A particular character that caught my attention within the first 50 pages of the novel is John Carver. As the Pilgrims near the end of their journey to the new world, they face the daunting task of naming a new leader. Carver was noticed to play “a central role in organizing the voyage”(42), making him a strong candidate for governor. He had devoted large sums of his personal wealth to fund the Leideners’ congregation and voyage to America. I admire his emotional intelligence as the book progresses and his decision to embark on this intimidating expedition. The election of a governor would ultimately lead to the wellbeing or downfall of the Pilgrims’ settlement, causing voters to chose a candidate wisely. According to one account, Carver is described as “a gentlemen of singular piety, rare humility, and great condescendency”(42). After careful thought and discussion, Carver is chosen as governor not only for a temporary period, but also for the duration of a year’s time. The Pilgrims “chose or rather confirmed, Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved amongst them) their governor for that year”(43). His leadership skills and selfless acts are reputable and should be practiced through the generations of leaders to come. Later on, Carver’s death stands for the loss of “ the man whose judgment and counsel it had come to depend”(102). Carver is admirable for his contributions and guidance of the Pilgrims’ settlement, which started them off on the right foot.
Like Olivia, I was greatly drawn to John Carver and grew very fond of his character. Carver was a quintessential asset in the preparations of the voyage, as he not only "succeeded in securing a patent from the Virginia company" (19) and "[secured] supplies and provisions" (22) along with Robert Cushman, but also devoted an ample amount of his own time and money into the voyage. Furthermore, as the Pilgrims neared the new world, they were in desperate need of a new governor. Carver, recognized as "a gentlemen of singular piety, rare humility, and great condescendency” (42), was the obvious choice for the Pilgrims and was elected as governor for the following year. John Carver was a strategic and trustworthy leader throughout his career, beginning when he "provided Standish with 'cautions, directions, and instructions'" (57) when the Mayflower first landed and continuing as he "[wished] to speak and trade with [Massasoit] and hoped to establish a formal peace" (98). The Pilgrims admired and respected Carver all the way until his unfortunate death in a coma, when they "laid their governor to rest with as much pomp and circumstance as they could muster" (102).
Throughout Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I found that I felt sympathy and admiration for William Bradford. During Bradford’s journey, there were many moments where his unfortunate experiences caused me to feel sympathy for him. Firstly, I sympathized with Bradford because of the family members he lost while in America. Upon losing his wife of seven years, Bradford wrote a poem reflecting his emotions that includes the lines “For, whom he loves he doth chastise,/ And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). Although Bradford was a resilient, strong, and faithful leader, these lines show the heavy grievances he felt upon losing his wife and how he hoped to move past her death and continue to be a strong leader. I also sympathized with Bradford when the unity of the Plymouth colony began to crumble during the end of his time as governor. During what he considered to be a troubling time for Plymouth, Bradford wrote “...it is now part of my misery in old age, to find and feel the decay, and… with grief and sorrow of heart to lament and bewail the same”(187). This caused me to feel sympathy and pity towards Bradford because, despite Bradford’s tenacity towards making a holy colony, he understood the decay of religious devotion in the community. I also felt admiration and appreciation for Bradford because of his strong decisions as a ruler and dedication to his cause. Bradford made many positive contributions to his community including strengthening Colonist-Native relations. For example, it was Bradford who “determined [the Puritans] should send a delegation to visit ‘their new friend Massasoit’”(104). It was this decision to explicitly express peace and friendship with the Natives that led to the first Thanksgiving, reflecting Bradford’s wise decision making and strong leadership. I also admired Bradford for his commitment to his beliefs, especially in creating an ideal holy colony. In the history of Plymouth Bradford recorded in his final days, he wrote “And though I cannot attain to much herein, yet I am refreshed, to have seen some glimpse hereof”(189). I admire that despite knowing his colony never achieved the spiritual purity he originally sought, Bradford still held hope for himself and his colony in Heaven. It is for these reasons that I developed feelings of sympathy and admiration for William Bradford.
While reading Mayflower, I grew to admire Benjamin Church. In terms of social tolerance, Church was respectful and unprejudiced; for example, where the original Pilgrims “had done their best to separate themselves from the wilderness and the ungodly,” Church purposefully built strong relationships with both (233). Church put effort into befriending the neighboring Sakonnet Indians and their leader, Awashonks, so that he was eventually held in “great esteem among them.” (233) Church also had positive interactions with the Baptists and Quakers of Aquidneck Island, despite the fact that “proper Puritans” avoided socializing with such “ungodly” people (234). The sense of superiority that was common among the Pilgrims and Puritans did not seem to affect the way Church treated others. I was also impressed with Benjamin Church when I learned that he believed that selling Indian captives as slaves was “a shocking abomination of justice.” (253) Many English settlers supported the Indian slave trade because they wanted to get rid of native enemies, while others believed that slavery was a merciful alternative to execution; Church was not so ignorant. Lastly, I admire how Church was compassionate when it came to recognizing the true victims of the King Philip’s War. Church believed that the only Indians that deserved to die were King Philip and his warriors, because they were the ones who had started the conflict. All of the other tribes of the region, even those who eventually joined King Philip, “had been pushed to become King Philip’s allies through the... arrogance... of the English,” and thus they “should be... treated with compassion.” (321) Despite all of this, Church, like many others during the war, killed Indians and sold captives into slavery. He was “no paragon of virtue,” nor was he without flaws (253). Keeping all of this in mind, Church still stood out as an ethical and compassionate man in contrast to the cruelty of other Englishmen during this time. I admire his ability to overlook the popular prejudices of his people, and his sympathetic views concerning the victims of the war.
Initially, I developed a similar sense of admiration towards Benjamin Church while reading, especially when he was first introduced as the self-made wilderness man with a unique compassion towards the Natives. However, as you mentioned, Church was no saint, and while Philbrick emphasized Church’s virtue, by the end of Mayflower I personally found that Church’s biggest contribution was his relative virtue. At a time when warfare was rife in New England, Church seemed to be the antithesis to the colonists’ rigidity and cruelty, preferring persuasion over execution or slavery and adopting a do-it-yourself attitude, especially in military circumstances. Though he was indisputably more forgiving and accepting of the Natives than many of the English were, Church’s virtue did not seem to extend to his fellow colonists, who he treated with a distinct contempt made visible in his disregard for the law and direct challenges to authority. There were many occasions throughout King Philip’s War and the following decades where Church directly defied orders from this superiors, including the Plymouth magistrates, governors, and various military officers; he also refused to listen to the advice of his relatives and close friends, especially on personal matters. These instances of defiance could have been costly for Church and any men under his command; for example, in August of 1676 Church decided to visit his wife Alice in Rhode Island without official permission despite the fact that Philip and his forces remained at large, and if not for the coincidence that Philip happened to be residing nearby, the war may not have reached its conclusion for some time yet. In light of this disregard for order and disdain for authority, I think Church did possess the superiority typical of the Pilgrims at the time, simply directed at his compatriots rather than the Natives, and as such his virtue was glorified throughout Mayflower.
Throughout the novel the Mayflower, that character made the biggest impact on me was Squanto. The fact that he knew English as well as the Native American’s indigenous languages gave him power over both sides. It amazed me how much power this gave him and how he used it to manipulate others. Even though both the English and the Native Americans knew Squanto “played his own game” (53) they chose to trust his interpretations. Squanto could have deliberately translated entire conversations wrong in order to achieve his desired outcome. This is shown when the pilgrims went to visit Massasoit. Winslow stated that they wanted to trade with the Native Americans and establish a formal peace agreement. However Winslow believed that Squanto “did not well express it.”(98) Squanto wanted Massasoit to make a quick and decisive agreement with the English. To ensure this would happen, he claimed that the English kept the plague in barrels buried under their storehouse, when in fact they contained gunpowder. Massasoit began to “shake with trepidation” (98) and the pilgrims and Pokanokets quickly recorded an agreement. Later Squanto broke the terms of this agreement, and was supposed to be delivered to the Pokanokets to be executed. However Bradford refused to give up his interpreter. Massasoit could have retaliated against the pilgrims for breaking their agreement. Bradford risked the entire colonies safety order to keep Squanto alive. The fact that Squanto could interpret Bradford’s conversations gave him the power and is what saved his life. Squanto was also an opportunist. All of his actions were calculated and with the sole purpose of becoming “the most powerful Indian leader in New England.” (120) Squanto wanted to overthrow Massasoit. He had been conducting a “covert psychological warfare”(133) on Native American villages. He claimed that the pilgrims possessed the plague and he would be able to convince them not to release it if the villages sent him “sufficient tribute.” (133) Squanto hoped this would cause the pilgrims to attack Massasoit and in the chaos he would emerge as the most powerful leader. This proves Squanto’s egotism that he would betray both sides and launch them into a war all in the name of power. I am awed at how Squanto could manipulate large groups of people, a power given to him by his ability to communicate with both the English and the Native Americans
Throughout Mayflower, my feelings toward Squanto changed drastically. Initially, his character seemed that of loyalty and assistance, until his underlying desires of honorable power were eventually revealed. It is surprising that any reader (myself included) could be astonished by the way Squanto would try to become more powerful. Before the expedition of the Pilgrims, on his trip along the coast with the English explorer Thomas Dermer, Squanto laid witness to many Indian plantations, “not long since populous, now utterly void” (52). He began to have “similar, if not greater ambitions” (53) to Epenow, another captive of the English who had become a sachem, or Indian leader. Before more Englishmen had come to America, Epenow “distrusted Squanto” (54) because by knowing English, Squanto could “possess a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54) over the other Indians. Similar to both the Pilgrims and Indians of nearby Plymouth, I began to forget about Squanto’s want for sabotage as he began to take a more prominent role in making better relationships between both groups. Squanto, “the only one fluent in both English and Massachusett”(96), was cautiously chosen by Massasoit to be an interpreter, and while staying with the starving English settlers, brought back many eels from the ocean. Through this deed, he “was on his way to becoming the one person in New England they could not live without” (100). “Thanks to Squanto” (102), the Pilgrims were able to succeed in cultivating their own crops, and he would also “go from village to village to establish trading relations for the Pilgrims” (110). As the English unknowingly became “controlled” (120) by Squanto, they were blind to the fact that “he had been meeting secretly with Indians throughout the region” (130) according to Hobbamock’s claims, and he had been gaining supporters by convincing them that the Pilgrims had plague and would “unleash it at will” (133). I do respect Squanto’s cunning and determination “to resuscitate his and his family’s fortunes” (133) by gaining more honor, but unlike William Bradford, who had “bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way” with the Native American, when I learned of his true intentions, my admiration had turned to that of hatred.
Towards the end of Mayflower, I developed a disapproval of King Philip. He played a large part in starting the King Philip’s war but once it began, he participated very little in the fighting. Philip quickly became a mythical figure among the English and a hated figure among the Native Americans. It was later learned that he spent most of the summer and fall of 1675 “holed up near the Massachusetts-Vermont state border(231)” rather than fighting or planning coordinated attacks. Towards the end of the war, Philip’s cowardice increased. As the English hunted him he ran away, leaving some of his closest followers to be killed by the English. This cowardice led to my disapproval of Philip. Philip became hated even among allied Native American tribes due to his lack of activity in the war and for beginning “a war with the English that had brought great trouble upon them(231).” He was one of the main aggressors in a war that negatively affected all of the tribes in the region. Philip forced or convinced nearly all of the local sachems to fight for him in the war and even tribes that managed to remain neutral suffered due to the English’s belief that all Native Americans were enemies. The widespread involvement of the local tribes caused many thousands of Native Americans to be killed or sold into slavery. Philip’s role in starting a war that he had little to no positive involvement in and in causing the death of thousands of Native Americans by drawing their tribes into the war caused me to develop a strong disapproval of him.
While reading Mayflower, Benjamin Church was a character whose intelligence in battle and compassion towards the Native Americans I admired. He successfully developed peaceful relations with his own men and also created a sense of community among the Native Americans. Church didn't let his English ego overshadow his views of the Native Americans, and instead was one of the only ones who believed that there was something to be learned from them. He knew that adopting the battle tactics of the Native Americans would be essential for him to succeed, and so he did. Church was a strategist. His ability to plan and take advice from others was ultimately his greatest asset. Church served in several swamp battles where he once was attacked by several hundred Native Americans. He convinced his men to stand behind him and was pleased at how they “bravely and wonderfully defended themselves” (248). Philbrick writes that Benjamin Church was “prideful and more than a little cavalier with the lives of his men, but he was winning the war” (325). I appreciate that Church chose to trust his own instincts in battle while also maintaining positive relations with some of the Native Americans. He was not only a leader in battle, but he was also a humanitarian. Church chose to live in the outskirts of the colony near the settlements of the Native American tribes and “was one of the first New Englanders to embrace the wilderness his forefathers had shunned” (357). Church opposed the unfair treatment of the Native Americans and even tried to assure their safety on several occasions. During the Great Swamp Fight, he tried to save Native American women and children from inside the forts that the English had set on fire. Many of the Pilgrims felt a sense of superiority over the Native Americans, but Church looked at and treated them as equals. These Native Americans eventually sided with Church and fought alongside him during King Philip’s War. Throughout the novel Benjamin Church proved to be a noble leader and a compassionate man and it was these qualities that made me develop an admiration towards him.
