Plymouth Plantation
In an excerpt from William Bradford’s, Of Plymouth Plantation, he uses a cause and effect structure to effectively convey his feelings towards a late seaman. The cause and effect structure allows the reader to see what lead to the downfall of the seaman. However, the reaction of WIlliam Bradford toward the sailors fate creates a bias, allowing the reader to side with him that the death of the sailor was in fact for his own good. “They put out to sea again with a prosperous wind... according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness.” Bradford begins the passage explaining the conditions in which the Pilgrims were traveling. He blames the conditions of his flock on the wind, however, he recognizes the need of the wind to move them toward their intended destination. After this introduction to the setting and people he presents his readers with another cause followed by the resulting effect, in which he introduces the late seaman of whom this passage is about, “There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seaman, of a lusty body, which made him the more haughty.” Bradford believes the “lusty body” of the seaman creates the haughty attitude he exhibits. He introduces the seaman to the reader in this way to instill a dislike for him from the beginning.The final cause and effect William Bradford uses combines all of the seaman’s past actions with one final consequence, death. Bradford explains how “the just hand of god [came] upon him”, his death was one he deserved and one that saved him from harming anymore people.
The way Bradford was satisfied by the death of the seaman is appropriate and inappropriate. He was glad the man died because he wanted what was best for his flock, the death of the seaman brought peace. However, being a teacher of God’s word, he should not be satisfied by the death of someone who they believe will go to hell, even if he thinks it was the best for him and those around him.
Bradford wrote this passage to explain to his audience how the death of someone could be beneficial to those around them and the person himself. He wants to explain how someone who lives a sinful life will be punished. The cause and effect structure helps show the seaman’s previous actions, how they were harmful and hurtful to others, and the punishment for them.