American Visions, American Stories: The Puritan World View and
Early American Literature English 441 Dr. Roggenkamp
Slide 2
America... A Nation of Stories America built upon stories Not
founded on geographical or linguistic unityimmigrant, native
experiences Stories or ideologies impart unity to diverse people
and experiences Published works, political rhetoric, press
determine which stories become legitimate and definitive Role of
colonial, early Republic experience in shaping stories
Slide 3
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from European settlement
in America Story of Diversity Story of Individualism Story of
Expansionism & Colonialism (and Exploitation) Story of
Capitalism Story of Exceptionalism
Slide 4
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement
in America Story of Diversity: Not a single experience or single
story Diversified socially, religiously, racially, ethnically,
etc.
Slide 5
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement
in America Story of Individualism: America as a place to go it
alone Not tied to old European alliances, traditions
Slide 6
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement
in America Story of Expansionism & Colonialism (and
Exploitation) Right & even God-given duty to spread across
continent Civilize the wildernessand anyone who already lives
there
Slide 7
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement
in America Story of Capitalism America as a place where personal
wealth available Reward for leading godly life Image: John
Winthrop, Governor, Massachusetts Bay Company
Slide 8
Dominant stories & patterns emerge from English settlement
in America Story of Exceptionalism America as an exception to the
normal state of nationsan exceptional people America as beacon to
humanity: a Peculiar Chosen Peoplethe Israel of our time (Herman
Melville)
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Image: Embarkation of the Pilgrims, Robert W. Weir, U. S.
Capitol Building, 1837
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AND NOW FOR A QUIZ! (adapted from PBS series Colonial House)
True or False: The first European colony in the New World was one
founded by the English in what is now Virginia (Jamestown, of
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas fame).
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FALSE The Spanish founded the first permanent colony at St.
Augustine (Florida) in 1565 The first colony in Virginia was
Jamestown, founded by the English in 1607 The Dutch founded New
Amsterdam (New York) in 1608 English pilgrims arrive in Plymouth
(Massachusetts) in 1620, and English Puritans in Boston/Salem area
1630 Image: Map depicting destruction of St. Augustine, 1586
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True or False? The Pilgrims and Puritans usually wore black and
white clothing
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False Black cloth was expensive and hard to obtain, so only
wealthier Pilgrims and Puritans owned it, and they saved it for
Sundays and special occasions They usually wore beige, gray, green,
red, blue, and purple The buckles on shoes and hats are an
invention of nineteenth- century illustrators Image: From PBS
series Colonial House
Slide 14
True or False? English colonists came to the new world seeking
religious freedom.
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Only very partially true. Some, like Pilgrims of Mayflower
fame, came seeking religious freedom as primary objective But even
the Puritans of Salem and Boston had many motivations, not just
religiouslargely POLITICAL Most colonists came believing there was
money to be madeand investors came to oversee their valuable
property Some came just for adventure Image: Wealthy English
adventurer
Slide 16
True or False? An "Indian princess" named Pocahontas rescued
early colonist Captain John Smith from certain death and later fell
in love with him.
Slide 17
False, but a Fetching Story (Sorry, Walt Disney) Pocahontas,
daughter of Algonquian Indian chief, was 11-12 when the Virginia
Company, led by Captain John Smith, arrived to found Jamestown
colony Smith wrote that he was kidnapped by Indians, who took him
to their village to club him to death Pocahontas ran in and saved
his life Kidnapping and mock death threat likely part of tribal
adoption ritual Smith embroidered story about her saving
himreported that Indian women saved his life on other occasions as
well
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Colors of the wind, etc. etc. Little evidence to suggest
romantic relationship between Smith and Pocahontas Pocahontas later
married colonist John Rolfe and traveled to England to meet King
James I Died at the age of 22 and was buried in a churchyard in
Gravesend, England Image: Depictions of Pocahontas
Slide 19
True or False? Early colonists celebrated the first
Thanksgiving in November 1621, and it has been an annual holiday in
North America ever since
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False. ( Sorry, schoolchildren of America.) Sometime during
fall 1621, the 50% of Pilgrims who survived the first winter in
Plymouth Colony held harvest celebration with feasting and games.
Menu: lobster and eel But not called "Thanksgiving" Image: 1914
depiction of the "First Thanksgiving"
Slide 21
Welcome to Turkey-ville No one associated the Pilgrims with
"Thanksgiving until William Bradfords account of the 1621 harvest
festival was discovered and published in 1841. In 1863 Abraham
Lincoln proclaimed annual Day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday
of November. By end of nineteenth century when "Wild West" was
settled, white Americans felt comfortable enough with idea of
Pilgrim forefathers dining with friendly Indians, and the Pilgrims
became identified with the holiday.
