The Puritans deserve the right to be appreciated having overcome many challenges on their long journey to civilization. In the story "Of Plymouth
Plantation", by William Bradford, it talks about the voyage that the
Pilgrims made to come to Americas. The Puritans faced various challenges such as, winter’s
blistery storms and their own trust in God.
The
season of winter was a struggle that the Puritan’s faced, “And for the season
it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be
sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel
to known places, much more to search an unknown coast” (pg. 123). The Puritans landed in Cape Cod and could not further continue their voyage due to the winter storms. Unfortunately, half of the company perished throughout that winter of 1620, leaving only six or seven in good condition. Those few people took care of the ill, washed the clothing, made the fires, etc. Not only was it difficult for the Puritans to survive the winter, another hardship was keeping faith in God.
At the beginning of the story God displays great power, “But it pleased God
before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with grievous disease,
of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was
thrown overboard” (pg 120). The seaman is an example of someone going against God's will and authority, having done very ungrateful things. He cursed at God, thought about only himself, and did not tend to the sick. This led to his own self destruction, in belief that you must do as God has asked or else there will be further consequences.
This story took place from 1620-1647 and is recognized and is known as one of the most accurate references in American history. Plymouth Plantation dealt with the pilgrims looking for religious freedom and persecution of those who would accept their church. Bradford profoundly displayed the arrival and settlement of the Puritans and the accompanying years of hardships.
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