As I read Mayflower, I developed a feeling of hatred towards the devout Christian, Captain Miles Standish. When the Mayflower arrived in Provincetown Harbor on November 11, 1620, a group of 16 men including William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins and Edward Tilley led by Standish rowed to land to investigate a feasible settlement site. Each man “was equipped with a musket, sword, and corselet, a light form of body armor that included a metal breastplate” (57). The men followed and traced a group of Indians’ footsteps and dug up their “ basket made of woven reeds filled with… four bushels of dried Indian corn” (61). Instead of leaving the Indians’ belongings alone, Standish and his men proceeded to steal other Native valuables from a graveyard: “Only the week before they’d decided it was wrong to violate the Indians’ graves; this time they could not help themselves”(67). In addition to these heinous acts, Miles Standish and his men looted unoccupied Native houses and took “some of the best things with them” (69). Without the leadership of Standish, many of the men would not have violated the Indians’ property, and put the Pilgrim and Indian relationship at risk. By the end of this chapter, I became angry at Standish because of his voracious behavior that put the entire colony at risk. Philbrick portrays Standish as imperious when pursuing the Indians in Eastham: “Some of the Pilgrims led no doubt by Standish, followed for about a quarter of a mile, then stopped to shoot off their muskets” (72).
Miles Standish continued to show his truculent self throughout the novel. After Squanto was captured by Corbitant from the village of Mattapoisett, Standish “Undoubtedly counseled Bradford to take immediate and forceful action” (114) and “Standish was to cut off his (Corbitant’s) head and bring it to Plymouth for public display” (114). I felt as though Standish was eager for war, and willing to put his men at risk. When word reached the Pilgrims that the Massachusetts planned to attack both Wessagussett and Plymouth, Standish invited Pecksuot and Wituwamat ( Massashusetts’ pneise and warrior) to dinner and “had begun stabbing him with his own weapon” (151-152). My disgust for Standish progressively increased each time he committed an immoral act towards the Native Americans. Philbrick describes the Captain’s actions as “killing Indians, not saving lives, appears to have been the captain’s chief priority at Wessagusett” (153), and a “terrifying whirlwind of violence” (153). After arriving at Plymouth as a “hero,” Standish put “Wituwamat’s head...on a pole on the fort’s roof” (153). Although Miles Standish was a brave leader who accomplished what he put his mind to, I found him to be the most brutal character. His constant need to fight even concerned William Bradford who was “normally careful to restrain his combative military officer” (149). Indeed, Standish showed the Indians the capability and strength of the English, but he also showed the hypocrisy they were capable of.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed sympathy towards William Bradford. Within just the first chapter, Philbrick describes the losses Bradford has gone through: “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (7). I admired the fact that Bradford remained a strong and intelligent leader after his wife’s death. Bradford believed that “God controlled what happened on earth. As a consequence, every occurrence meant something” (77). Even as he lost nearly everyone who was dear to him and suffered a harsh winter, he never blamed God and continued to move forward and lead the remaining Pilgrims. Also, Bradford’s relationship with Squanto surprised me. Although Squanto tried to turn the Pilgrims against Massasoit and it was Bradford’s duty to turn Squanto in to Massasoit for punishment, Bradford felt he was vital to the plantation’s success. Philbrick explains the relationship between Squanto and Bradford as: “The two seemed to have bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way, and Bradford was willing to risk the wrath of the supreme sachem of the Pokanokets if it meant keeping Squanto as his interpreter” (134). I admired the fact that Bradford constantly looked after his colony and always thought of what was best for the success of Plymouth. He felt Squanto was vital to their success and would rather face Massasoit and his followers than lose another relationship that was so important to him and the rest of Plymouth. Although I felt sorry for Bradford and the many losses he had to endure throughout his life, I mainly admired his ability to continue on for the welfare of Plymouth Colony.
Like Julia I formed an attachment to William Bradford from the beginning of the novel. He is a very strong character who must overcome many challenges and tragedies. Death followed Bradford for a long time, taking away much of his family, yet this did not stop him. He continued to lead the people at Plymouth and remained strong even after his wife died. Lesser men would have seen it as a sign and returned to Europe, where it would be easier to rebuild his life. Bradford did not turn away from his people, nor did he become lazy or depressed, he continued to work hard and help the Plymouth colony succeed. I found Bradford's perseverance and unwavering faith inspiring, and I hope if I were ever unfortunate enough to suffer the losses Bradford has suffered, I would face them with the same courage and strength he did.
I strongly agree with Reilly and Julia's opinions about William Bradford. His character caught my attention when I read that he had lost his entire family and yet he left everything he had left to help lead a group of people in an undiscovered new world. Without his leadership and strong persona, the Plymouth settlement would have failed. He made wise decisions for the colony and put concern for his people first. He never blamed anyone for his hardships and despite his unfortunate fates, he continued to strive for progress amongst his people and for himself. Bradford's achievements for guiding one of the first permanent settlements in America continue to be admirable today. Although he made mistakes, Bradford never let his flaws define him and for generations after him, people sought to have the same qualities that Bradford had. Bradford's seemingly endless mental strength is something I respect and admire greatly, which is why I felt a very strong emotional connection to this character.
When reflecting upon Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, the character that stood out the most to me was Massasoit. Based on this book, I can only marvel at how truly lucky the Pilgrims were to happen to land in the realm of the Pokanokets during Massasoit’s reign. Had the settlers been forced to deal with any other sachem during those first few years in America, the Mayflower’s story may have ended very quickly. Luckily, “Massasoit’s decision to offer them assistance had saved the Pilgrims’ lives in the short term” (119), and during that first brutally cold and hungry New England winter, the short term was all that mattered. Although rightfully suspicious of the English upon first hearing of their movements and intentions to settle, Massasoit met with the settlers and managed the astonishing feat of a fast friendship. Many sachems would not have extended the friendly hand that Massasoit did, in fact when Massasoit first extended his hand in friendship “many of Massasoit’s allies had yet to be convinced that the pilgrims were good for New England”(100), and had the Pilgrims landed in any of those hostile territories, their first few years would probably have consisted of many more casualties. Massasoit was very helpful to the Pilgrims in those early years, but the alliance did not end there. Throughout Massasoit’s life, the Pilgrims and Pokanokets supported and relied on one another in military conquests as well as with knowledge and trust. Although occasionally tested, this relationship, pioneered by Massasoit, did more than to just help both communities survive. It allowed them each to flourish with “the fearful power of the Pokanoket-Pilgrim alliance”(157).
I felt sympathy for Massasoit, as the leader of the Wampanoag people, who was able to broker peace among the various tribes while working with the Pilgrims to go exist peacefully for almost half a century. This is quite an accomplishment even in the early days of America. If I recall from my World Studies last year, look how many leaders have maintained peace among their people and neighbors for 50 years? Very few.
As the English settlers grew and followed the Pilgrims into expanding their footprint within New England, this caused tensions to rise among Native Americans and the Europeans. I think Massasoit was a wise and fair leader, but was ill equipped to deal with the growth, inter-group interactions and ever increasing focus on material goods desired by the younger generation. Even Massasoit’s own son, Philip undermined his authority and drew people to his cause in harassing the English settlements and ultimately launching an all out assault that would eventually consume 8% of the Englishmen in Plymouth colony. I think this is an example of Massasoit being an effective leader for his time, but times change and you can’t stop ambitions, wants and progress by the people.
At the start of Mayflower, Philbrick explains how he will be following the story of William Bradford and Benjamin Church. This is because they recorded most of their experiences that they had in the New World. Towards the end of the novel, I developed a great reverence for Benjamin Church. This was due to his compatibility with the Natives and his determination. While reading, it was not hard to feel sympathy for the Natives as the mysterious Pilgrims begin to infiltrate their land. Church put himself apart from the others through the relationship he establishes with the Indians. Church, “Instead of being intimidated by the fact he was the only Englishman in Sakonnet… Church relished the chance to start from scratch” (233). From the start Church dauntlessly segregates himself from the other English, a daring move. Bravery isn’t the only admirable characteristic Church exhibits as he also shows his amity with the Natives. In a short amount of time Church has developed “...a good acquaintance…” (233) with the Natives in close proximity to him. Without the support of any other Englishman, Church constitutes positive relations amidst the Native community.
When at war with King Philip, catching him is no easy feat. Church and his comrades pursue him, facing the great hardships and disappointments that accompany it. At one point Church and his men are battling at a strong Narragansett fort when Church himself gets wounded. As Church had approached the fort “... he had been hit by three pieces of lead” (275). Church’s influence on his men is demonstrated clearly when, “His men rushed to his side and began to carry him out of the fort…” (275). Carrying on despite his own injury, Church faces the struggles of his men by their side and shows incredible perseverance. Church seeks out Philip with the help of the Sakonnets and actually sees him on a tree, described as “...a younger man with his hair cut short...” (326). The older Indian with Philip is shot, without knowing it’s Philip, the younger one, “...escapes back into the forest…” (326). Even though Church later “learned that the other Indian had been Philip himself” (326), Church continues to chase after him. In the end Philip is eventually caught, but it could not have been accomplished without the unwavering determination that Church possessed.
While reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I became intrigued with Squanto's character. Growing up we are taught that Squanto was the ideal "savior" for the Pilgrims and that he brought everyone together, which may be true in its own way; but he had a secret, power-hungry agenda from the beginning. When Squanto came across his old, plagued Indian plantation with English explorer Thomas Dermer "he began to see the catastrophic consequences of the plague as a potential opportunity" (53). Before recognizing and coping with the great loss of his home and family members "he may already have begun to think about reestablishing a community in Patuxet that was independent of Pokanoket control" (53). This began Squanto's thirst for power and he knew when the ignorant Pilgrims came to Plymouth he could manipulate them and grow in authority. Squanto's knowledge of the English and Native languages could "posses a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage" (54) in taking over other native tribes. When Massasoit sent Squanto to make relations with the Pilgrims, both the Native Americans and English were putting a vulnerable situation in the hands of someone who might not be trusted. Winslow automatically picked up on Squanto's "true motives" when Governor Carver's ideas were expressed, he was "under the impression that Squanto "did not well express it," but enough of his meaning was apparently communicated to please Massasoit" (98). There were many more instances before Squanto died that made me second guess how helpful he really was. For example, at the same time as teaching the Pilgrims basically how to survive in the New World he used threats like, "The Pilgrims... possessed the plague, and they were about to unleash it at will" (133) to get other tribes to trust him but be fearful of the Pilgrims. I think the different facts verse myths that we hear of Squanto makes him such an interesting figure to try and understand.
After reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I have to admit that my response to this question is much different than I would have previously imagined. When I began reading the book I thought that I would relate to and identify with the pilgrims strongly. While I did begin to feel emotions like sympathy for William Bradford and admiration for John Carver and even Myles Standish, I became most enamored with the Indian translator, Sqaunto. He was a “‘tall straight man’... His hair was black, short in front abd long in back, and his face was hairless” (93). After learning of Squanto’s plight I immediately empathized with him. His journey was incredible. After being captured and sold in a foreign land Squanto came back to New England and escaped his holders. I felt a sense of joy over Squanto’s triumph in returning home. However, this was tempered again with the dramatic realization that his Puatux village had been decimated while he was in England. Because he knew English, Squanto became a translator between the Indians and the Pilgrims. His ability to communicate and bridge the gap could be considered a main reason why the Pilgrims made it in those first few years. Squanto not only was a mediator between Massasoit and the Englishmen but he also was their teacher. Without him the Pilgrims would have starved after that first winter. He taught them how to fish and plant the right crops in this foreign land. He was truly an unsung hero and for this I feel felt grateful. Squanto was a pivotal figure in our countries early development. He built the relationship between the Pilgrims and Massasoit that the foreigners could not have survived without. After reading this book I now understand that without him, and communication between the natives and settlers, English settlement in New England would be virtually impossible. Though later, “it became increasingly clear that Squanto had been laboring long and hard to to overthrow Massasoit” (133), we should be forever grateful for his work in forging a relationship between the Pilgrims and Indians that led to the permanent settlement of New England.
In Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, “Squanto” immediately drew my attention. When first introduced to Squanto, who was formally named “Tisquantum”, he is an Indian guide accompanying Thomas Dermer back to the Plymouth settlement. Squanto's ability to communicate with both Native Americans and the English makes him a vital resource with huge importance to both sides. Learning this, and seeing Squanto try and help the Pilgrims survive and flourish in the new land made me respect him. Being able to communicate with both cultures holds a huge gain in itself. Those individuals, “...possess a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54). Squanto could deliberately change the communications between the two, without having anyone know if he is telling the truth or not. This establishes a huge amount of trust on both the parts of the Indians and English. As the novel progresses, the established trust becomes stronger. Squanto tries to, “[become] the one person in New England [the settlers] could not live without” (100), and for the English, losing Squanto would mean, “[losing] their tongue” (113). Captain William Bradford felt an even deeper connection to Squanto. “The two [seemed] to have bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way” and Bradford was even willing to endanger himself and community, “...if it meant keeping Squanto as his interpreter” (134). But as the novel progresses Squanto’s true intentions of, “[overthrowing] Massasoit as the Pokanokets’ supreme sache” and “...[emerging] as New England’s preeminent Native leader” (133) came to light. After learning Squanto’s true intentions, and that he had these ideas from the beginning, I began to really dislike him. He broke a bond with a whole community who trusted him with their lives for his own personal gain.
As I was reading Mayflower, I began to admire the decisions made by Massasoit. He was a strong leader who overcame his hatred in order to establish a healthy relationship with the English. While this decision was not easy for him, it positively affected both the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. If the Pilgrims had settled near any other tribe, there may have been a different outcome. The treaty signed by the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets benefited both groups. The treaty included terms like, “That if their men came to us, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them, as we should do our pieces when we came to them.” (99) This treaty became helpful for Massasoit when he was captured because his Pilgrim allies supported him. The colonists and the Pokanokets did not always get along but leaders like Massasoit were able to overcome disagreements and reestablish connections. Other sachems during this time period did not have the desire to become allies with the English colonists but Massasoit did and his actions benefited both groups. Massasoit was a strong sachem and leader and I came to admire the decisions he made.
From the novel Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed empathy and respect for William Bradford. Philbrick explains how Bradford lost his closest relatives at the age of twelve. From recent experience, I know that dealing with the death of a family member is a challenging and traumatizing event to handle. On top of losing his family, Bradford suffered from an illness during his childhood. At such a young age, Bradford experienced the pain that resulted from loss, and the loneliness that came from being sick, but did not let these scarring hardships control his whole life. Instead, he overcame the hardships, which made him a better person as it “saved him from the vanities of youth, and made him the fitter for what he was afterwards to undergo” (7). Bradford’s ability to move past trauma proves his admirable strength. I also connected with Bradford as he consistently participated in religion. Growing up, Bradford used the Bible as a source of structure and comfort. As a religious person, I understand the contentment that results from association with religious faith. Throughout Mayflower, Bradford commendably stayed steadfast to his religious morals, such as when Philbrick describes how Bradford’s goal for the colony at Plymouth was to “create a tightly knit and godly community... (where) everyone must live together and worship in the same church” (184). While Bradford’s objective is unrealistic and a little naive to think that everyone would be cooperative, there is still something valuable to be said about someone who persists strongly in one path, and in Bradford’s case, a religious path. Even during the days preceding his death, Bradford’s time was spent studying Hebrew, the original language of the Bible, in order to “have as direct a connection as possible with the word of God” (189). I can relate to this as I have recently visited Israel, a place where mostly everyone speaks Hebrew, and because of this, I appreciate the deep religious connection that derives from the ancient language. Reading about Bradford’s strength and religious devotion throughout his life sparked emotions of empathy and respect in me as a reader.
Hearing the tragic tale of Mary Rowlandson’s experience being a prisoner of war is enough to draw sympathy from anyone. This remarkable woman watched the slow death of her daughter and the slaughter of her family but still kept her morale up long enough to be released by the Indians. However, it was not her perseverance that impressed me the most about her. Rowlandson had an amazing ability to keep her composure around Philip that contributed to the reason why she lived to tell her story. By keeping Philip close and remaining friendly with him she was given special treatment. If I were in her position at a dinner with Philip, the first thing I would do is to seek revenge. Mary knew that making more enemies was not the answer to staying alive. By knitting “a shirt and cap for Philip’s son” (295) Mary played a cunning game with Philip to the point where he went as far as to offer “his hand and some words of encouragement” when she was struggling. What makes Mary all the more impressive is how no matter how close she appeared with her captor, and how nicely Mary treated Philip and vice versa, Mary never forgave Philip for what he had done. That means that through all the gifts and dinners they shared deep down inside of her there was an anger that could not be quelled. Mary Rowlandson was a brave smart and crafty woman who was able to suppress her emotions to save her own life.
Personally, while reading the novel Mayflower, I grew an admiration for Squanto. Befriending the English settlers, he willingly used his knowledge of the familiar land to assist the Pilgrims. He taught them farming and hunting techniques, as this land was far different from their experience with English land. Although these were unknown strangers to him at first, he ended up saving a majority of them over the unexpected harsh first winter. Not to mention that Squanto also had the impressive and unusual skill of being fluent in English and able to interpret and translate each language. Having this knowledge gave him an immense amount of power over the English and Native Americans, which makes sense why he would be an ideal target for kidnapping. I found it an admirable quality that when he was kidnapped by Thomas Hunt, he managed to escape despite the English’s advances in weaponry. But, what I also found interesting was Squanto’s ability to completely demolish the English’s survival: he had the ability to translate “incorrectly” but since the Pilgrims were so desperate for advice for their survival in this unknown land, they trusted anything he said without doubt despite just meeting this stranger. Squanto was arguably the most powerful Native American in New England. He was able to save himself from execution because Bradford did not want his most valuable resource to be gone, despite Squanto defying the rules of the agreement. Constantly causing chaos and having the Natives and Pilgrims turn on one another was his way of manipulating his way up to the top as most powerful Native.
In the Mayflower, a character that stood out for his generosity was the Native leader Massasoit. First, Massasoit gave away some of the natives' land in exchange for peace with the English settlers. Some then called him a “benevolent and wise leader” (172) while some members of his own tribe saw him as a “leader whose personal prosperity depended on the systematic dismantling of their homeland” (172). He still proved himself in that he was willing to lose the respect of some of his tribe to gain peace for as long as it could last. Massasoit also helped the Pilgrim’s survive their first year at Plymouth. In the peace agreements between Massasoit and the Pilgrims, they both decided not to bring any weapons when trading. This protected both groups of people. Massasoit also told Edward Winslow, a senior leader, about a conspiracy plot by the Massachusetts Indians to attack Plymouth Colony so Miles Standish with his Pilgrims plus some of Massasoit’s men shut down this attack before it was even fully planned out (mayflower history.com). When Winslow first met Massasoit, the sachem wore a “necklace made of white shell beads and a long knife suspended from a string” (97). This showed that Massasoit meant business but he did not use his knife which meant he did not have any intention to hurt anyone. This friendship between Massasoit and the Pilgrims made both of their lives easier and overall more pleasant.
Throughout the novel, Nathaniel Philbrick introduced many people that had a prominent role in the Pilgrim community. In the beginning, the "New Englanders" were out of place and without a leader, causing chaos in the settlement. The newcomers needed someone to take control and keep the community in order. Miles Standish, "a small man with a broad, powerful physique and reddish hair" (88) stepped up and was put in a tough position as captain of military orders. While reading Mayflower, I would have never thought that Miles Standish would be the man that I developed an emotion toward. He was “a man of very little stature, yet of very hot and angry temper” (164) and he was a man that not many people of the new settlement liked at all. Unlike the rest of the Pilgrims, I soon realized that his brutality was all for good reason. Without a mean and angry man like Standish, the Pilgrims would have never been a respected community by the Indians and would have been raided almost immediately. When Standish was around, everybody felt protected and everything was organized. Leading an unorganized and inexperienced settlement in a new land is not a simple task. He risked his life attempting to attack Cobitant just so his community would be safe from an Indian attack. For Miles Standish to overcome this obstacle displays courage for his settlement to strive and love for his people. I grew to respect and develop an emotion toward Miles Standish because of his will and motivation to protect the present and future of the Pilgrim settlement.
Throughout the novel the Mayflower, I developed emotion towards William Bradford. Philbrick describes how at a very young age he lost loved ones, and he was also very sick, separating him from the rest of the kids his age. Even though he was struck with hard times at a very young age, Bradford overcame his struggles and came back even stronger, something that I admired a lot about him as a character. Philbrick also describes how Bradford lost his wife of seven years. Bradford was struck by tragedy multiple times, but he pushed forward and never let anything get him down, and I truly admire how he did that. Bradford was also the person to suggest for the Englishmen to try and establish a good relationship with the natives, something that became very important later on in the novel. Also, Bradford realized how the community was not following the original religious beliefs that pushed the Pilgrims to leave England way before anyone else, but once people started to listen to him it was too late. He was able to sense problems before they started, something that was also very important for the Pilgrims. Overall, Bradford stood out to me as being a very strong leader that did not let anything get in his way, even at his worst, he was able to battle back and become stronger, something that I found very admirable.
As I read Mayflower, I found myself particularly intrigued by Thomas Morton. Philbrick describes Morton as “a figure from future America: the frontiersman who happily thumbed his nose at authority while embracing the wilderness” (163). In his attempts to create a new settlement north of Plymouth called “Merrymount”, he quickly became a target for the Pilgrims who were threatened by the success and prosperity of Merrymount. As a result, Standish and his men aggressively took Morton, falling “upon him as if they would have eaten him”(164). They brought him to Plymouth where he was tried and subsequently exiled. My fascination with Morton begins with his differences in beliefs from the Pilgrims, not only in terms of religion but also in his views towards the Natives. The Pilgrims were strict Puritans, while Morton loosely studied the Anglican religion. Morton even erected an eighty-foot high maypole in Merrymount, a pagan symbol that infuriated the Pilgrims even further. Unlike the Pilgrims, Morton developed an extremely strong bond with the Native people, which “made him the favored trading partner in the region” (163). After being taken by Standish, Morton wrote that he had “found the Massachusetts Indians more full of humanity than the Christians” (164). Morton’s legacy in the region was relatively insignificant, and information about him in Mayflower is confined to only a few pages; however, out of all the other characters in Mayflower I found him to be an extremely compelling character whose uniqueness instilled a sense of wonder at what he would have been capable of accomplishing had he not become a target of the vindictive Pilgrims.
In an antiquated society in which men with brawn and influence dominated political affairs, Weetamoo, the female sachem of the Pocasset tribe, posed as a powerful leader who exhibited a distinctive mindfulness. Her story could easily be overlooked as she was rarely portrayed as a decisive leader; however, I found her defiant mind to be most impressive. Despite her familial connection to King Philip, Weetamoo was not “inclined to join forces with him” (235) against the English in King Philip’s War. This resistance suggests that Weetamoo did not feel constrained to the bounds of male dominance and was willing to test the patriarchal society. I had never read of such an evolutionary act of defiance against a man during this time period, and it elated me to know that this woman bore a mind of her own. When Benjamin Church travelled to her village to uncover where her loyalties lied in terms of the war, Church found her “alone and despondent, on a hill”(235). The two conversed and Weetamoo admitted her fear of the war. She was reasonable enough to know that war “was inevitable”(235), yet her tenacious mind resisted it. Abandoned by her warriors, who “were all gone, against her will, to the dances”(235), she stood alone in her thinking. The comparison between Weetamoo and the males of Mayflower demonstrated how aspirations for power could cloud the mind, and obstruct the dividing line between right and wrong. King Philip’s War could have been avoided had the English and Indians verbally reached a common ground. However, the boldness of the soldiers on either side lead to a merciless battle that extracted unnecessary bloodshed. Weetamoo was more sensible in that she detested the thought of her warriors dying, and would have avoided war altogether had she not been forced into it strategically by the Pokanokets. In retrospect, Weetamoo’s thinking was more evolved than that of her male counterparts. Unfortunately, her lack of a voice deterred her from taking action during the preliminary stages of the war. Her unrest grew throughout the alliance and during her march with Philip’s men, Weetamoo made a swaying decision that would alter the course of the war. The sachem recognized how the “women and children were unable to go much farther”(258). She decided to march with two hundred civilians, despite the possibility of “capture and certain death”(258). While reading, I marveled at Weetamoo’s ability to see beyond the stream of bullets, and emotionally connect with her people. Her decision impressed me because often times in human history, certain individuals solely fought to amass more power. In contrast, Weetamoo fought for the livelihood of her people. She did not conspire against the English,instead, she sought to coexist with them, as long as it meant that her tribe would remain safe. Despite her minimal relevance in the story, Weetamoo proved herself to be an understanding and reasonable human being, in an era in which power was acquired through bloodshed. I admired Weetamoo for her bravery to disagree with an influential male, as well as her modern way of thought.