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True or False? Early English colonists developed strict laws
and harsh punishments for those who broke them.
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Wickedly True Elaborate system of laws, fines, punishments,
public humiliations to keep order Plymouth Colony: could be put to
death for murder, witchcraft, arson, rape, adultery, sodomy Public
whipping or being placed in public stocks Fines for cursing,
missing church, lying, defying parents Offenders could be forced
wear badges or cloth letters identifying crimes (The Scarlet
Letter, anyone?)
Slide 24
True or False? The Puritans and Pilgrims viewed alcohol and
tobacco as instruments of the devil and banned them from the
colonies. And they NEVER engaged in (ahem) adult relations before
marriage!
Slide 25
False, now pour me another one EVERYONE (even children) drank
alcoholic beveragesunpurified water could cause illness and death
But frowned upon excessive consumption and public drunkenness
(might lead to having to wear red D [for drunkard] around his neck
for a year) Smoking also wide-spread, though dangerous (fire) Up to
40% of Puritan babies were conceived before the ring was on the
finger http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/ho
liday07/court.cfm http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/ho
liday07/court.cfm
Slide 26
True or False? Early English colonists such as the Pilgrims and
Puritans introduced Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter
to North America.
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They would be HORRIFIED to know that many people today think
this is true! Only three holidays approved: Sabbath, days of
thanksgiving, and fast days Christmas and Easter viewed as pagan in
origin (technically true both holidays drew upon and incorporated
pagan rituals and symbols), and as holidays constructed by the
Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church In addition,
marriage viewed as a civil union, not a religious sacrament
Slide 28
True or False? Enslaved Africans arrived in Colonial America
before the Mayflower did.
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True In 1619 a Dutch ship carrying 20 Africans to be sold
arrived in Jamestown (Virginia) Additionally, the majority of
America's first colonists were white indentured servants
(voluntarily came to the colonies, signing a contract pledging four
to eight years of servitude in exchange for passage to New World)
Image: Eighteenth-century etching of slave ship Brookes, detailing
packing of human "cargo"
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Why use Puritanism & New England culture as a base for
semester? Ideal of universal literacy Printing culture Influence of
ideology on early American literature & beyond Influence of
ideology on national character today Establishes several stories of
what America meansbut not THE story! Image: Still shot from PBS
series Colonial House, 2004
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Before the Puritans... Native American cultures: pre-contact,
approx 300 million people, 300+ separate indigenous cultures, 800
languages spoken Mostly oral literaturebut where American
Literature really does begin Colonizing by Spanish, French, Dutch,
and English, in both South (Virginia) and North (New England) First
permanent European settlement on North American continent: Spanish
at St. Augustine (Florida, 1565) English: Jamestown (Virginia) 1607
Literature produced by colonists and printed in colonies begins
1639, with press set up by Puritans of Massachusetts Bay
(Boston)
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What does Puritan mean? Originally meant as an insult: label
for those who opposed compromises Queen Elizabeth I made with
Catholic church Both a religious, theological label and a
political, cultural label Way of grouping together very diverse set
of belief systems religious, political, social Not a single,
stable, static group of people Most common context:
Congregationalists, Calvinists Image: The Puritan, Augustus
Saint-Gaudens, Springfield, Mass. 1883.
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Puritanism Roots Label Puritan emerges 16 th century European
Protestant reformation of Christianity reform Roman Catholic Church
(THE Christian Church) 1530s England Henry VIII parts with Catholic
Church to form Church of England (Anglican) His government still a
POLITICAL THEOCRACYbelief in government by divine guidance One
official state religion, intolerant of others (crime of
heresy)
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Puritanism Roots, 2 Believe Henry and successors havent gone
far enough in wiping out Catholic influence in England / Church of
England Purify Church of England get back to basics of what they
think Christianity is about, including: Follow only the Christian
Bible Destroy influence of educated priesthoodindividual path to
God without intercession of priest (literacy) Ban Catholic
sacraments / rituals Ban altars, images, priesthood, convents, etc.
Ban pagan holidays like Christmas, Easter Image: St. Marys Anglican
Church, Northumberland
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Puritans: Separatists and Non-Separatists Most Puritans simply
want to PURIFY Church of England, not break with it / separate from
it (Non-Separatist Puritans) Simply want to fix Churchtoo close to
Catholic roots Some, though, think Church (and by connection
government of England) is beyond fixing (Separatist Puritans, or
Pilgrims) Purify Christianity by separating from established church
Radical political offense! Image: Thomas Smith, Self Portrait,
circa 1680
Slide 36
Basic World View (Theology) Most Puritans who come to New
England in 17 th century are CALVINISTS (Congregationalists)
CatholicsMaryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, initially
AnglicansVirginia, initially QuakersPennsylvania (late 17 th c.)
