...Thessa Andrade Professor Heidi Bean EN234: Survey to American Literature 18 September 2014 Anne Bradstreet: Doubting Faith Naturally, any people of any kind of religion at some point of their lives question or show a level of uncertainty in their faith. Religion is a complex idea to accept and to truly have full belief in. Curiosity surfaces when humans cannot prove or understand something logically or scientifically right away. As individuals, reason and solution is a must and the truth is what keeps life going. This feeling of ambiguity is no different for the Puritans in the sixteen hundreds. In fact, Puritan Anne Bradstreet reveals her struggle in faith within many of her literary works. To readers, the assumption is already made that as a Puritan member and a woman of society Bradstreet would incorporate godly worships in all her pieces of writing. Although that is true to some degree, once readers deeply analyzes her work in poetry they can see that her relationship with God is not always all mighty and secure. There are moments in her poems where she feels a certain disconnect or a sense of disbelief in His power. In rare occasions, she even blames God for her misfortunes. Bradstreet begins to see God differently than how she did when she was raised as a little girl. The mentality of every devoted Puritan man and woman in this New World, now called America, is to be a believer in God and only Him. In fact, it is said that “The [...] Puritan was such as one...
Words: 1840 - Pages: 8
...provides some background insight into the Puritan faith, writing that the Puritans believed that their religion was the only right way in life. In coming to America, the Puritans wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to spread their belief to more people. Miller writes, "They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us." The Puritans were quite arrogant people. They felt that their faith was "held in their steady hands," implying that Puritanism can bring order and stability to anybody who accepts the religion. They felt that any other religion was wrong and wanted to rid the world of these thoughts. This is paralleled in contemporary American society, seen in the idea that the country has the duty to bring the rest of the world to what they believe is the right way to live. Both the Puritans and contemporary Americans want to change the world by infiltrating their beliefs, shoving them in the faces of everybody, whether the other people are open for change or not. In his account following the entrance of Reverend Hale, Miller argues that the Devil is an essential element of the world because it provides an opposing force to God. The concept of God being good and saving people from the pits of hell can only be complete if the Devil exists and draws people into these pits of hell. Miller writes, "Like Reverend Hale and the others on this stage, we conceive of the...
Words: 441 - Pages: 2
...The Societal Differences Between the Chesapeake and New England Colonies After the voyages of Columbus in 1492, the western world began to establish colonies in North and South America primarily for economic, political, and religious gain. This transitioned to three major powers dominating North America, the Spanish, the French, and the English. This threshold on power was solidified by the English after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Due the English’s new found power and confidence, many more English colonies started to develop such as the New England and Chesapeake colonies. The two regional colonies, were vastly different economically, socially, and politically even though they had the same county of origin. Their sharp contrasts were a result of the New England colonies being based on Puritan beliefs of equality and unity, while the Chesapeake colonies were established to seek economic wealth and prosperity. The Chesapeake and New England colonies had a difference in development due to their purpose for establishing the colony which was profit verses religious freedom. Economically, the New England and Chesapeake colonies had similar economic activity, as they both relied on crop growing, but they had different economical views of their colony. The New England colonies were more industrialized as they were involved in shipbuilding, fishing, and trade. Also the settlers were devoted to their Puritan faith which lead to the importance of class equality, unity,...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...church with a black veil covering his face they feared and hated him for it. Yet they still held the name Puritans and “purity” so close to their society. They contradict things like the aforementioned throughout the text seen by how they judge the Minister profusely. “Something must surely be amiss with Mr.Hooper’s intellects”... (Hawthrone pg 241) “How strange.” said a lady…(Hawthrone pg 241) The people of the church socially exile the minister instead of seeing the lessons of his actions, a lesson they do not learn until he passes away. The time period of the story also alludes to the overall theme of the piece. The story is set in a time when other views of life are surfacing. Views like rationalism and romanticism in contest with Puritanism. This contributes to the theme because it shows how stuck in their ways the Puritans were, along with showing how ignorance can cause conflicts. “Our parson has gone mad!”(Hawthrone pg 240) This is...
