Careless, Credulous, and Contemptuous The acclaimed story of heroism and bravery is turned upside down when writer Nathaniel Philbrick truly digs into the realities of the Pilgrims. Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Mayflower, denounces the highly commended Pilgrims using indisputable evidence proving they are careless, credulous, and contemptuous towards the Natives. Philbrick incorporates his own bias when providing detail and summary of the life of the Pilgrims. Philbrick, rather early in the book, criticizes the Pilgrims for their carelessness. The Pilgrims displayed several acts that could be considered stupid, heedless, and neglectful. At the start of their adventure, the Pilgrims are offered land in the New World by Holland, to which the …show more content…
Pilgrims declined (Philbrick 20). Philbrick makes it known this decision harmed them greatly because from then on, the Dutch “work[ed] covertly to block the Pilgrims’ subsequent attempts to settle in this strategic location,” (Philbrick 20). Philbrick also patronizes the Pilgrims for not only creating an enemy before departing Europe, but appointing a dubious con man to invest in them only to swindle them out of large amounts of work (Philbrick 20-21). This is not the only time the Pilgrims settle for less for when they decide to elect a military leader, they designated the “cheaper and more tractable” option named Standish instead of Smith, who actually knew what he was doing and where he was leading the group, (Philbrick 59). Standish, being a blind man, lead other blind men to the New World. Philbrick points out how the group may have possessed the map for the New World, but did not make any practical use of it (Philbrick 59). Philbrick wants the reader to realize anyone with common sense would use a map if they were going somewhere they have never gone. The Pilgrims continue to not think ahead when keeping provisions in mind. Philbrick shames the Pilgrims about not doing their research with the phrase, “[w]ithout a plan...they were willing to try just about anything…” (Philbrick 64). Philbrick’s wording implies a negative and rejecting tone as if he is saying the Pilgrims should research. Scuba divers, alpinists of Mount Everest, and even marathoners must do their training and studying before diving into action for if they don’t, they could die. Philbrick insinuates that if they had proper planning and organization, they could have saved lives. Credululity is prevalent not only throughout the expedition but also in Philbrick’s own words. Philbrick clearly disapproves of the Pilgrims’ foolishness from the beginning with, “...the Pilgrims demonstrated an extraordinary talent for getting duped,” (Philbrick 18). The Pilgrims are deceived even before they leave Europe when their ship’s master intentionally and callously ordered for the ship to have alterations including larger, disproportionate masts that would cause leaks in the hull (Philbrick 28). Even the least competent sailor would recognize the problem immediately, but alas, the Pilgrims are too trusting and left it as the ship’s problem (Philbrick 28). Philbrick again indicates the gullibility of the Pilgrims when a Native claiming to be Squanto’s relative arrives at their little town insisting Massosoit and his men are planning an attack (Philbrick 132). Philbrick provides plausible proof as to why this is an equivocal situation; he insists Massasoit would not dream of joining the Narragansetts against the Pilgrims, how the conditions are skeptically similar to Hobbamock’s flight, and how the supposed relative appeared immediately after their military leader departed all connects to seem like a premeditated strategy (Philbrick 132). Even worse than believing a so obvious trick, the Pilgrims chose to keep the traitor around (Philbrick 135). Despite Squanto deliberately pitting the Pilgrims against peaceful Natives for him to gain influence over the region, the Pilgrims still embrace him as their beloved translator (Philbrick 135). Philbrick chastises the Pilgrims for this is exactly what Squanto expects having twisted the delusive Pilgrims around his finger. In several cases, Philbrick deprecates the Pilgrims for show a contemptuous attitude regarding the Natives.
