It has been argued that the history of the Plymouth Colony is so popular due to its “number of altogether remarkable writers” whose writing was “so graphic, so charged with emotions, so alive with homely details of Plymouth's daily life” (Morison 148). In this paper, I would like to pay special attention to two of those writings: Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford and New English Canaan by Thomas Morton, which stand in particular contrast to each other. I will show how these two writers apply literary techniques that correspond to their origins and personal backgrounds. In addition, the contrast and consequent complementarity of the two works will be brought out by contrasting the relevant sections on the same subjects. It will become clear how the respective narrative techniques are used to support one's own point of view and which aspects play into it. The historical background will shortly be outlined before dealing with the question how these two authors made use of these literary techniques to strengthen and defend their position in the ongoing dispute.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction of the Authors and the Works
1.1 William Bradford
1.2 From Puritans, Separatists and Pilgrims
1.3 Of Plymouth Plantation
1.4 Thomas Morton
1.5 New English Canaan
2. Definition: Apologetics and Satire
2.1 Thomas Morton's Satire
2.2 William Bradford as Apologist
3. The Surrounding Circumstances
3.1 The Depiction of the Native Population
3.2 The Portrayal of the Land
4. Satirical Attacks and Methods of Justification
4.1 Morton's Criticism
4.1.1 Hypocrisy and His Characterization of the Puritans
4.1.2 You may see what it is to be Without
4.2 Bradford
4.2.1 Puritan Lifestyle in New England
4.2.2 Another troublesome Minister
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
6.1 Primary Sources
6.2 Secondary Sources
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This thesis examines the conflicting literary representations of early colonial life in New England by contrasting the apologetic writings of William Bradford in "Of Plymouth Plantation" with the satirical accounts of Thomas Morton in "New English Canaan." The study explores how both authors utilize specific narrative techniques and historical interpretations to justify their opposing ideological positions regarding the Puritan settlement and the "otherness" of those outside their religious community.
- The role of apologetics and satire as defensive and offensive literary strategies.
- The contrasting depictions of Native Americans and the American landscape as ideological tools.
- The sociopolitical conflict between Puritan "separatist" ideology and the interests of English gentry.
- The narrative construction of authority and the exclusion of dissenting "outsiders."
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Depiction of the Native Population
The portrayal of the Indians in the first book of New English Canaan must be understood as a foundation or guidepost that allows Thomas Morton to incorporate them as an argument in his satire. Nevertheless, in some passages he does not miss the opportunity to draw satirical allusions and comparisons between them and the Puritans already in the first part.
It is noteworthy that Morton does not waste any lines, but reveals his intention in describing the Natives right at the beginning of the first book. The comparison of his experiences he makes with the infidels and with the Christians in the second chapter leads him to the following conclusion: He rates the former as “most full of humanity, and more friendly than the other” which he justifies with the actions he experienced during his time among them (Morton 14). Morton comes back to this statement in the third book when he mentions that he found “the Massachusetts Indians more full of humanity than the Christians, and have had much better quarter with them” (113). Humanity is an important criterion for the author and is being used in several instances to underline the merits of the Natives over the Puritans.
The use of this term shows something of the wit and irony Morton applies to his records (cf. Arner 217). The perception of the Indians in New England, which was also transmitted to Europe, was the complete opposite. Thomas Hobbes, in his famous work Leviathan from 1651, describes the “savage people that had recently been reported to exist in many places of America were living in precisely that brutish manner” (Verhoeven 223). William Bradford does not use the term ‘brutish’, but speaks, in connection with Morton's dealings, of “these barbarous savages” (Bradford 208). Therefore, Morton employs the expression ‘humanity’ to create an ironic contrast between his personal view and the common opinion on the native population.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction of the Authors and the Works: This chapter provides the biographical and historical context for William Bradford and Thomas Morton, establishing their personal motivations and the significance of their respective colonial writings.
2. Definition: Apologetics and Satire: The author defines the core narrative techniques used by both writers, characterizing Morton’s approach as satirical and Bradford’s as defensive or apologetic.
3. The Surrounding Circumstances: This chapter analyzes how both authors utilize their depictions of the indigenous population and the natural environment to build their ideological foundations.
4. Satirical Attacks and Methods of Justification: The main analysis focuses on how Morton critiques Puritan hypocrisy and how Bradford justifies the community's strict disciplinary measures against dissenters.
5. Conclusion: The study synthesizes the findings, arguing that both works serve as polarized histories that ultimately reflect the irreconcilable differences between Puritan religious isolationism and the individualistic, profit-oriented vision of the English aristocracy.
6. Bibliography: A comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources used in the academic research.
Keywords
William Bradford, Thomas Morton, Of Plymouth Plantation, New English Canaan, Puritanism, Separatists, Apologetics, Satire, New England colonization, literary techniques, Native Americans, colonial history, dissenters, ideological conflict, Merry Mount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work focuses on the ideological and literary clash between the Puritan leader William Bradford and the "outsider" Thomas Morton, analyzing how their conflicting worldviews shaped their accounts of colonial New England.
What are the central themes of the analysis?
The central themes include the interpretation of religious duty versus profit, the role of community and exclusion (the "within" vs. "without"), and the use of the American landscape as a symbolic framework for political rhetoric.
What is the main objective of the author?
The objective is to demonstrate that both "Of Plymouth Plantation" and "New English Canaan" are intentionally constructed narratives that use literary devices—specifically apology and satire—to defend their respective positions in the ongoing colonial struggle.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The thesis utilizes a comparative literary analysis, examining specific textual passages alongside historical and scholarly interpretations to uncover the argumentative strategies employed by the authors.
What does the main part of the work cover?
The main part analyzes how the two authors manipulate the descriptions of Native Americans and the physical geography of New England to bolster their arguments and critique their opponents.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The most important keywords include Puritanism, Separatists, Apologetics, Satire, colonial history, and ideological conflict.
How does Morton use satire to challenge Puritan authority?
Morton uses irony and contrasts, particularly by portraying the "savage" Indians as more "humane" than the Puritans, thereby exposing what he describes as the hypocrisy and rigid incompetence of the Puritan leadership.
How does Bradford defend his community against figures like Thomas Morton?
Bradford defends his colony by characterizing Morton and others as moral threats or "wolves," justifying their banishment as a necessary measure to protect the sanctity and unity of the chosen community.
Why did Morton choose to write his work as a "masque"?
Morton adopted the style of a Jacobean masque to appeal to the sensibilities of the English gentry, presenting New England as a pastoral utopia of pleasure and profit to contrast it with the austere "Bible Commonwealth" of the Puritans.
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- Jonathan Vogel (Autor:in), 2021, Apologetics and Satire in Bradford and Morton, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1153998