Words: 513 - Pages: 3
...Puritan vs. Modern Values Consider the various things that people in modern society value. What might the Puritans think of some of our modern values? What do you think of our values today? I think the Puritans would be flustered about our values today. The Puritans valued logic and order over beauty and popularity. This is that exact opposite of today’s values, in example there are posters, billboards, ads, and contests displaying beauty in a greater density than there are displays of logical think and order. They also believed in writing was a useful tool to understand the bible. However in today’s religions, leaders often express what they think the bible means instead of its true meaning. Puritans also believed in down – to –earth metaphors and beliefs for the common man. Today we value wealth, power, and looks than look down upon those in poverty and disgrace them from society. The puritans also believed in the horrific writings of Cotton Mather and Jonathan Edwards. The writers described hell in such a vivid and terrifying way, in order to scare people away from sinning. Writers today just describe it was a pit of fire, which is much is terrifying than a flying, giant spider that devoured the souls of sinners as described by Jonathan Edwards. The congregation cowered in fear by the writer’s descriptions of the vengeful gods and horrific hells. Unlike the congregation back then, the people today are not as gullible but still follow the belief of religion. Puritans...
Words: 333 - Pages: 2
...“Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of puritan.” – “O, if I thought that I’d beat him like a dog!” The word ‘puritan’ was used as a term of abuse in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’, yet fifty years earlier John Knox wrote of “the godly and zealous preachers” in his works of 1558. There is a wide scale of debate over where the biggest Puritan threat came from, and the level of success in which Elizabeth dealt with them. Overall, the biggest threat came from separatists who aimed to disband the Church of England. A rise in extreme Puritan ideology would’ve certainly been perceived as a threat. However, these threats were dealt with so effectively by Elizabeth that they could not have developed into a serious threat by the 1590s. John E Neale argues that the Settlement was challenged by a ‘Puritan Choir’ in Parliament. With hindsight, it is proven that Neale took his idea from the 17th century Puritan sympathiser Simon D’Ewes, who possessed unreliable sources. However, Elton points out that leading Puritan MPs consistently opposed features of the Settlement. This is true to some extent – Walter Strickland’s 1571 Bill to reform the Book of Common Prayer was shortly followed by the start of John Field’s Parliamentary campaign through his ‘Admonitions to Parliament’. Opposition seemed evident up until the late 1580s; in 1587 Anthony Cope’s bill demanded the publication of an English Genevan Prayer Book. The fact that Parliament allowed the bill to be read shows that it had some sympathy...
Words: 1236 - Pages: 5
...1. Consider the significance of the names of the title character and his wife. How are the names symbolic? * "Young Goodman Brown" as a symbol in the story. "Young" infers the title character is naive and new at life. "Goodman" suggests his self-righteousness thinking he is a good man. Furthermore, "Brown" indicates he is a commoner * his wife's name is a symbol. Goodman Brown leaves on a journey without Faith, his new wife. In the same way, the Puritans left their faith "at home" and set out on a journey apart from their bride, Jesus Christ. Finally, Goodman Brown's desire to journey without Faith leads to her sacrifice. 2. List what you think each of these symbols stands for: the woods (setting), the time of day, Faith's pink ribbons, the Traveler’s staff. - The forest is the home of the strange and threatening (Indians) and is also viewed as the home of the devil (there was probably some relationship to the Indians in their minds). It was the perfect setting for the trip that Brown (may) have made that night. * The pink ribbons show that Faith is fickle because she simultaneously begs Goodman Brown not to go into the woods and doubts herself * We encounter daily. For example, we are commonly tempted by our friends, just as Goodman Brown was. By having Faith and the townspeople turn to evil, Hawthorne shows how society hides behind a false wall. 3. What does Goodman Brown’s decision to go into the forest suggest about his character? Considering...