Philbrick makes it apparent he disagrees with the treatment of the Natives and the outcome and handling of the trial for Sassamon using phrases with sarcastic and negative connotations (Philbrick 231). Philbrick calls the Pilgrims’ perseverance to maintain/regulate the Natives as “stubborn insistence on rectitude was to dehumanize the Indians so they seemed wanton and senseless instruments of God’s will,” (Philbrick 231). Philbrick calls out the Pilgrims for not making proper use of the Natives’ supplies and fort simply because the idea is “abhorrent,” (Philbrick 277). It’s truly bigoted to not take advantage of the enemy’s supplies. Philbrick scrutinizes the Pilgrims for their hypocritical lack of morality as compared to the Natives. The English would rape female captives and literally and “enthusiastically butcher” captives and torture them by “cut[ting] the young warrior apart, finger by finger and toe by toe...before clubbing them to death,”(Philbrick 319-320). The Natives are much more humane in this aspect, never raping a female captive or abusing captives like the English (Philbrick 320). Philbrick denounces the Pilgrims and Puritans for never admitting the necessity of Native tribes, Andros and Mohawks, to win the war (Philbrick
333). Philbrick plainly dislikes what the Pilgrims have become to society. He effortlessly destroys the image many readers have of the Pilgrims with fact and ugly truth confirming them to be careless, credulous, and contemptuous. Even with the indisputable evidence that the Pilgrims are not what history built them up to be, society still honors them and refuses to recognize the fault and dehumanization and genocide the Natives had to face from these invaders.
The Mayflower is the story about 102 religious rebels who travel across the Atlantic ocean on a voyage that would change the course of history as we know it. This book is named after the ship that brought these settlers to America. This review attempts to answer the following questions: Is the author objective or biased about the evidence presented? Does the author contribute anything new about the life of the pilgrims? What are some of the limitations of the Author. This review is necessary to be able to understand what the Author is trying to communicate how this story impacts the creation of what would become the United States of America.
Nathaniel Philbrick tells the story of the Pilgrims, beginning with them breaking away from the Church of England, emigrating to Holland, and eventually to America on the Mayflower. He talks about the relationship they had with the "Strangers" or nonbelievers that accompanied them on their adventure. He tells stories about disease, death, deception, and depression. I had never thought about it, but you know some of those people had to be suffering from depression. He tells of joys but mostly of hardships and as he describes some of the first meetings with the Native Americans. His description of the first Thanksgiving is not the same as the pictures I have seen all of my life.
Powhatan questions why the colonist is not willing to live in peace and instead take by force. During his viewpoint, Powhatan shows the effects of the colonist getting along and having cooperation with the natives. Which is no violence, sharing of resources, the abundance of supplies, safety, rest, and enjoyment of life? Powhatan compares how life would be if they live in peace than to live with conflict. I am not so simple as not to know that it is better to eat good meat, lie well, and sleep quietly with my women and children; to laugh and be merry with the English, and, being their friend, to have copper, hatchets, and whatever else I want, than to fly from all, to lie cold in the woods, feed on acorns, roots and such trash, and to be so hunted that I cannot rest, eat, or sleep. Chief Powhatan states, “I, therefore, exhort you to peaceable councils.” In addition, he insists that the guns and swords be removed and sent away indicating he seeks a peaceful relationship between the two
A Declaration in 1622 is a piece of history that will forever be debated. It was written by Edward Waterhouse who was a prominent Virginia official. In a Declaration in 1622, he describes his first-hand accounts of English genocide and the relationship between the Powhatan and settlers. The point of this paper is to claim that Waterhouse’s portrayal is realistic due to his factual perspective of the time period on the contrasting aspects of the Powhatan and settlers. Diving into Edwards historical accounts can show the hardships of the settlers, the varying characteristics of both groups, the importance of tobacco, and the demonization of Native Americans. The characteristics will conclude the factually sound delineation of Edward Waterhouse.
Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford and A Description of New England by John Smith are essentially irrelevant to one another in the way that each piece has a very different point of view. The author John Smith was a pilgrim who arrived in the Americas and wrote a description of the new land. William Bradford was also a pilgrim who arrived at Plymouth and wrote more about the realities of his personal journey. The purpose of this essay is to contrast the purposes of the writers, their intended audiences, and how each writer gives out a specific feeling.
The American version of history blames the Native people for their ‘savage ' nature, for their failure to adhere to the ‘civilized norms ' of property ownership and individual rights that Christian people hold, and for their ‘brutality ' in defending themselves against the onslaught of non-Indian settlers. The message to Native people is simple: "If only you had been more like us, things might have been different for you.”
The pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock has had a number of important impacts on America today. Whether the impacts were positive or negative, it was the pilgrims that had taken the journey to the New World and made the present what it is today. Originating from England, the English were Puritans who believed that the Church of England was in need of spiritual purification. Instead of altering the church, the English set off on a voyage to the New World for new opportunities. The pilgrims could start over and build a new society from scratch without having the chance of having corrupting influences on the Old World. Religion wasn’t the only temptation of going to the New World, there was famine and the taxes in England that made them want to depart to the New World. The New World had the opportunity to obtain rights and then they could live in the society that they had envisioned (Gray, 48).
Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford gives us an insight into the endurance of the early settlers and the kind of pain they went through in order build the foundation of our great nation. They embarked on the new world and developed a colony from the ground up. However, there troubles started long before they even stepped foot on the land. With a strong hold on their religious beliefs, they continued their voyage to the new world even though there were questions about the safety of the vessel. They managed to work hard on the ship and make it to the new world, tired and hungry, only to learn that there was no rest to be found, but even more work.
William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation differs from William Byrd’s The History of the Dividing Line in the cases of purpose, tone, and style. The main purpose of Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation is to show how the colonists in Plymouth colony were struggling and dying due to the lack of food, and how the Native Americans in the area came and helped them. Natives like Squanto “directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities” (Bradford, 33). The lessons taught by the Natives saved the colonists and they formed a mutual friendship, as evidenced by the first Thanksgiving. Bradford was trying to show how the colonists were suffering and dying, but survived with the help of the Natives. Byrd, on the other hand, showed that the Virginians
The Pilgrims found themselves in a harsh new environment. In the middle of winter, they slowly built a settlement at the site of an abandoned Pawtuxet Indian village. Not used to hunting or fishing, they struggled to find food. Many were starving. The future looked bleak.
In the passage, the writer's style was stronger than persuasive because it shows us more information about their journey more than telling a story. It tells a little about Tisquantum and the meaning of his name and also about his history, then it tells about the history of the pilgrims and also what happen and what
A question has arisen concerning the conflicts used in John Bunyan's The Pilgrims Progress; the first half of the book was originally published in sixteen seventy-eight while the second half was published in sixteen eighty-four. Guilt, deception, shame, and fear are all major conflicts the author uses that challenge the main characters, Christian and Christiana, on their journey to the celestial city. Perhaps the hardest conflict Bunyan has Christian and his wife face is guilt.
“Aww, look at the little pilgrims!” I hope that the shock did not show as much on my face as it felt inside. I could feel my ears turning red. After taking my candy and politely saying “thank you,” I walked dejectedly back up the unfamiliar driveway to my father’s confused smile and continued on down the street to another house. I was not a pilgrim that Halloween. I was a colonial. And there is a huge difference between the two: one, a Puritan fleeing religious persecution and the other a citizen in an established city as the tides of revolution rose throughout the thirteen small colonies. I was not dressed up as the former, but the latter, a colonial citizen. However I had to remember, as Kurt Vonnegut inscribed into the immortal pages of American literature, “So it goes.” And so it went and continues to go.
Tension and disputes are sometimes resolved by force but more often by negotiation or treaties. On the other hand, the Natives were described as strong and very innocent creatures awaiting the first opportunity to be christianized. The Indians were called the “Noble Savages” by the settlers because they were cooperative people, but sometimes, after having a few conflicts with them, they seem to behave like animals. We should apprehend that the encounter with the settlers really amazed the natives, they were only used to interacting with people from their own race and surroundings and all of this was like a new discovery for them as well as for the white immigrants. The relations between the English and the Virginian Indians were somewhat strong in a few ways.
The book that I choose to review is The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross. The TEKS that corresponds this book is 113.13 1A History. The student understands the historical significance of landmarks and celebrations in the community, state, and nation. The student is expected to: explain the significance of various community, state, and national celebrations such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving.