How would you compare Bradford’s first sight of the continent with other first sightings we have seen, for example, in the accounts of Columbus and Vespucci? What do the differences among them suggest about the viewers and their purposes in the Americas? In the absence of cannibals and amazons, what are the primary symbolic and literal threats to Bradford’s colony and how do they change over time?
6 thoughts on “Bradford and Morton”
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Bradford reports that his crew’s first action was to “[fall] upon their knees and [bless] the God of heaven.” In comparison to Vespucci’s vivid description of what the land holds, Bradford focuses instead on his people and how they react to it – he has an inward-looking focus and a goal of keeping his group together, whereas Columbus’s and Vespucci’s focus was decidedly outward and exploratory. Bradford considers anything immoral or against the Puritan faith to be a threat, specifically the immoral ways of Thomas Morton and Thomas Granger. In sections where Bradford discusses the natives, he discusses them as a single dangerous entity that might affect the settlers rather than taking the time to examine their customs and behaviors. Bradford’s documentary narrative highlights the fact that he is not writing for an investor or for Europeans left behind, but instead perhaps for the future inhabitants of Plymouth Plantation.
Bradford’s understanding of the Americas is far different from earlier accounts of conquest, as he does not view himself as a heroic figure or even an explorer of the New World, but rather seems to have made the voyage in hopes of aiding in the foundation of a new community. He is dismayed by the “continual opposition and contention” among the settlers that value land rights and other material distributions over their allegiance to the church. Faith is central to Bradford’s motivation for being a pioneer, as otherwise he appears quite uneasy about his lack of familiarity with local hunting and fishing practices or other settlers’ oppositional interactions with Natives. While he certainly does not express great adoration for or even real interest in the native peoples or customs, he expresses his appreciation for their offerings of peace and their help in teaching them the means of survival in this foreign land.
Unlike the accounts of Columbus and Vespucci, Bradford’s first sight of the continent is not treated as a joyous and celebratory discover; rather, upon seeing the continent, he and his crew are met with feelings of uncertainty and fear. While he acknowledges that he and his crew are happy to have set foot on land, this happiness is not a result of entering land that could hold great value, but instead due to safely reaching land after a long and perilous time at sea. He, dissimilar to Columbus and Vespucci, did not travel to the Americas in hopes of extracting resources that would lead to prosperity and wealth, and consequently, his accounts do not romanticize his new surroundings. His accounts instead recognize the difficulties of establishing a settlement on this land and also convey a reliance on God to help him and those who accompanied him navigate this unfamiliar land.
While Columbus, Vespucci, and other early explorers often glorified the New World (in order to ensure further funding and support), Bradford had no need to do so. Thus his early descriptions of the region cite “savage barbarians,” “sharp and violent” winters, “a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men,” etc. This contrasts to earlier explorers’ descriptions, which told of an exotic land full of valuable resources.
In the sections that we read, Bradford complains of three major threats to the colony. 1) Morton, whose dealings with the Native Americans were “against [the colonists’] common safety.” 2) Greed: as individuals gained land and resources, they grew hungry for more, and thus left common settlements to establish greater individual holdings. 3) Wickedness: he cites instances of “buggering,” and worried that it was becoming easy for “many unworthy persons” to move to the colony.
Bradford describes his first sight of the continent, landing in Cape Cod, focusing on his crew of men, rather than new land. He seemed to focus on how their journey had affected them all, unlike Columbus, making it seem, to me, that this journey was not one of new and enthusiastic discovery. It was not romanticized at all, in fact the first emotions he described upon landing were loneliness and isolation.
Bradford’s first sight of the continent was very different than in previous accounts we have read. This is partially due to the status of the people on the Mayflower. Many were sick and they were caught in many storms, which led them to settle in Plymouth instead of their original destination. Bradford also viewed the continent and its inhabitants as wild, but focused more on the importance of God and God’s blessings as the key to the settlement’s success.