Words: 391 - Pages: 2
...Simranjit Singh Mr.Hillyer AP US History September 8, 2014 New English Vs. Chesapeake Although new England and Chesapeake region were both settled largely by people of English origin by 1700, these regions developed differently through the variety of distinct values throughout religion, varied priorities and class structure. Religion had an high impact to immigration. In Document 9, New England migrates from the three centers of English Puritanism. The Puritan church was the most important church in New England, which led settlers to become very different from those of the Chesapeake region. In Document 1, John Winthrop wants to from a "city on a hill" so the colony would be good example to the church of England. Puritans established congregational rule that led to town meeting and gave the New England colonists more control over polities. Also they had state laws that reformed religion teachings. this made England different form the Chesapeake religion because they were more religious. In the ‘New World’ the Pilgrims would work to develop not just a religious society, but one in which all items are shared, as seen in Document 4. The puritans in the New England area felt as though the key to survival and they key to salvation, while working hand in hand, were necessary to create a ‘perfect society’. Compare this to the values brought over to Virginia and highlighted in Document 6 in which John Smith describes a destitute group of colonists who are barely surviving...
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...1.Assess the transformation the American colonies underwent between 1650 and 1720. Did all of the colonies experience the same changes? A blend of acts, wars, and uprisings happened between 1650 and 1720.Navigation Acts were passed by the parliament; insubordination softens out up Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland; and the infamous Salem witch trials occur amid the late seventeenth century and mid-eighteenth century. Business exchange rapidly turned into a need in numerous states. Product development was deficient in benefit. This drove Nathaniel Bacon to his disobedience to Virginia's representative Sir William Berkeley. This story was told again and again by different states and insubordination to their authorities or potentially their directions when it hindered their gainfulness. More significant part of the settlements,experienced varieties of comparable changes,regardless of whether it be in Virginia or Maryland. 2.Describe the influence of Puritanism in New England society in the 1600’s. Religion was vital to the Puritans, there were numerous other crucial convictions that the Puritans withheld which impacted New England society. The instruction was imperative because keeping in mind the end goal to comprehend the...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...-Bacon Rebellion “King Phillip War” -New England Lifestyle -Crown and Anglican Church - Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts 1648 *Rhode Island 1636 Key people: -Anne Hutchinson -Migration -Roger Williams - *New York 1655 Key People: -Dutch War 1665-1667 -Olive Crownwell -Treaty of Westminster 1674 -James II (Duke of York) -Charles the Second -Turmoil Reb *Carolinas 1662 Key People: -Slavery -Cultural Effect “economy” *Pennsylvania 1681 Key people: -William Penn -Large City -Richer Nickson -Indians -Quakers -American Society -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Quebec 1608 -Port Royal *French Point of View 1753-1776 & American Point of View *Plymouth Colony 1620 -Separatists and Pilgrims -Mayflower Compact *Boston -Pequot War 1638 -Anne Hutchinson United States History...
Words: 637 - Pages: 3
...Seven Years' War The eighteenth century was a precise and hard time to live in, because of the many changes that took place. We have been divided by so many changes that have affected us due to different religious, cultural, and our way of living. I am from the South, where we have big families and most of our time is spent gathering agriculture and raising our families. Most of the crops that we grow are tobacco, rice where we have large plantation so we had to enforced labor on our slaves in order for us to benefit from our profits. At this time the birth rate has increased so much to as women were given birth between five to seven children as it is still today. It was impossible to form a common identity, because of the strained relations in this area. This population had a significant impact on the lifestyles in the eighteenth century because of the harsh living and hard times. Young single women from poorer families worked in wealthier households as maids, cooks, laundresses, seamstresses, or nurses (Davidson 2006). White males received college education where as white females were excluded from receiving a higher education and slaves received no education at all. I was taught what I needed to know at home far as education wise my mom taught me my lessons. My brothers were taught to go out and work on the farm, and hunt, because there were no monies to pay for our education, so in that area there was a struggle to get an education In order to set up farms the English colonists...