After reading the Mayflower, one person with whom I was both fascinated by and sympathized with was Phillip’s “chief captain” (338), Annawon. Although he was “one of Phillip’s fiercest warriors” (339), his kindness and acceptance after being captured surprised me. After Philip’s death, Annawon escapes from the English, and it is decided he must be captured and until then “the colony would not be safe” (338). Benjamin Church believes that Annawon “would never be taken alive” (339), building up his ferocious reputation. The Indian guiding Church to Annawon refuses to “take up arms against his “old friend”” (340), showing that Annawon may be kinder than expected. Once the English attack, Annawon quickly surrenders by falling “back in despair” (341), in order to protect his son, who “the Englishman could easily bludgeon” (341). Based on Annawon’s reputation, I expected him to put up a violent fight against the English before surrendering, but his actions prove he most likely was fighting the war to protect his people and out of loyalty to Philip. After his capture, Annawon surprised Church by presenting him with “a woven basket” (342), filled with “several belts of wampum… two glazed powder horns and a rich red blanket” (343). Annawon gives his captor gifts, signaling his respect for Church. I expected to dislike Annawon, assuming he felt hatred towards the English and was a strong instigator in the war. However, this was untrue based on his kindness towards the English. The kindness he expressed shocked me because of his reputation for being intense and unforgiving. The difference between Annawon’s reputation and his true character is shocking and confirms the English’s incorrect assumptions about many of the Natives.
While reading Mayflower, I developed strong emotions towards the Pokanoket leader, Massasoit. I admire his strength as a leader and his willingness to help the Pilgrims during their time of despair even though, "Massasoit's first impulse was not to embrace the English but to curse them" (95). Massasoit did not trust the Pilgrims at first because sailors on an English ship had killed many of his men without provocation. But with the help of Squanto, Massasoit decided that it was in the Pokanoket’s best interest to forge a relationship with the Pilgrims. "If Massasoit became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in a position to break the Narragansetts' stranglehold on the Pokanokets. Enemies that were too strong for him" (96). This is why Massasoit was such a great leader. He did not attack the Pilgrims to get revenge, but rather joined them because it was best for his people. This decision to pair with the Pilgrims proved to be a success for Massasoit and the Pokanokets. “Once in danger of being forced to pay tribute to the Narragansetts, [Massasoit] had found a way to give the the Pokanokets, who were just a fraction of the Narragansetts in terms of population, a kind of parity with the rival tribe” (120). The Pokanokets would not have been able to achieve this power without the strong leadership of Massasoit.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, the character that fascinated me the most was the Pokanoket’s sachem, Massasoit. As many tribes strayed as the Pilgrims arrived to their new home, Massasoit saw it in a positive light. Unlike any other sachem, he was welcoming to the Pilgrims. The English thought of “Massasoit as a benevolent and wise leader who maintained a half century of peace in New England” (172). He generously gave land to the Pilgrims. As the Pilgrims admired his charity, Indians that lived in the region saw Massasoit as a “leader whose personal prosperity depended on the systematic dismantling of their homeland” (172). Although his tribe had dwindling respect for Massasoit, he managed to be a successful leader and keep positive ties with the English. In 1632 as the Narragansetts attacked, the English helped Massasoit find refuge in an English building near the trading post under attack. As the English “rallied to the sachems defense…the Pokanokets were soon free to return to their village” (172). Massasoit did everything he could to keep his relationship with the Pilgrims and keep his tribe safe. He was an impressive leader and without his help the Pilgrims would not have been able to prosper as they did. Although he lost the respect of some of his tribe, Massasoit was a strong leader and made the right decisions so both communities could succeed.
I developed an admiration for Massasoit as well. Massasoit represents the small power overcoming the large power, a general theme I have been studying for years in school. Massasoit possesses the admirable traits of a sachem: courage and willpower. Massasoit had the courage to trust the Pilgrims and his allied tribes while also possessing the courage to battle his neighboring tribes, and the willpower and determination to preserve his diminished tribe. As noted in the book, Roger Williams stated "'A small bird is called sachem,'...'because of its sachem or princelike courage and command over greater birds... and put into flight the crow and other birds far bigger than itself.'" (49) Philbrick uses this description to compare to Massasoit, and I could not agree more. Massasoit used his resources (primarily his alliances) to overcome the Narragansett tribe, who threatened the Pokanoket existence when their sachem Canonicus "now considered the Pokanokets his subjects." (49) The "never-give-up" attitude of Massasoit is one I look up to with great respect and admiration, and is something I strive to achieve myself. For these reasons and those stated by Jenny, I look up to Massasoit as a role model.
Throughout the story within Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I gradually developed a strange feeling of praise for the character Squanto, a Native American originally from the Patuxet tribe who, in my opinion, had one of the most interesting backgrounds of all the characters in the book. Squanto, “who’d been abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614,” (52), spent five years in lands foreign to the Native Americans entirely and survived, which was what initially drew my attention. I find it difficult to believe a Native American would be able to adapt to a culture so contrastingly opposite from his native culture; a culture “that was a wondrous and terrifying mystery to most Native Americans,” (54). This intimidating wisdom possessed by Squanto rightfully frightened Native Americans like Epenow and Massasoit, and it prompted a lust for power in Squanto I was surprised to read of. Ignorantly, I thought Native Americans as generally a peaceful people who felt satisfied with the role they were born in to or rightfully earned, whether one be a healer or a sachem, but I was shocked to read of a Native American so willing to do anything for power. Perhaps it was because he had been exposed to the English culture for so many years, or maybe it was an innate desire unusual to Native American peoples, but I found his willingness to betray friends and manipulate allies incredibly interesting. And although his endeavors were eventually proven fruitless, I praise him for his canny utilization of the uncommon wisdom he obtained while being held captive in Europe and for the clever “kind of covert psychological warfare” (133) he had been conducting. Though Squanto was ultimately made out to be a double-dealing and self-serving character, he did turn out to be an essential asset to the success of the Pilgrims. As a translator between the Native Americans and the Englishmen, Squanto was necessary to negotiations between the Pilgrims and the nearby Native villages. With this powerful advantage, Squanto could have easily “claim to know what the English were saying, and no one would know whether or not they were telling the truth,” (54), and therefore, as Squanto had not yet proven real loyalty to the Pilgrims, his “true motives were anyone’s guess” (54). However, despite the deceitful power Squanto’s bilingual ability entailed, he did not utilize that power at any point between translation. If he had used it, he easily could have manipulated both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans into doing what he wanted, but by staying truthful to the translations, Squanto built a great loyalty with the Pilgrims, particularly with William Bradford. Squanto’s friendship with Bradford ultimately saved his life when Squanto’s master plan was brought to light. Squanto deserved death for his crime against Massasoit, but Bradford sacrificed everything for Squanto and eventually urged Massasoit to spare his life. Thus, it was not only Squanto’s clever manipulation done in self-interest that enthralled me by his character, but also his wisdom in choosing the right times to be loyal and disloyal that drew me to his character the most out of all the characters in Mayflower.
While reading The Mayflower, I developed an emotional connection as well as a strong admiration towards Benjamin Church. As an avid leader during the beginning of an agonizing war time, Church led the first military troop to leave the garrison. With the Indians' advantage of fighting on their homeland, most Pilgrims remained under the protection of the garrison at Swansea watching as Church led the first troop out. After the Indians immediately ambush the troop and kill Belcher, most troopers galloped back to protection of the garrison. Church, however, shamed his cowardly soldiers for leaving wounded men behind. Instead, Church remained under the danger of Indian attack, as he courageously "attempted to save Belcher's life" (240). I found Church's act of courage truly touching. Church proved to his men what real bravery and loyalty means, as he sacrificed his life for the respect of another soldier's life. Church continues to pull on my heartstrings not just on the battlefield, but in politics as well. Regarding the controversy of selling Indian captives as slaves, Church was one of the few Pilgrims to stand against the cruel economic idea. Church saw the act as an "abomination of virtue that would only prolong the war" (253). After recognizing the hard work of the Sakonnets, Church worked diligently to ensure the Indians would continue to "live freely and peacefully in the region" (253). I admire Church for being able to stand up against the common belief of his people, especially during such a controversial war time. I feel proud of leaders, like Church, who proved their courage while holding their morals, both on the battlefield and off.
The character that caught my attention the most in The Mayflower was Annawon, King Phillip’s “chief captain”. When Church learns that he has an opportunity to catch Phillips “most ferocious warrior” I expected a large bloody fight. Yet when Church takes Annawons camp Annawon cannot defend himself and finds him and his fellow tribe members Churches prisoners. Church tells Annawon that if he and his people cooperate then they shall be treated well, with the exception of Annawon who should face the Plymouth Courts. Church shortly falls asleep and when he wakes up everyone but Annawon is asleep. This showed a lot about Annawon to me. Knowing that if he were to escape he would have left his tribe to be at Churches mercy. This is very powerful because Annawon cares for the survival of his people rather than himself. Later on when Annawon leaves briefly Church expects to be attacked, yet Annawon appears with a basket and the quote “Great captain, you have killed Phillip and conquered his country, for I believe me and my company are the last to war with the English, so I suppose the war is ended by your means and therefore these things belong to you” (342). Annawon proceeds to give Church many decorated belts that belonged to Philip. Annawon now speaks of how great a leader Massasoit was and how weak Philip had been. This passage really made me feel pity for the Indians. Annawon had once been led by a great leader and already seen enough of his people's suffering. Then once Philip took control Annawon is plunged into a whole new battle full of bloodshed. Annawon knows that they have lost and only wishes to keep his people alive. The Pilgrims hadn't realized this but Annawon was not a fearless warrior he was just a scared man trying to avoid the costs of war.
The character that caught my attention the most in The Mayflower was Annawon, King Phillip’s “chief captain”. When Church learns that he has an opportunity to catch Phillips “most ferocious warrior” I expected a large bloody fight. Yet when Church takes Annawons camp Annawon cannot defend himself and finds him and his fellow tribe members Churches prisoners. Church tells Annawon that if he and his people cooperate then they shall be treated well, with the exception of Annawon who should face the Plymouth Courts. Church shortly falls asleep and when he wakes up everyone but Annawon is asleep. This showed a lot about Annawon to me. Knowing that if he were to escape he would have left his tribe to be at Churches mercy. This is very powerful because Annawon cares for the survival of his people rather than himself. Later on when Annawon leaves briefly Church expects to be attacked, yet Annawon appears with a basket and the quote “Great captain, you have killed Phillip and conquered his country, for I believe me and my company are the last to war with the English, so I suppose the war is ended by your means and therefore these things belong to you” (342). Annawon proceeds to give Church many decorated belts that belonged to Philip. Annawon now speaks of how great a leader Massasoit was and how weak Philip had been. This passage really made me feel pity for the Indians. Annawon had once been led by a great leader and already seen enough of his people's suffering. Then once Philip took control Annawon is plunged into a whole new battle full of bloodshed. Annawon knows that they have lost and only wishes to keep his people alive. The Pilgrims hadn't realized this but Annawon was not a fearless warrior he was just a scared man trying to avoid the costs of war.
While reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a feeling of admiration towards Benjamin Church. Church is a unique combination of courage, loyalty, and adaptability. Benjamin Church’s courage was most evident in his raid on the shores of the Native controlled island of Pocasset. When the small army he was leading was ambushed by an Indian force vastly superior in numbers to his own, Church did not waver in his leadership and quickly took command of the situation, leading his men to a more defensive position by the coast. Rescue came in the form of Captain Roger Goulding’s sloop from Aquidneck island, and Church allowed all of his men to board the ship before him. He bravely stayed behind on the shore to ensure his men’s escape. Upon realizing he had left his hat and sword by a well further inland, Church showed remarkable courage by charging alone to retrieve his possessions in the midst of the battleground. Although all Indian rifles in the area were trained on him, he managed to return to the ship unscathed. Loyalty is a trait that can be seen clearly during Church’s discussions with the Council of War. Church asked to take an army of three hundred men, a third of them Indians, and utilize them in combat against Phillip’s forces. His plan involved using the strategies of the Indians in order to defeat the Native leader. Although he was turned down numerous times by the Council of War, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to the English cause. Church demonstrated adaptability in all of his combat experiences. The trait is most evident in his ability to utilize Native American combat styles to his advantage, eventually leading to his capture of King Phillip and thereby ending the war. His courage, loyalty and adaptability make it impossible not to develop a feeling of admiration towards Benjamin Church in Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower.
