William Bradford

Thesis Statement for an excerpt from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford

In an excerpt from William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, although the puritan's experience hardship in their voyage to America, in their initial arrival and in their dealings with the Indians, they still maintain their reverence to God and to one another.


My Favorite Passage from an excerpt from "Of Plymouth Plantation" William Bradford



In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings, was, with a roll of the ship, thrown into sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth. In all this voyage there died but one of the passengers, which was William But ten, a youth, servant to Samuel Fuller, when they drew near the coast.





I enjoy this passage most because of its relation to the hardships faced on the journey to America alone and its amazing insight into Puritan believes and customs. The Puritans ability to put everything into Gods hands and their unshakable faith come through strong in this passage which contributes to the overall experience of the reader.

Journal Entry

Day 10,

The Voyage long and trying has began to affect some of those on board. The lack of proper food and constant motion of the ship has made some of the others sick as well as took its toll mentally on some of the non-seafaring people. I dare say it has shaken their faith in God to deliver us safely to the land of plenty. The day pressed on as usual uneventful and almost unbearable. The space on the ship is limited at best. There is hardly a place to sit without it being on another person. Today however did carry hope for not only are we nearing closer to land with each day but i have had a chance to continue my conversations with one of the ships crew members. He goes by the name of John Hallock. We have grown fond of each other in a passed few days and he gives some comfort to my restlessness. He tells me of passed voyages and the beauty of Gods great lands. Hallock speaks of endless mountains, beautiful fields and much more. These stories keep my mind at bay from thoughts of despair and hardship. I will continue to pray for our safe deliverance as well as give thanks to God for getting us thus far.

Anne Bradstreet

My Favorite Anne Bradstreet Poem

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;If ever wife was happy in a man,Compare with me ye women if you can.I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold,Or all the riches that the East doth hold.My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.Thy love is such I can no way repay,The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.Then while we live, in love let's so persever,That when we live no more, we may live ever.

I like this poem in that is shows Anne Bradstreet's human characteristics such as the want of materialistic things (used as a comparison to the love of her husband in the poem) which in Puritan culture was considered to be wrong. She also shows her yearning for her husband to be home and doubt she has about the nature of their love by reassuring herself about how great their bond is.

Journal Entry

Here I sit and wait. Praying to God hoping for my husbands safe and swift return to me. I watch my children grow and change for with each day that passes I see great change in them. I thank God for all that he has blessed me with. I try to enjoy the memories being made, the feelings being felt and the more simplistic things in life as I watch them all but slip from me. I am a conflicted women and many feelings stir inside me. I pray that God will deliver me from this conflicted emotional state and I for now will continue to right for it brings me peace.



Political Cartoon




Health care reform is a difficult process but what some believe to be a needed one. Obama is depicted as wanting health care reform but states that it is as difficult as passing kidney stones. This shows the struggle with idea America has about how Obama is changing health care and how difficult it is to change or reform in America. The USA depicted as one man is stating that insurance is needed in today's health care plan. This shows how Americans for the most part share the common beliefs and goals yet the process by which the goals are achieved is flawed by the human element. The new approach that the Obama administration is taking to reform America could be related to Puritan beliefs in that they were set to already believe and do certain things and to change that or even think differently was considered out of the normal and would often be criticized. Health care reform among other reforms is overall wanted by the American people but the radical way the Obama administration is attempting to reform is being criticized on a daily basis.

Jonathan Edwards

The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. -- "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." -- By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment. -- The truth of this observation may appear by the following considerations.





I chose these images to reflect the imagery used to show the situation Jonathan Edwards believed sinners were in. He said they hang above the pits of hell only by a thread and gods grace. I used a spider web and gods hand to convey this. He also stated in detail about how their souls would burn in hell if they did not repent. I used fire and the image of a person burning to reflect that. I also included the hands of god at the top which I believe Jonathan Edwards thought he was in.