovered themselves, and having the flood with them, stuck into the harbor" (86).

Bradford and Smith both wrote about their journey to the new world, they also stated their view on Native Americans, they stated who the audience for their story was, and they stated their heroes in the story. The two writers shared and differed in qualities, but they both wrote great literature that was read by many people around the world. Smith and Bradford's writings were analyzed perfectly even though they have different writing styles. Both Smith and Bradford showed amazing courage while they were going into the new world finding a better place for their people. The courage they used also helped them write a story that put their name in all literature and history books as an important figure in America.