Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower

Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower

Some odd facts, first this is a Plymouth Rock.
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And also that, "The City of Berkeley was named by Frederick Billings while he stood at Founder's Rock in 1866. One of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the U.S. was in Plymouth, MA in 1621. The town of Plymouth was found at the landing site of the Mayflower (link)."

In the reading of Mayflower one of the most apparent things is how unexceptional America was to the Puritans, "The grassy fields and open forests were, in Winslow's words, "like many places in England. (107)" Maybe they were saying how this place made them feel welcome, or was like the nice areas in England, but this is not so. They are downplaying this on purpose. Because, if they write about how wonderful America is then like John Smith's book to them, others will flock to America seeking the same bounty. Basically the conquerors do not want competition and the easiest way to do this is to not say how rich the land is, or how the natives are friendly and intelligent, or just how much better (or how much less) the pollution is.

All of this tale shows how one sided the views were towards the natives, "fell to discoursing of England. He had said now "King James his man." As a consequence, the French were no longer welcome in Narraganset bay, (108)" because if they had heard of King James before they would surely be his followers sooner. And the insults about the lice and fleas in the Indian tents and how "Massasoit was "both grieved and ashamed that he could no better entertain" both on page 109. Clearly the Puritan's are showing their own biases by not saying anything good about what Massasoit could provide, but instead being poor guests. Why else who you talk trash and down play someone's generosity.

William Bradford

William Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation.


"What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and His grace? may not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: 'Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean and were ready to perish in this wilderness...' (116)," by William Bradford.

Right from the beginning of the History we can see that Bradford is painting a picture in his favor. He has left out anything that would make them seem less important or their journey less hard.

The result is a tale that involves a lot of God and lot of information left out for, "...that I may be brief.. (115)." To not belabor the points that Loewen makes about the truths of the Pilgrims and the danger of teaching history this way let me give a real world example of how far some people will take things if they think that the writings are correct. Don't be scared off by Rush either.

The REAL Pilgrims Story - First Socialism Experiment FAILS

The problem (one among many) is that they accept Bradford's accounts and History as truth and not a history written with an obvious slant. A false or misleading history will cause others to paint their incorrect pictures of events. a good example is the website http://www.deepestfeelings.com/holidays/thanksgiving/history.shtml
and their quotes, "The local Indians were also non-hostile" and "Somehow they were saved by a group of local Native Americans who befriended them and helped them with food." Loewen is screaming in my ear about what is wrong with these statements, but I just wish to show how far Bradford's History is taken and how much more is invented upon it.

The History is not all fiction is does deal with what Bradford felt and the events that happened on the way there, during the landing, and building the town. However, it leaves out too much and includes too much as well. There is no mention of Bradford's wife, but we get a detailed story about a sailor who died after cursing the Pilgrim's, and a story about another two men where one was dieing gave his stuff to the other in exchange for spice so he could have a final meal but the other man went around talking about how he was cheated until the first died that morning.

It is just me but I would like to know more about this village they found stuff in, or about how they traded to make money or really anything other than how God provided for them. Which is all good and well but if Bradford showed us how the Lord provided or gave details I would be more inclined to believe that what was written would be the truth.

Anne Bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet, Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666

"Yea, so it was, and 'twas just
It was His own, it was not mine
...
When by the ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
...
Adieu, Adieu, all's vanity.
...
Yet, by His gift is made thine own:
There's wealth enough, I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store."

The last line is the window to Bradstreet's mind since it shows that she thinks of her belongings as pelf, or stolen/falsely gained goods.

But almost more interesting than that is the fact that she had written this, "after the burning of her house when she lost her personal library of 800 books. (link)"

As she is lamenting the loss of her things she makes no attempt to hold onto the memory or any part of the items she lost. She consoles herself by saying they were all God's things that she had stole and hid up, but still we can see the sorrow in her writings because she did enjoy having the books.

With just a little more history, a poem can take on a whole new meaning. Perhaps, this poem was a way for her to reconcile the events that she perceived as God's judgment on her store or as a way to let go on the attachment she once had on her books that are now burnt.

Not blaming God for doing what is considered to be an "act of God" is a common theme among her poems. After coming all the way to America and trying to concive 8 times, having a child die as well, she does not blame or question God for allowing these events to happen. In this writters view, her poems are with blame: things happen and times are hard, but no one is to blame for them happening.

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley, poetry

"Other

wise, perhaps, the Israelites had been less solicitous for their Freedom from Egyptian Slavery: I don't say they would have been contented without it, by no Means

, for in every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of freedom..." by Phillis Wheatley

She was sold into slavery at 7 and then bought by the Wheatley's who trained her to read and write. She wrote many poems and letters had three children who all died and a husband of dubious character. But the lasting question is not about her stance of slavery but did she really write all her poems.

The question of authenticity is important because it helps to establish the author as reputable and thus prove their work to be "good" from the writers honesty. The reason this is important is because it shows how society in general accepts the previously held notions of what someone from some group is capable of. I mean that the question over if she wrote this or did not is really saying: could a black slave in that era be educated and write poetry. In a way it is an examination of racism and at the other end exploitation of a black girl by her owners.

Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of the Life

Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of the Life

The narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano details his peaceful existence in Africa for the first eleven years of his life until 

he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. From here he gives a very detailed account of what happened to the other slaves and 

the conditions they were in and suffered through with him. He continues on though and learns to read and how to trade

until he can afford the 40 pounds to buy his freedom.

The most riveting part of the narrative is on page 687 when he describes the headgear a woman wore, "...She had one 

particularly on her head, which locked her mouth so fast that she could scarcely speak; and could not eat or drink."

This device is meant for the reader to understand just how poorly the slaves were treated even after they disembarked the boats.

The graphic portrayal of the conditions along with the novel being the first from an African slave helped it to become famous. Also they style in which it was written is very important because it is really a picaresque novel which wikipedia defines as, "...fiction which is usually satirical and depicts in realistic and often humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low class who lives by his or her wits in a corrupt society," a very popular type at the time. 

So not only was the content riveting but also it was in a popular format which helped to really bring the conditions to the forefront of society. And because of its popularity, the Narrative in the Life helped to inspire many other black writers to write out against slavery too.