Comparison of "Of Plymouth Plantion" and "A Description of New England" A Few Gramatical Errors
New
England: A Matter of Perspective
John Smith's A Description of New England and Willia
m Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation both present a picture of the same pre-colonial land of New Engl
and. Mr. Smith's writing, out of necessity, painted a rosy picture of the new land, while Bradford's
historical account shows early New England was not Heaven on Earth. Mr. Bradford and Mr. Smith are
writing about one land, but they present two different accounts of the life in the land.
John Smith's writing is his ideal vision of what the new land could be with the best of people c
olonizing the new land. John Smith's fine piece of literature may also be considered a beautifully
worded, finely tuned piece of propaganda. Mr. Smith wrote this selection to influence people to lea
ve their lives in England and cross the globe to start a new life in a strange land. John Smith des
cribed a a land where little work was needed, and riches could be easily acquired. A man with littl
e fishing ability could catch one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred fish a day. He tells of an
imals perfect for hunting that give plenty of food to live on, and rich furs that could be traded fo
r money. Mr. Smith declares the land free, so anyone could come to the New World and accumulate gre
at wealth. John Smith envisioned a land where all men would live in peace and harmony, a vision tha
t would not be fulfilled in New England or any of the New World.
William Bradford's hi
story of the Pilgrims, in Of Plymouth Plantation, sheds a uniquely different light on life in coloni
al New England. Bradford's account depicts many hardships that had to be overcome by the Pilgrims,
before their ideal land began to take shape. Bradford describes arriving in New England in the late
fall as fatal for many of the Pilgrims. The first winter took its toll on the colonists. Forced t
o live on the boat, many people died of scurvy or starved. When they finally were able to stay on l
and, they found the Indians less than sociable, and the land too rugged to develop large farms. The
Pilgrims kept their faith though, and with time, the Lord blessed them. They made a pact with the I
ndians, learned how to grow native crops, and developed industries. William Bradford believed that
God helped them through His bountiful grace, and turned the New England wilderness into a Heavenly P
aradise.
The similarities between A Description of New England and Of Plymouth Plantat
ion are so few that it is hard to believe they are even about the same general area. Both men see t
he colonization of the new land as a great religious expression of faith and virtue. After the pact
is made with the Indians, the Pilgrims begin to reap some of the benefits promised by Smith, but it
all takes much work. The Pilgrims begin to grow crops, catch fish, and hunt plenty of food. It al
l took work though, and was never as easy as John Smith tried to lead people to believe.
John Smith's ideal vision of the land and the grim reality of what William Bradford faced are ver
y different. The Pilgrims found that their basic physical needs had to be attended to before the sm
allest of John Smith's promises of ease could be noticed. The unity that Smith envisioned for all m
en in the new land was never realized either. The settlers were not treated kindly by the sailors,
and the Indians were not very welcoming at first. Many of these differences would be erased over ti
me, but Smith's vision did not come to fruition quickly or easily for these pioneers.
With time and God's grace, John Smith's propaganda would become a near truth in Providence, but it w
as not easy for the Pilgrims. Indian help and much hard work was needed before the Pilgrims' holy,
virtuous experiment came close to the life Smith promised to those adventurous souls willing to cros
s the Atlantic Ocean.comparison plymouth plantion description england gramatical errors england matt
er perspective john smith description england william bradford plymouth plantation both present pict
ure same colonial land smith writing necessity painted rosy picture land while bradford historical a
ccount shows early heaven earth bradford smith writing about land they present different accounts li
fe john writing ideal vision what could with best people colonizing john fine piece literature also
considered beautifully worded finely tuned piece propaganda wrote this selection influence people le
ave their lives cross globe start life strange described where little work needed riches could easil
y acquired with little fishing ability could catch hundred hundred three hundred fish tells animals
perfect hunting that give plenty food live rich furs that traded money declares free anyone come wor
ld accumulate great wealth envisioned where would live peace harmony vision that would fulfilled wor
ld william history pilgrims plymouth plantation sheds uniquely different light life colonial account
depicts many hardships overcome pilgrims before their ideal began take shape describes arriving lat
e fall fatal many pilgrims first winter took toll colonists forced live boat many people died scurvy
starved when they finally were able stay they found indians less than sociable rugged develop large
farms kept their faith though with time lord blessed them made pact indians learned grow native cro
ps developed industries william believed helped them through bountiful grace turned wilderness into
heavenly paradise similarities between description plantation hard believe even about same general a
rea both colonization great religious expression faith virtue after pact made indians begin reap som
e benefits promised takes much work begin grow crops catch fish hunt plenty food took work though ne
ver easy tried lead believe ideal vision grim reality what faced very different found basic physical
needs attended before smallest promises ease noticed unity envisioned never realized either settler
s were treated kindly sailors were very welcoming first these differences would erased over time com
e fruition quickly easily these pioneers time grace propaganda become near truth providence easy ind
ian help much hard needed before holy virtuous experiment came close promised those adventurous soul
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