In the Mayflower the person I established an emotional connection with was William Bradford. Multiple heartbreaking events occur during Bradford's adventure in the New World. Bradford began his journey leaving his youngest son behind in Holland. Abandoning his son most likely contributed “to Bradford’s sadness” (187) a constant feeling haunting this man throughout his entire journey. His prolonged despair upset me as the reader while also strengthening my connection towards Bradford's feelings. When the Mayflower finally arrives in the New World more anguish strikes Bradford. Shortly after the Pilgrims anchored, William’s wife, Dorothy May Bradford, “slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (76). Bradford, now with the loss of two family members, becomes overwhelmed with grief. At this point in the Pilgrims travels, death was not only affecting the Bradford family, but troubling everyone in the colonies. Bradford soon fell ill and many “feared Bradford might not last the night” (85). Bradford survived and his misfortune began to change when he was elected the new governor of Plymouth. But, with this new responsibility came consequences. Bradford now had to make many tough decisions about the colonists relationship with neighboring Native tribes. Also with his new position in power he grew close with Squanto, the interpreter for the English. Soon Squanto died making Bradford again visit the uncomfortable sorrow of death. After losing multiple people close to him including Governor Carver, his wife and now a trusted Native friend, Bradford had to “regroup and find a way to continue on” (138). As Montana mentioned, even with his losses, Bradford still managed to rely on his religion and continuously remind and promote religion as the reason the Pilgrims came to the New World. Also, his faith never wavered after many close relations died, a quality that made Bradford a strong leader for Plymouth. Towards the end of Bradford's life he had the comfort of his son, now eleven, meeting him in the colonies. Consequently, when his son John arrived, the meeting ended in disaster. Bradford’s son left his father and moved to Connecticut. John wanted to escape his famous father who had abandoned him as a child at three years old. Due to these multiple, personal, heartbreaking events, I developed a connection towards Bradford feeling pity for him during his time of loss while finding a character to route for when he experienced good fortune. Bradford is someone I admire, even after losing many close friends and family in a new land, he always seemed to continue on through faith.
Towards the end of Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, I grew to admire Mary Rowlandson. Mary was a mother of three and wife of Lancaster’s minister. During King Philip’s War, as the Indian attacks grew closer to Lancaster, the Rowlandson’s house had become one of five garrisons. By daybreak of February 10th, the garrison had come under attack. Mary saw the chaos around her and decided to leave the house with her daughter in her arms and her two other children and niece surrounding her. The amount of bravery she needed to be able to walk into a line of Indians wielding muskets, hatchets and spears is unimaginable. Mary was seeing her loved ones die around her while being swept away into captivity and having to be separated from two of her three children. This event alone is more trauma than one should see in a lifetime. After nine days of being kept by the Indians, her youngest daughter, Sarah, died in her arms. Instead of using “wicked and violent means to end my own life,”(291) Mary set out to find her two other children, which she did only to be turned away from seeing them. I admire her will to keep going instead of letting the traumatic loss of her daughter take over. Even with all the pain and suffering she had gone through, when Mary had an encounter with Philip she remained unbreakable. Although Philip showed Mary nothing but kindness and respect, she would never be able to forgive him for starting the war that claimed the life of her daughter and several other loved ones. After naming her own ransom price and finally being released, the memories of her captivity still haunted her. She later wrote “[W]hen others are sleeping, mine eyes are weeping.” Mary Rowlandson’s story was one that captivated me for her non-wavering bravery, courage, and perseverance.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s novel Mayflower I found that I had developed a strong emotional connection to Squanto. At first I thought I would have a strong emotional connection to William Bradford due to his ability to continue on throughout conflict and loss of his wife. However I found myself being drawn to Squanto more intensely, further into the novel. Squanto originally came off as a character that would either in the end be breaking your heart, by betraying the Pilgrims, or by saving the day. In the end he was able to save the Pilgrims by developing a strong desire to be the Native American ruler. By becoming the Native’s ruler he could decide the fate of the Pilgrims instead of conforming to the beliefs of the existing ruler. I found myself strongly admiring Squanto’s ability to speak English and become a strong friend to Bradford. Although William Bradford found himself not necessarily needing an interpreter anymore, he had found a new found connection with Squanto. At the time of Squanto’s passing, it was for Bradford “..it was yet another terrible personal and professional loss...he must once again regroup and find a way to continue on.” (pg 138) Although Squanto had previously defied the rules of the agreement, Bradford was willing to do whatever it would take to protect Squanto. Their bond made me admire them both, with their dedication and passion towards a better world. William Bradford took Squanto’s death hard, but he was able to continue on with all of the knowledge he had received from Squanto.
While reading Mayflower, I developed an emotional connection towards the Native leader of the Pokanokets, Massasoit. At first, Massasoit did not trust the Pilgrims seeing how in the past, ships like the Mayflower have come and killed his men for no apparent reason. However, throughout the novel, he gets to know these Englishmen and understand their ideals. Once he meets the Pilgrims and gets to know them, I truly admire his kindness and friendly nature as he readily helps the Pilgrims when they are struggling to survive in the New World. He was the first sachem to develop a relationship with the Pilgrims and this would both help and hinder him in the years to come. Massasoit and the rest of the Pokanoets spent the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and showed them how to plant corn and other crops. He had the courage to trust the Pilgrims and in turn, they helped one and other and formed an alliance. The pilgrims, led by William Bradford and the Indians, guided by Massasoit were master negotiators who quickly learned the art of compromise for the good of all. Without Massasoit’s leadership and eagerness to help the Pilgrims, they would not have been able to survive in the New World. As a reader, I admire a character like Massasoit because of the honorable traits that he posses.
I had no particular emotions toward any one person in the book at the beginning (with the possible exception of Miles Standish, who angered me with his impetuosity and brutal killing of several Native Americans), but in the latter parts of the book, I grew to like Benjamin Church, a carpenter who became a hero during King Philip’s War. He was more practical and strategically-minded than virtually anyone else mentioned in Mayflower when it came to fighting. When Church and the other settlers took control of a Native American fort, Church suggested that they take shelter in the fort rather than risk the long, treacherous journey back to Wickford. His advice was ignored, and many settlers died making the trip. He was disregarded in part because Captain Moseley was too proud to have his men “sleeping in a wigwam and eating the Indians’ food” (277). Church had no such reservations, and his practicality was what endeared him to me.
While reading Mayflower, I developed a strong emotional connection towards Massasoit, “the most powerful Native leader, or sachem, in the region.” (48). While the Pilgrims were up against thousands of hostile unwelcoming Native Americans upon arriving in America, Massasoit was the only Native American that came to their aide. Allying with the Pilgrims would have been a risky decision for any Native American sachem; however, because of Massasoit's past experiences with the English, this decision was particularly courageous. Because “Massasoit determined that he must ‘make friendship’ with the English”, the Pilgrims were now protected by the most powerful sachem (96). Without the support of Massasoit and the Pokanokets, the Pilgrims would not have been able to survive: “Massasoit's decision to offer them assistance had saved the Pilgrims’ lives.” (119). Massasoit's courage, leadership and generosity touched the hearts of thousands of people: Natives and English alike. His influence over these two groups of people is shown during his near-death experience: “they received word from some Indians that Massasoit was dead. ‘This news struck us blank’” (142). This alarming news shattered the hearts of many. The eulogy Hobbamock delivered describes the incredible leadership displayed by Massasoit: “‘He was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel… [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and… he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved.’” (143). When it was discovered that Massasoit was not in fact dead, just incredibly ill, people from all over traveled great distances to be there for the great sachem: “Indians from as many as a hundred miles away continued to arrive at Pokanoket” (146). After everything Massasoit risked to help the Pilgrims, the English finally had a chance to repay Massasoit for all that he had done. It was Edward Winslow who nursed the sachem back to health, “‘Never did I see a man so low… recover in that measure in so short a time’” (145), and because of this, Massasoit was certain he made the right decision allying with the Pilgrims: “‘Now I see the English are my friends and love me,’ Massasoit announced to the assembled multitude; ‘and whilst I live, I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.’” (146). Massasoit's unconditional support and leadership towards the Pilgrims, and his influence across New England is both inspiring and aweing. Looking back at the novel Mayflower as a whole, the Pilgrims would never have survived without the help of the great sachem, Massasoit.
While reading Mayflower, I found myself especially admiring Massasoit. The Indian chieftain struck me as a particularly just and caring leader. Throughout his interactions with the settlers, both positive and negative, he remained mature and unbiased. Massasoit proved his justness while dealing with Squanto’s betrayal; Rather than save the life of one of his own, he pledged to follow the conditions of his pact with the settlers and execute him. Massasoit dealt Squanto’s betrayal of him, and those around him, with utmost care. Massasoit was a gift to the settlers, as they struggled through their first years in New England. It is also notable about Massasoit that his good faith saved the Pilgrims many potential skirmishes with other tribes in the area. By being the first chief to ally and extend welcome to the Pilgrims, Massasoit paved the way for other pilgrim-native alliances to take place in later years. In his speech, Massasoit speaks about “the many villages that paid him tribute and of how those villages would all trade with the Pilgrims” (108). The colonists’ steady relationship with Massasoit and the Pokanokets would greatly better the chances of their success and survival in New England.
Although he was a relatively small character in this immense and intricate timeline, Thomas Morton is a character that I developed an emotion too. Thomas Morton evoked a feeling of ease and humanity within me when I read about him. He was an extraordinarily refreshing character, in a sense, as he was so incredibly unique. For starters, his settlement was called "Merrymount" and in this settlement, instead of a wall, "Morton erected an eighty-foot-high maypole-- a gleeful and decidedly pagan proclamation that God was not to be taken overly seriously." (163) That in and of itself puts a smile on my face; as it is a thrust of joy and reveling and rebelling in a world of seriousness and hate and mistrust. Additionally, Morton was incredibly friendly with the nearby Indian communities; he drank with them, danced with them, and traded with them. And he even made the bold statement of saying that the Indians were "more full of humanity than the Christians."(164) This kind of anti-establishment and bold behavior that he was prone to immediately makes him one of my favorite people in this book. Furthermore, it was said that Morton was a man who enjoyed the wilderness; he was a frontiersman, an adventurer. That kind of happy-go-lucky attitude is quite attractive, in terms of character, as who doesn't like a thrill-seeker? Lastly, Morton's humorous outlook on the infuriated Captain Standish, offered a comical and cleansing perspective on the general atmosphere of New England and all its people. It can sometimes be forgotten that all these people we are reading about were really REAL people, and just as today, those people also laughed and cried and yelled and felt things. That is why Morton is a character worth letting yourself develop an emotion toward; he reminds us of the humanity that existed in all these people in this book.
In the beginning of Philbrick's Mayflower, I felt respect for John Robinson, the congregation leader. He was said to be "charismatic" (5) and proved to be wise when he wrote to Bradford after the slaughter of three Massachusett natives. In his letter he wrote "It is... a thing more glorious, in men's eyes, than pleasing in God's or convenient for Christians, to be terror to poor barbarous people. And indeed I am afraid lest, by these occasions, others should be drawn to affect a kind of ruffling course in the world" (156). Although he's not mentioned much, Robinson must receive credit for keeping his congregation together in England, and again when they migrated to Holland. Under his leadership, the congregation was said to have "more than tripled in size" (5). Robinson was also a peacekeeper, urging his friends on the Mayflower to "do everything they could to avoid conflict with their new compatriots" (29). His "selfless yet strong-willed insistence on probity" (29), is something that Philbrick emphasized would be missed by the Pilgrims when they departed for America.