Words: 965 - Pages: 4
...Shan Rogers Religion Professor Orr December 1, 2012 The Great Awakening and Its Leaders and Theology The Great Awakening was a revival movement meant to purify religion from material distractions and renew any and every person’s faith in God. The movement was a reaction against the diminishing of religion and the spread of disbelief during the Enlightenment of the 1700’s. During this time, revival ministers stressed the emptiness of material comfort, the corruption of human nature, and the need for immediate repentance for fear that individuals shall receive divine fury. So basically, the Great Awakening was a period in history in the American colonies, where the importance of the church was deemphasized and there was more of a focus on the spirituality of individuals themselves. Among this historical event, were leaders who would help carry the Great Awakening to where it was destined to be. Though there were many leaders, two leaders stood out more than any other and had the greatest impact on the Great Awakening. These two leaders were Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. The revival had begun with Jonathan Edwards in Northampton, Massachusetts. Edwards came from Puritan, Calvinist roots, but emphasized the importance and power of a personal religious experience. Edwards’s role in the Awakening was major and crucial in many ways. First, Edwards was a very prominent and effective preacher who not only used his faith as inspiration for his sermons but also from...
Words: 1130 - Pages: 5
...differences in culture and work ethic between Americans and Japanese. It shows how each group handles conflict in the work place, as well as at home. The main characters and leaders are faced with dilemmas and have to figure out how to work as a team to keep the automobile manufacturing plant up and running smoothly. According to Western Washington University (2011), there are many different sociological differences between the Japanese and Americans. Most importantly, the views of conflict and conflict resolution differ greatly. In the United States, conflict is seen as something that is inevitable, or bound to happen, whereas in Japan, conflict is considered dangerous to all relationships and should be diffused before it begins or avoided at all costs (Western Washington University, 2011). This fact along plays a major roll in the struggles between the Americans and the Japanese at the automobile manufacturing plant in Gung Ho. The American workers almost seemed as though they were looking for conflict to solve, but the Japanese executives were quick to avoid it at any cost possible. Culture also plays a major roll in determining how the characters approached and completed tasks presented to them. In the movie, a few of the American and Japanese main characters argue about their differences in spending time with family. The Japanese say that their job is their life; it is most important so they can provide for their families. For the Americans, they preferred to spend as much time...
Words: 1484 - Pages: 6
...(High-Context & Low-Context Culture Styles. (n.d.)). According to Edward Hall, these cultures prefer group harmony and consensus to individual achievement. They focus more on a speaker’s tone of voice, facial expression, gestures, posture, etc. than the actual words said. Travel effect stated four reasons why American workers chose not to use their vacation time. The first reason was the dread of returning from a vacation to piles of work, followed by the belief that no one will be able to step in and do their job for them while they're gone, not being able to afford going on vacation and lastly the fear of being seen as replaceable. “Indians are more efficient. Americans believe in more action and fewer words.” (SocialPC. (n.d.)). As previously stated, there are many differences between American and Indian work culture. Americans tend to be more relaxed work wise, while Indians tend to be extremely hard working. Due to their hard work, Indians quickly learned to adapt to new cultures and are very successful in other countries. Many of the differences between American and Indian culture arise from the fact that Indian cultures are based around their religions. Americans tend to be more individualistic and live life at their own will while Indians tend to rely more on the values of religion and family. Reference Chapter 1 Lecture: High-Context & Low-Context Culture Styles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.marin.edu/buscom/index_files/Page605.htm Goudreau, J. (2013)...
Words: 303 - Pages: 2
...American Realism The Civil War tore the country apart. Once America was reunited in 1865, there was a lot of healing that needed to take place to correct the wounds Americans had suffered at the hands of their kin. In these years there were still a lot of questions to answer and still a lot of truth to be found out about the nation itself. The questions of the place of African-Americans, white Americans, political Americans and every other kind of American out there was a source for constant frustration and violence. This is the background and the huge dust storm that American Realism rose out of. Prior to the Civil War, America was knee deep in the Romantic Movement which included writers such as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Melville, Poe and Whitman. Their writings focused on the puritan aspects of their ancestors or of the dark romance and psychological perspectives writers such as Poe and Melville used. However, after the war, this movement began to fade and Realism increased as the choice reading of the people. This was due to multiple events and changes in culture that led to Americans looking for something better to relate to. The first event was the end of the Civil War. The Civil War showed the violent intentions men had towards each other and also showed the vulnerability of men and the nation and how ungodly man actually was. However, Realism did not begin immediately after the Civil War but rather took off in the 1880’s. So what happened in the 1880’s then? The 1880’s...
Words: 4974 - Pages: 20