John Calvin, Swiss Protestant reformer, 1509-1564 Theology: about
an interlocking system of COVENANTS (laws, legally binding
agreements between God and humanity) Image: John Calvin
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Covenant of Works God promised Adam/Eve and all their
descendants eternal life if they obeyed his law; Adam/Eve accepted
this promise (covenant) Humanity thus responsible for earning
salvation via works (things they DO / way they ACT) Adam/Eve broke
covenant God totally justified in condemning all humanity to
eternal damnation from that point on
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Covenant of Grace God totally just, but also totally merciful
New covenant with Abraham in Bibles Old Testament scriptures: I
will be your God and you will be my people. Christian Bibles New
Testament: Christs death fulfills Gods end of covenant crucifixion
atones for damnation of humanity Image: Rembrandt, The Angel
Stopping Abraham from Sacrificing Isaac to God, 1835
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Covenant of Grace, 2 Calvin: God offers salvation not to all
humanity per se, but to select group: the elect No one knows who is
elect and who is not Must have more than intellectual faith that
you MAY be elect must have spiritual, emotional, moving faith,
total devotion to God, church, state Constantly watch for signs
that youve been offered the covenant of grace Doctrine of
preparationism Image: Last Judgement, Sanctuary Notre-Dame des
Fontaines, La Brigue, France
Slide 40
Social Covenant Idea of covenant organizes Puritan civic life:
King/Queen of England not in charge of church governance Individual
church congregations enter into own covenants with each other and
govern themselves Church and government of colonies also enter into
covenantstheocracy Extremely threatening to English monarchy
Conformity in all aspects of life: Heres our contract with God and
each other. Quashes dissent: break covenant & youre out of
church, land, community Image: General Laws and Liberties of the
Massachusetts Colony, 1672
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The Appeal; or, Whats In It For Me? Covenant system very
delicately balancedinherent drama Those not Puritan definitely not
elected Be part of exceptional group Belief world about to
endPuritans to make way for return of Christ Emotional charge
extremely charismatic religion Social pressures economic pressures
Not just about religion also all about politics and social order
Sense of order and community in totally disordered / fractured
world Image: Richard Mather
Slide 42
Massachusetts Coast (modern)
Slide 43
Of Pilgrims and Puritans: Whats the difference? In some sense,
all Pilgrims are Puritans, but not all Puritans are Pilgrims Most
Puritans are happy to keep the Church of Englandsimply want to
PURIFY it by working from within (Winthrop, Bradstreet,
Boston/Massachusetts Bay Co., est. 1630) Pilgrims are radical
Puritans Church of England has to go beyond salvation (Bradford,
Plymouth Plantation, est. 1620) Image: Facsimile of Bradfords
manuscript for Of Plymouth Plantation
Slide 44
Of Pilgrims and Puritans, 2 Separatists Separate from Church of
England and therefore from England itself Social outcasts radical,
subversive, persecuted Of Mayflower and First Thanksgiving fame (a
myth) Image: First Thanksgiving, Jean Louise Gerome Ferris, early
20 th C.
Slide 45
William Bradford, 1590-1657 Separatist Puritans (Pilgrims) to
Plymouth, 1620 Group most persecuted in England Most radical,
extreme views Images: William Bradford; contemporary reconstruction
of Plymouth Plantation homes
Slide 46
John Winthrop, 1588-1649 Member of English landed gentry;
attorney 1629 joins other investors to organize trading
companyMassachusetts Bay Company Unlike most other colonial
enterprises, this one not just about making profit Leads Great
Migration to New England (1630-1650) Image: John Winthrop
Slide 47
Winthrop and 17 th -Century Puritanism: The Ideal and the Real
What are Winthrops and Bradfords ideals all about? What reality
does Winthrops private journal and Bradfords history show in
contrast to the ideal? Image: Royal Charter, Massachusetts Bay
Company, 1629
Slide 48
Figures and typology Puritan literature explicates prophecies
of Biblical Old Testament as foreshadowing of events and
peoplefirst in the New Testament, then in contemporary life (by
1640s) Biblical forecasts of current events E.g.: Atlantic journey
of Puritans is antitype of Exodus of Israelites, the chosen people
(the type). Image: The First Thanksgiving, Jenny Brownscombe,
Pilgrim Hall Museum, 1920.
Slide 49
Figures and typology: Story of American Exceptionalism
Individuals are chosenthe elect But COMMUNITY as whole is people
chosen of God as well New Israelites (Puritans) sent on errand into
the wilderness to establish the new Jerusalem in anticipation of
Christs return