The Pilgrims In William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation

It is very hard for one to read a text like William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” without approaching it both as literature and a historical document. It has elements of both compiled into a streamlined account of the pilgrims as they attempt to describe their experience while setting up Plymouth Plantation. Using the language of the day, Bradford creates an early brand of historiographic literature infused with various tools that give the reader a view into the past that would otherwise be unattainable. It also allows for critical analysis of the puritan philosophy and beliefs that were applied during the time of the colonization of the America. Typology is defined as a doctrine of theological types; especially one holding that things in Christian belief are prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament. William Bradford’s creation of a literary typology allowed him to create various similarities between the Israelites and the Pilgrims. Perry D. Westbrook brings to light Kenneth Murdock’s observation of references to the Old Testament out numbering those from the New Testament by five to two (127). He (Kenneth Murdock) attributes this to the close correlation Bradford wanted to exploit between the ancient Jews and the Pilgrims. By

For the Puritans a vocation was a call from God to social, economic, civil, and religious roles. The Puritans that followed Bradford to America where using their separation to correct these things away from the influence of the crown. During a vocation, one must use his/her talents to ensure that these roles are fulfilled. During this time they are careful that the means aren’t perverted, less they want to invite the correction of their peers and their God. In order to correct themselves the Puritans subscribe to certain dogmas that are in concurrence with the hegemonic belief system of most of those involved in the colonization of the new