Throughout Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick a certain person that caught my attention and admiration was Benjamin Church. Philbrick states that “Church preferred to do things his own way”(266) which is seen through the way that he is able to not only move onto native land, but also in the way he befriends the local sachem, Weetamoo. Although some of his superior officers “may have began to realize that this was a soldier whose ambition and zeal verged on recklessness”(237) his fellow soldiers could not help but recognise him as “one of the army's more colorful and audacious figures”(239). I recognise Church as being the most rational of those in the army, he was a strategist who recognised the way the Native Americans fought and “was quickly learning how to use the Indians’ own tactics of concealment and surprise against them”(247). Church was also a very strong, compassionate leader whose opinion was occasionally overlooked. When Church suggested that the soldiers spend a night in a well stocked Native wigwam instead of march sixteen miles in the subzero temperatures, Moseley, his subordinate, decided it was “better to consume this wretched fortress in purifying fire than spend a single night living like the heathen enemy”(277) and because Church had been injured, his insight was not taken seriously. After marching all night through the snow and “twenty-two of the army’s wounded died during the march”(278) Church and the other wounded were transferred to Newport, where Puritan historian William Hubbard admitted “Church had been correct”(278), that if not forced to march in so far in the bad conditions many of the wounded would still be alive. This is not the only time he has been correct yet doubted. When Church believed the town of Duxbury to be vulnerable to a Native attack, he moved himself and his family to Aquidneck Island. This "was an unpopular decision both with the authorities, from whom he needed a permit, and with his wife's relations"(298) but, he ultimately saved their lives when the Duxbury went under attack. Benjamin Church had a “talent for improvisation and risk”(324) which demanded respect, it also made me develop fondness for him unlike any other person in Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I began to develop emotions toward the leader of the Pokanoket tribe: Massasoit. At the beginning of the novel, Massasoit distrusted and felt hatred toward the pilgrims because of previous situations in which, Englishmen killed multiple Indians for no reason. Massasoit was a strong and strategic leader that possessed the willpower to overcome his hatred toward the pilgrims and as a result formed a relationship with the pilgrims. Massasoit did not seek vengeance for the English murdering his people, instead, he realized to overcome the Narragansett tribe it would be wise to befriend the pilgrims. Massasoit and his people helped the pilgrims survive their first year in the New World. Although some members of the Pokanoket tribe were upset with Massasoit for seeking friendship with the English, Massasoit strived to uphold peace between the tribe and the pilgrims. The pilgrims were able to succeed because of the help of the Pokanoket tribe and Massasoit was determined to help both communities prosper. I began to admire Massasoit for his determination and his willingness to do what is best for the majority of people.
After reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I have developed emotions towards William Bradford himself. From the start I remember feeling awful when Philbrick revealed that Bradford “had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (Philbrick 7). But then as they prepared to sail to the New World, him and Dorothy had to leave their son behind to not have any idea what or how he was doing. They missed his days growing up and had no idea how he was. Thankfully they were reunited when John was eleven years old, but John “must have had little memory of his father” (Philbrick 187). Also, soon after they settled in the new world Dorothy allegedly committed suicide, leaving Bradford all by himself. The world was just not on his side as the people he grew to love and spend his days with left the earth. But as Sarah Tripodi said, becoming the governor of Plymouth briefly turned his life around. This position of power distracted him from all of his grief, even though according to his writing he never acknowledged his losses. He continued on with his life only to lose Squanto, who he had become closely acquainted with. But no matter what, his leadership remained steady and fair right up until he passed away on May 8, 1658. Another reason why I developed emotions toward Bradford was because of how wise and selfless he could be. His last few days were spent trying to become closer to God and “he told those who gathered around his sickbed that ‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world’” (Philbrick 189). This moment really summarized how strong he was for everyone around him who relied on Bradford for their own strength. I admire Bradford for the perseverance he had throughout losing most of his loved ones and the way he never succumbed to his overbearing grief. To me, Bradford was one of the people who I developed an emotional connection to while reading Mayflower.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower I harbored admiration towards Squanto. After years of enslavement in Europe Squanto returns to New England only to become a prisoner once again. Massasoit, the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket tribe kept a close eye on Squanto once the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth because Massasoit “was not yet sure whose side Squanto was on” (Philbrick 95). Squanto knew he had more power than anyone since his impressive grasp of the English language qualified him to be the clear choice for the native to Pilgrim interpreter. After only a short time with Pilgrims “Squanto was on his way to becoming the one person in New England they could not do without” (Philbrick 100). I found Squanto’s intelligence and cunning noteworthy for after being a slave for so many years he comes back and manipulates an entire region to do his bidding. Squanto had “the diplomatic instincts of a leader” (Philbrick 138) and used his talents to reach his ambitions. Although he ultimately fails in becoming the most powerful sachem in New England, Squanto survives slavery and uses his wits to change the New World for his benefit.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s The Mayflower, I grew to appreciate one of the Native American leaders, Squanto. In my opinion, without the assistance of Squanto, the community of the Pilgrims may not have been able to recover from the first winter. When Squanto arrived in Plymouth, he noticed sick Pilgrims that were dying from their journey into the New World. The Pilgrims lacked resources, farming techniques and did not speak the language of any of the local tribes. Squanto taught the English to plant corn and introduced them to the other tribes. Furthermore, Squanto acted as an interpreter between the two communities that enabled them to trade and use each others resources for their own benefit. Essentially, Squanto spoke both languages, so having a translator was crucial for the Pilgrims adaptation to the New World. Before arriving in Plymouth, Squanto was captured by the English. There, Squanto had spent time in a prison in London, where he learned the English language. By manipulation, Squanto escaped from the English and returned to Plymouth with knowledge about both languages. Thus, Squanto was able to communicate with the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, on behalf of the Pilgrims and communicate with William Bradford, leader of the English, for the Native Americans. Using Squanto as a guide and translator was ultimately one of the fundamental reasons that drove the two communities together.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized that I had developed an emotion toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. He was a perfect leader and a huge ally to the Pilgrims; without him they may not have survived, he and his people showed them how to grow crops and survive off the land of the New World. His friendship protected the Pilgrims from other Native attacks and initiated other Native groups to create alliances with them. Even when the Pilgrims fired upon his people in the beginning of the book, he found it in his heart to forgive them and move forward. He governed his people with grace and dignity, no one had anything bad to say about him, “[H]e was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel…; in anger and passion he was soon reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards such as had offended him; [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and … he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved” (143). In a world of violent and sometimes reckless leaders, Massasoit’s ability to be loved by his people as much as he was really struck me and made me appreciate him even more. It is very apparent how much he was loved by those he ruled when the news of his “death” reached Hobbamock, he “could not contain his sorrow over the loss of Massasoit. ‘My loving sachem, my loving sachem!’ he cried. ‘Many have I known, but never any like thee’” (143). When Massasoit died, I surprised myself and found myself upset. He was one of the few men in the New World, Native or Pilgrim/Puritan, that always tried to do the right thing and saw things they way they were, not just the way he wanted to see them and I was disappointed, to say the least, when I learned that he had passed. The Pilgrims had lost a great friend and ally, the Natives had lost a great leader, and the entire New World has lost a great man.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized that I had developed an emotion toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. He was a perfect leader and a huge ally to the Pilgrims; without him they may not have survived, he and his people showed them how to grow crops and survive off the land of the New World. His friendship protected the Pilgrims from other Native attacks and initiated other Native groups to create alliances with them. Even when the Pilgrims fired upon his people in the beginning of the book, he found it in his heart to forgive them and move forward. He governed his people with grace and dignity, no one had anything bad to say about him, “[H]e was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel…; in anger and passion he was soon reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards such as had offended him; [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and … he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved” (143). In a world of violent and sometimes reckless leaders, Massasoit’s ability to be loved by his people as much as he was really struck me and made me appreciate him even more. It is very apparent how much he was loved by those he ruled when the news of his “death” reached Hobbamock, he “could not contain his sorrow over the loss of Massasoit. ‘My loving sachem, my loving sachem!’ he cried. ‘Many have I known, but never any like thee’” (143). When Massasoit died, I surprised myself and found myself upset. He was one of the few men in the New World, Native or Pilgrim/Puritan, that always tried to do the right thing and saw things they way they were, not just the way he wanted to see them and I was disappointed, to say the least, when I learned that he had passed. The Pilgrims had lost a great friend and ally, the Natives had lost a great leader, and the entire New World has lost a great man.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I developed an emotional connection toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. In my opinion, Massasoit is the reason the Pilgrims stayed and thrived in the New World. When the Pilgrims first arrived many tribes and tribe leaders took off as the Pilgrims annoyed them. But, Massasoit with the help of Squanto changed is original opinion on the English and decided to help them. It took a lot of courage and bravery for Massasoit to work with the Pilgrims but in the end both the Pilgrims and Native Americans benefited from this relationship. That courage is a trait I admire in Massasoit. Massasoit's decision to “‘make friendship’ with the english” (96) was beneficial to both the English and Pokanokets because with Massasoit's help the English would learn how to survive in the New World and Massasoit “would suddenly be in a position to break the Narragansetts’ stranglehold on the Pokanokets” (96). Most sachems would not have done what Massasoit did for the English and that is why everyone admires him, he was a strong leader and a “faithful friend” (143).
After reading the novel Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized my emotional connection to Benjamin Church. From the moment Church was introduced on page 233, I had already grown a liking towards him. I liked that “instead of being intimidated by the fact that he was the only Englishman in Sakonnet, he relished the chance to start from scratch” (233). This showed me that Church was a man who was not afraid to put his life in jeopardy and he lived on the edge. I applaud Church for being able to be “quite content to be living among the heathen-both red and white” (233). When the Pilgrims first arrived on the new land, the thought of a Pilgrim and an Englishman living together in peace was insane but Church was ahead of the rest. He was a man not of the ordinary. Later in the novel, I realized Church’s devotion to his fighting force. He was injured and was not able to fight for weeks but when “he badly gashed two of his fingers, he smiled. If he was going to injure himself, he might as well do it in battle. It was time he returned to the war” (310). This displayed his want to fight and he would in fact die for his army. I also like the fact that Church had some mercy inside of his heart. Instead of killing every single Indian he saw, he would give them the chance to help him out and in return their lives would be spared. Benjamin Church was a great leader who had a tremendous impact on the outcome of King Phillip’s War.
Upon finishing Nathaniel Philbrick’s novel, Mayflower, and learning the outcome of King Philip’s War, my admiration of Benjamin Church grew due to his independence and compassion. When Church realized it was time for him to return back to the war effort, he did not want to be in the shadow of his fellow Englishman Bradford. “Church had no intension of serving under Bradford...Church had his own ideas.” (311-312) I admire his drive to forgo Bradford’s leadership and his confidence in his own ideas. Confidence is a quality required in every good leader in order to achieve success. Church also proved his independence when he chose to meet with the Awashonks without a sanction from the authorities. This bold decision did not come with failure, which stands out to me. Additionally, Church was compassionate towards the Native Americans. When he captured 173 Indian prisoners, “Church made sure to provide both the guards and their prisoners with food and drink.” (331) Church also said that enslaving the Native American captives was “a shocking abomination of justice.” (253) These unnecessary acts of kindness prove Church’s empathy towards the Native Americans. Lastly, when the counterparts of Philip, Tusaquin and Annawon were captured, Church vowed for mercy upon them. Many leaders of his nature would be bathing in their blood, however Church’s compassion for Native Americans allowed him to feel pity. By then end of the novel, I grew a deep admiration towards Benjamin Church for his outstanding leadership skills that helped the English achieve victory in the King Philip’s War.
While reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I found myself developing an admiration and respect for William Bradford's strength, courage, and undeniable dedication to God. From the start, I felt empathy towards Bradford, who, "by the time he was twelve," "had lost almost everyone he ever loved," including "his father, his mother, a sister, [and] the grandfather who raised him" (23, 26). As if the pain of losing multiple loved ones was not enough, Bradford also suffered a "long sickness" that "prevented him from working" (23). However, despite his suffering, Bradford stayed strong and "looked to the Bible for consolation and guidance" (23). Bradford was able to stay composed and face his losses with the mindset that everything happened for a reason and that everything would be okay. For me, a believer of fate, Bradford's ability to move past his losses without unmanageable mourning, or questioning "why him," is quite admirable. Once again, Bradford experienced pain when the Mayflower set sail, upon leaving his youngest son behind, but stayed strong and "soon emerged as one of the leading members of the congregation" (34). Then, "Bradford received what would have been, for many men, the final blow ... his wife of seven years, and the mother of his three-year-old son," passed away; however, he stayed focus on the goal (108). I find it quite remarkable that Bradford was able to push aside the loss of nearly six loved ones, remain dedicated to his religious faith, and stay focused on governing the Pilgrims' soon to be stable civilization. Throughout his time in the New World, Bradford maintained the role of a composed governor, and "if not for [his] steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony" (22). In times of hardship Bradford emerged as a sturdy role model and leader for the Pilgrims, who made well-thought-out decisions and helpful directions. During warfare, he bravely faced the natives with confidence, encouraged the soldiers to believe God would not let anything bad happen to them, and reassured them that their lives were in his hands. He gave the Pilgrims strength and hope, and undeniably impacted the future success of their developed civilization. Throughout the book, I deeply appreciated and respected Bradford's astonishing strength, faith, courage, which allowed him to stay motivated and confident, no matter how much loss he endured and no matter how much trouble the Pilgrims got themselves into. I believe without the steady leadership of Bradford, the Europeans would never have stayed strong enough to successfully conquer New England.
After reading Mayflower, the character Squanto made a big impact on me. Similar to the common knowledge of the first Thanksgiving, there are multiple common misconceptions about Squanto. For instance, he is usually thought of as a native man who was nothing but nice to the Pilgrims and aided them as guide, interpreter and a teacher. While this is correct, there is more to the story behind Squanto. Squanto did help the Pilgrims, but for his own good. Later on, he turned several tribes against one another to result in greater power for himself. During the early 1600s, Squanto was “a Native guide who’d been abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614” (52). He aided Captain John Smith and his crew on their exploration of Plymouth only to be captured and brought back to Spain. He spent five years there and eventually returned home to Plymouth with Thomas Dermer, a different explorer. Squanto could “speak the Englishmen's language” (54), which was a “powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54). After the the Mayflower had left for England, Squanto aided the Pilgrims with planting in the poor soil that was in Plymouth. He taught them “to fertilize the soil with dead herring” (101). If it wasn’t for Squanto’s “crash course in Indian agriculture” (101), the Pilgrims would have not survived because their “barley and peas suffered in the alien soils of the New World” (102). In addition to teaching the Pilgrims about the agriculture, he also aided them as guides on their expeditions. It was especially helpful because when they came into contact with other natives, Squanto could serve as a translator and interpreter for both groups. For example, when Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins went to see Massasoit, Squanto served as their guide. As a result of Squanto’s aid to the Pilgrims, Squanto gained their trust. Squanto took advantage of this and now the Pilgrims “were now being controlled-whether they realized it or not” (120), and Squanto would later “emerge as New England’s preeminent Native leader” (133). Squanto was two-faced and tried to get the Pilgrims to attack Massasoit. His behavior proved that he was too power-hungry and it got the best of him, causing him to turn on people that he seemed loyal to. He manipulated and tricked the supposedly smart Englishmen and tribes such as the Wampanoags. My feelings towards Squanto definitely changed through the book as he became determined to gain complete control in the New England area.
As I was reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a connection toward Benjamin Church. The way Philbrick wrote about Church made me understand his intellect and ways of thinking about different events. It reminded me of the way that I think about things, which led me to have great respect and empathy towards him. At many points in the story, but specifically during the Great Swamp Fight, it seemed as if Church could see the consequences of actions before they happened. Even after being shot in the hip during the battle, Church focused on the welfare of the soldiers, and realized that if they burned the fort to the ground, the much needed provisions being stored in the wigwams would disappear. He also calculated the toll that would be taken on the soldiers if they marched back to the garrison through the snow, and realized that something had to be done. After being opposed by many others, the troops did exactly the opposite of what Church had planned, and by the next morning, “more than 20 percent of the English soldiers had been either killed or wounded” (278). I really connected with Church when I read this. He knew what was going to happen, and if people had listened to him, the outcome of the battle would have been different. I have great respect for people like him who logically find a solution to a problem, is denied, but continues to push forward and fight. After the Great Swamp Fight, Church continues to challenge authority to bring his ideas into reality. No one thought that using friendly Indians as a fighting force would succeed, but Church had faith, and with a company made up largely of natives, continued to attack, capture, and kill, until he got his true prize: Philip. I think many people today could learn from Benjamin Church’s perseverance. He had to jump obstacle after obstacle, but in the end he got was he was fighting for.
While reading the novel Mayflower, I felt that I developed a strong emotional connection towards the Native leader of the Pokanokets, Massasoit. When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth they were susceptible to Native American attacks like previous English sailors. Even though Massasoit was a great and caring leader, who was crucial to the Pilgrims; even “Massasoit’s first impulse was not to embrace the English but to curse them”(95). Massasoit feels this way because earlier English sailors attacked and killed many of his men for no apparent reason. However, Massasoit is able to put the past behind him and forge new beginnings with the english because he knows it is beneficial to the Pokanoket tribe. With the help of his interpreter Squanto, “Massasoit determined that he must ‘make friendship’ with the English”(96). Massasoit proves to be a caring and helpful figure to the Pilgrims, he and the Pokanokets taught the Pilgrims how to plant crops such as corn and helped protect them from other Native American attacks. However, this relationship that was created also benefitted the Pokanokets; “If Massasoit became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in position to break the Narragansetts’ stranglehold on the Pokanokets”(96). When Massasoit fell extremely sick the Pilgrims ran to his side and began to give him aid to help him gain back his health. Massasoit was extremely grateful to the Pilgrims, “‘Now I see the English are my friends and love me… and whilst I live, I will never forget this kindness they have showed me”(146). Massasoit was a great leader who embodied great kindness and caring, and who was a crucial piece to the Pilgrims survival in America.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I was drawn to William Bradford. One of the "founding fathers" of Plymouth Colony, Bradford went through a plethora of hardships while trying to found a colony solely off of religious belief and tolerance (or lack of) for those with other beliefs. I sympathized with the death of Bradford's wife of seven years, and for leaving his son back on the mainland when he left for the New World. These grievances left an obvious toll on Bradford as a person, and the coldness associated with his hardships helped Bradford with strong leadership in a time when the lives of many depended on a strong leader. With Bradford's leadership, colonist-native relations were good, which became the building block for the growth of Plymouth colony and the colonies surrounding it. With the trust of Massasoit, the Pilgrims pledged their loyalty a native people and paved the way for the trade that helped Plymouth grow and diversify. Without Bradford's leadership, Plymouth colony would not be a landmark in the way it is today.
As of finishing Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I have concluded that the character who stood out to me the most was Hobbamock. He was "a pniese - a warrior of special abilities and stamina" (p. 114) and proved to be a loyal man both Pilgrims and to his sachem, Massasoit. At the time when the Pilgrims were in constant danger in unfamiliar lands, loyalty was the most important thing that could be offered. Hobbamock was the one who had warned the English of Squanto's betrayal. He told them that the Massachusetts had allied themselves with the Narragansetts and "were planning to attack Standish and the trading party" and insisted that Squanto was in on the plot. Bradford, being close with Squanto, did not want to believe him, but Standish, who had formed a sort of friendship with the pniese, "both warriors by inclination and training," did not write off the possibility of the interpreter's malicious intent. Later, when Standish departed for with ten of his men, accompanied by both Hobbamock and Squanto, one of Squanto's relatives came to Plymouth and claimed that Massasoit had betrayed them and agreed with Narragansetts to attack the settlement. Bradford ordered to fire the cannons, and Standish, being in the earshot of the signal, came back. "Being a pniese, he [Hobbamock] was certain he would have been consulted by Massasoit if the sachem had been planning some kind of attack." (p. 133) They decided to send Hobbamock's wife to find out whether Squanto's allegations were true, and as she brought the good news of peace and "assurances to Bradford that he [Massasoit] would certainly warn him of any possible threats to Plymouth if they should ever arise." Later, after Squanto died from presumably natural causes, it was Hobbamock who became the Native whom the Pilgrims trusted the most.
Similar to Ben, I also grew a of feeling of admiration towards the lawyer Thomas Morton who developed friendly ties with the Native Americans. For such a small part in the book, Morton made a positive impact unlike many of the other colonists we follow. I admired his intelligent belief that any god should not be the only force of action in a civilization or to “not be taken overly seriously.” (163) All people should be able to have free range of religion, however not to the extent where wars and forced conversion take place, similar to that of the Pilgrims’ forced practices on those who arrived from the Fortune. Morton also seemed to be a lighthearted and friendly fellow who with his men “danced around the maypole with their Native neighbors, making a mockery of the solemn exclusivity of the Plymouth settlement.” (163) Him becoming friends with the Natives, actually benefited the Natives as well as his own relations necessary to survival. For instance, he was able to become a well liked and valued trading partner and exchanged guns for furs with the Natives. His charismatic persona was unlike many of the other characters dispersed throughout the book, and therefore was a somewhat breath of fresh air. In my opinion, Morton appeared to have his priorities straight over the selfish and war driven Pilgrims, and even stated that the Natives were "more full of humanity than the Christians." (164) which made him an enjoyable character to read about.
While reading The Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a strong feeling of pity for King Philip. While he was not by any means a hero, I did feel like he was a victim of many unfortunate events. Many view him as the instigator of the war, however, Philbrick makes it very clear that there were many factors including the murder of John Sassamon, the behavior of the English, the trial of Tobias, and the turbulent nature of Philip's warriors that, along with the sachem's actions, led to the conflict. The scenes in which Philip meets with New England magistrates especially invoked feelings of pity. During these meetings you could feel how hopeless Philip was against the power of the English. While the magistrates were ganging up on Philip, I felt like no matter what he said, he would lose. Philip wanted to stop the expansion of the English, not to cause the deaths of thousands of his people; it was even said that when the war began Philip "wept at the news" (224). Despite his image of being a mystical warrior and leader, we learn that Philip spent most of the war in hiding, and running away from battles, even when his own warriors yelled for him to "Iootash!-Fight!" (336). Philip was blamed by many as the cause of the war, and hunted by Englishmen as well as Indians, and he always kept running away, even when there was no hope of victory and he had lost everyone close to him, he kept running. We get the image of a coward who suddenly became the most infamous person in New England. One moment that stood out for me was when Church's company encountered King Philip "sitting on a tree's stump" (327). His hair cut off, and devoid of everything that distinguished him as a sachem, Philip was just sitting on a tree stump. Not leading his people and away from the safety of his camp, by now he probably knew that the end was near, and he may even have been thinking about what the war has caused. It was quite a sad image.
When I began reading Philbrick’s Mayflower, Squanto’s character really fascinated me. When first introduced to him, he seemed like a very helpful and reliable source for the English, someone they could really use when creating relations and communicating with the Natives. Because of his ability to speak and communicate with both the English and the Natives, he became a very important figure in the novel, assisting both sides. He willingly taught the Pilgrims farming techniques, assisting them on how to survive on this type of land, rather than what they are used to. Creating bonds with many Englishmen, such as Bradford, Squanto was essentially a savior for the Englishmen. The English put all of their trust in his hands. As the novel advances, we begin to see Squanto’s real personality. “Over the next few weeks, it became increasingly clear that Squanto had been laboring long and hard to overthrow Massasoit as the Pokanoket’s supreme sachem” (133). As Squanto reveals his real character, my feelings towards him began to change and I began to dislike him, as he betrayed the people who really needed and trusted him.
One particular person I developed several emotions toward while reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick was William Bradford. Bradford was one of the original founders of Plymouth colony, a place created from the Pilgrims journey to find religious tolerance. That alone must have been an extremely difficult task which invokes admiration toward Bradford for having the courage to leave his life and his son back on the mainland when he left for the New World. Bradford was also elected governor in a time when sick, restless and overall not very happy people’s lives depended on a strong leader. With Bradford's leadership, the colony managed to survive and also develop a relationship with the Natives, which became vitally important for the growth of Plymouth colony and other colonies later on. Bradford’s leadership ultimately helped the colony survive and develop. I admire Bradford for all his service that he provided to the colony and for his distinct trait of leadership. Without William Bradford, Plymouth colony would have had a much more difficult time becoming successful.
I felt sorrow for King Philip throughout Mayflower. Although he was blamed by the colonists for the war, it seemed like he had very little real power over his own people. He was the wrong man at the wrong time. His people traded land away foolishly and were pushed to the brink of war. Philip tried to prepare them so they would have a chance but war broke out before he could get totally ready. From there he was pushed around by other Indians while being chased by the colonists. Philip himself seemed to hate war as he always fled battle and only wanted to restore his father's empire to the point that his people could go on in a comfortable lifestyle. Because of this, King Philip seems to be a good man trying to do what was best for his people but everything around him feel apart in the most horrendous way leading to an all out war. Thus, I felt sorrow for poor King Philip as he was looked down upon by his own people when he only wanted to help.
I felt sorrow for King Philip throughout Mayflower. Although he was blamed by the colonists for the war, it seemed like he had very little real power over his own people. He was the wrong man at the wrong time. His people traded land away foolishly and were pushed to the brink of war. Philip tried to prepare them so they would have a chance but war broke out before he could get totally ready. From there he was pushed around by other Indians while being chased by the colonists. Philip himself seemed to hate war as he always fled battle and only wanted to restore his father's empire to the point that his people could go on in a comfortable lifestyle. Because of this, King Philip seems to be a good man trying to do what was best for his people but everything around him feel apart in the most horrendous way leading to an all out war. Thus, I felt sorrow for poor King Philip as he was looked down upon by his own people when he only wanted to help.
Throughout Mayflower i grew feelings of pity for King Philip. Philip did not war but seemed to have been pushed into it by by his own country which brought it upon themselves. Britain's imperialistic nature brought them into conflict and King Philip had some big shoes to fill after his father's empire. He only wanted to help and please his country by ruling like his favorable father. Conflicts arose and his people cried out for resolution. Philip could not let his people down by sating no which eventually lead to a war for which he was blamed that ultimately brought his demise.
Prior to reading Mayflower, I was familiar with Miles Standish's name, but not his character traits or actions. After finishing the book, I certainly developed an aversion to Standish. To me, he stood out among the other prominent figures in Plymouth Colony because he came off as a blood thirsty, belligerent man. As a military leader of the Pilgrims, many people would likely consider Standish a brave, courageous man. Throughout his lifetime, he most certainly displayed these traits, especially during the initial arrival of the settlers in 1620, but I was nonetheless disturbed by a lot of his actions and intentions. Standish is introduced in the very beginning of the book as a pugnacious individual, which prompted me to believe he might not have been as peaceful as other leaders. Of course, aggression in a leader can often be a good thing, but Standish's overt aggression felt unnecessary at times. I was particularly infuriated when Standish led his men to a burial site of the Indians and decided to violate the graves by "[resolving] to dig it up" (67). Personally, I find that disturbing the dead is one of the most disrespectful things one can possibly do. Of course, it wasn't just Standish who partook in this, but he was the leader of the men, and this was only the very beginning of his alarming actions as a leader. Surely, my feelings towards Standish are not too different from many of the settlers, given that he "conducted himself with a haughty impulsiveness that did not endear him to some of the settlers" (89). Standish always seemed motivated by his desire to both avenge and attack the Pilgrims, even pressuring William Bradford into taking forceful action to "show the Indians the consequences of challenging the English" (114), proving that Standish only really knew how to settle things through force. Upon learning that "Standish was to cut off [Corbitant's] head and bring it back to Plymouth for public display" (114), I became fully aware of just how malevolent this man was. Perhaps one could argue that Standish merely wished to protect his people as much as he possibly could, but I felt that he constantly pushed it to the limit, only endangering his people further by repeatedly disrespecting and provoking the natives.
Like Annabelle, I was unfamiliar with Miles Standish before reading Mayflower, but once acquainted, I despised him. After Wituwamat becomes a favored guest by Canacum rather than Standish, Standish acts childish and "chastised the two Massachusett Indians for their refusal to pay him the proper respect" (142). Not only that, but he storms out of the wigwam and does not return. This, to me, signals that Standish cannot look at the big picture. Rather than realizing his actions will offend the Native Americans, he leaves. This incident displays how Standish cannot put his pride aside, which makes him my least favorite character in Mayflower. Furthermore, he does not realize that the interactions between Wituwamat and Canacum at Manomet show that the Pilgrims were being conspired against, illustrating that he could not see a bigger picture. Conclusively, Miles Standish did not give a good impression in Mayflower.
While reading Mayflower, I developed emotions for Massasoit the Pokanoket sachem. Massasoit was a very smart and effective leader. I began to admire him for the strength and courage how showed while leading the Pokanoket tribe. Massasoit showed courage by attempting to create a relationship with the Pilgrims. In the past foreigners had killed many Native Americans. Massasoit was smart enough to create a relationship with the Pilgrims so they wouldn't feel threatened and view the Pokanokets as rival neighbors. In addition, Massasoit also showed courage by trusting Squanto and the interpreter. He had no way of telling if Squanto was telling the truth in his translations. I also admire Massasoit for his heart. He noticed the Pilgrims were struggling with their new colony and decided to help them. Even though the Pilgrims fire on his people in the beginning of the book. Massasoit shows his heart and decides to help the Pilgrims and they might not have made it without him. Massasoit was not the average sachem. He altered the patter of war between Native Americans and the English settlers, which is why he is such an admirable leader.
I came to respect the Pokanoket sachem, Massasoit. Undoubtedly, he played a colossal role in the success of the settlers. Even with the terrible history between the Natives and Europeans, Massasoit was still open to diplomacy; where one leader may have seen only violence, he was able to perceive the big picture in which he may benefit from the success of The Pilgrims. This assumption is proven correct when Massasoit is able to gain control of the majority of the region with assistance from his European allies. His foresight also saved his life when he received medical aid, eventually curing his typhus. Massasoit proved to be an important and strong ally during the early days of Plymouth Plantation, and I eventually found myself looking up to him with admiration for both his skill and kindness.
I came to respect the Pokanoket sachem, Massasoit. Undoubtedly, he played a colossal role in the success of the settlers. Even with the terrible history between the Natives and Europeans, Massasoit was still open to diplomacy; where one leader may have seen only violence, he was able to perceive the big picture in which he may benefit from the success of The Pilgrims. This assumption is proven correct when Massasoit is able to gain control of the majority of the region with assistance from his European allies. His foresight also saved his life when he received medical aid, eventually curing his typhus. Massasoit proved to be an important and strong ally during the early days of Plymouth Plantation, and I eventually found myself looking up to him with admiration for both his skill and kindness.
While not emotional, the portrayal of Massasoit in Mayflower was easily the most surprising to me. While I had already outgrown most of my superstitions about the early English colonies (such as those about Thanksgiving), I had managed to preserve the fantasy that the early native leaders were not dealt fairly with by the colonists. Despite Philbrick’s fairly even-handed portrayal of Massasoit, I found him to be singularly conniving and lacking in forward thought, holding his own immediate interests above those of others at least as much as common mythos describes the colonists of the time. For example, by encouraging Standish and the rest of the Pligrim leadership to preemptively attack the Massachusetts at Wessagussett, he secured a much larger area from which he would build a much larger nation (155). Meanwhile, both the Pilgrims and the natives inhabiting the area were set back significantly due to the lull in trade following the raid. Further along, Massasoit acted in a manner best described as careless. As time passed, he funded his tribe by means of selling land, rather than outcompeting the English in any market. As a result of this “systematic dismantling of [the Pokanokets’] homeland” (172), Phillip had little choice but to continue in doing so. Ultimately, the war carrying his own name would be wrought largely over the issue of native lands. Thus, rather than being the example of a helpful friend to the early Pilgrims, he proved to be the root of some of their largest problems.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s enthralling epic, Mayflower, I constantly found myself sympathizing and deeply caring for a certain character. Similar to Kyra’s impressions, William Bradford took a toll on my emotions upon reading his tragic timeline. Bradford’s grim tale begins in Austerfield, Yorkshire, which is described as a miniscule farming town. Although he came from a thriving and successful family, disaster struck and shattered his once stable lifestyle. Philbrook records, “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). At any age, these devastating losses can understandably cause great mental and emotional misery. However, even after being diagnosed with a serious illness that prevented him from working in the fields, he found an escape. Bradford turned to the Bible for comfort and direction. Since his new-found beliefs were not accepted in Austerfield, he and and many others decided to flee England. Bradford then married his first wife, Dorothy May, who gave birth to his son, John. Later, when a segment of his church planned to journey to America on the Mayflower, Bradford and his wife decided to go on the voyage, leaving their son behind for his own safety. Although this was probably the best decision, it was extremely tough, “It was certainly safer for the child, but the emotional cost, especially for the boy’s mother, would become increasingly difficult to bear” (23). If this pain was not enough, when the ship finally arrived at Plymouth and Bradford went to explore the island, he returned to learn “Dorothy May Bradford, his wife of seven years and the mother of his three-year-old son, John, had slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (77). It is curious as to whether this was an accidental death or a suicide, but this was definitely devastating for Bradford, proven by a short scripture he recorded, “Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust, Fear not the things thou suffer must; For, whom he loves he doth chastise, And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). This was a rough obstacle to hurtle, but Bradford somehow overcame his grief. He was elected governor of the Pilgrims multiples of times and re-married the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, with whom he had three more children. Bradford managed to remain composed as a governor and carry out his duties, even after the many traumatizing events that had occurred throughout his life. Philbrook notes, “If not for Bradford’s steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony” (7). One could infer that it was his infinite faith that kept him strong. Throughout his life, Bradford was consumed by religion and continued to ponder and study the inherent questions of the unknown. Stricken by illness, he shared the following with his friends around his sickbed, “‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world, and the first-fruits of his eternal glory’” (189). Upon his own death, the vaunted leader shared his message and beliefs of faith, encouraging freedom to worship God in this fashion, for it would lead to heaven, blessings, and redemption. Bradford’s life greatly touched me, for even after so many dreadful tragedies that he faced, he continued to live his life, while being a remarkable leader for the Pilgrims. Besides being an extraordinary governor, he was also an exceptional father and faithful husband. I greatly admire his strength, leadership skills, steadfast faith, and trust in the power of God. His story is emotionally moving and greatly touched me whilst reading the epic.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s enthralling epic, Mayflower, I constantly found myself sympathizing and deeply caring for a certain character. Similar to Kyra’s impressions, William Bradford took a toll on my emotions upon reading his tragic timeline. Bradford’s grim tale begins in Austerfield, Yorkshire, which is described as a miniscule farming town. Although he came from a thriving and successful family, disaster struck and shattered his once stable lifestyle. Philbrook records, “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). At any age, these devastating losses can understandably cause great mental and emotional misery. However, even after being diagnosed with a serious illness that prevented him from working in the fields, he found an escape. Bradford turned to the Bible for comfort and direction. Since his new-found beliefs were not accepted in Austerfield, he and and many others decided to flee England. Bradford then married his first wife, Dorothy May, who gave birth to his son, John. Later, when a segment of his church planned to journey to America on the Mayflower, Bradford and his wife decided to go on the voyage, leaving their son behind for his own safety. Although this was probably the best decision, it was extremely tough, “It was certainly safer for the child, but the emotional cost, especially for the boy’s mother, would become increasingly difficult to bear” (23). If this pain was not enough, when the ship finally arrived at Plymouth and Bradford went to explore the island, he returned to learn “Dorothy May Bradford, his wife of seven years and the mother of his three-year-old son, John, had slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (77). It is curious as to whether this was an accidental death or a suicide, but this was definitely devastating for Bradford, proven by a short scripture he recorded, “Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust, Fear not the things thou suffer must; For, whom he loves he doth chastise, And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). This was a rough obstacle to hurtle, but Bradford somehow overcame his grief. He was elected governor of the Pilgrims multiples of times and re-married the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, with whom he had three more children. Bradford managed to remain composed as a governor and carry out his duties, even after the many traumatizing events that had occurred throughout his life. Philbrook notes, “If not for Bradford’s steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony” (7). One could infer that it was his infinite faith that kept him strong. Throughout his life, Bradford was consumed by religion and continued to ponder and study the inherent questions of the unknown. Stricken by illness, he shared the following with his friends around his sickbed, “‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world, and the first-fruits of his eternal glory’” (189). Upon his own death, the vaunted leader shared his message and beliefs of faith, encouraging freedom to worship God in this fashion, for it would lead to heaven, blessings, and redemption. Bradford’s life greatly touched me, for even after so many dreadful tragedies that he faced, he continued to live his life, while being a remarkable leader for the Pilgrims. Besides being an extraordinary governor, he was also an exceptional father and faithful husband. I greatly admire his strength, leadership skills, steadfast faith, and trust in the power of God. His story is emotionally moving and greatly touched me whilst reading the epic.
While reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I felt sad for Massasoit. As the sachem of the Pokanoket tribe, he made decisions that prolonged the survival of his tribe and family. By creating an alliance between the Pokanoket tribe and the Pilgrims, Massasoit was able to rise politically in the Native American tribes of New England. Massasoit also helped the survival of his tribe by relieving tensions between the Pokanoket and Pilgrims through the sales of land. All Massasoit was trying to do was create an everlasting peace in New England. When his son Philip took over as sachem of the Pokanokets, this peace was broken. The harassment of Pilgrim settlers plunged New England into King Philip’s War. All of Massasoit’s hard work to create peaceful relations between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans became irrelevant when King Philip’s War broke out. This is very sad because when someone devotes their life to reaching a certain goal, then that goal becomes unreachable, it is devastating for them.
While reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I felt sad for Massasoit. As the sachem of the Pokanoket tribe, he made decisions that prolonged the survival of his tribe and family. By creating an alliance between the Pokanoket tribe and the Pilgrims, Massasoit was able to rise politically in the Native American tribes of New England. Massasoit also helped the survival of his tribe by relieving tensions between the Pokanoket and Pilgrims through the sales of land. All Massasoit was trying to do was create an everlasting peace in New England. When his son Philip took over as sachem of the Pokanokets, this peace was broken. The harassment of Pilgrim settlers plunged New England into King Philip’s War. All of Massasoit’s hard work to create peaceful relations between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans became irrelevant when King Philip’s War broke out. This is very sad because when someone devotes their life to reaching a certain goal, then that goal becomes unreachable, it is devastating for them.
William Bradford's tenacity and perseverance through difficult times continued to amaze me throughout Philbrick's chronicle of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford had an unimaginably dark childhood that was filled with loss, as he "had lost almost everyone he had ever loved" (Philbrick 10) by the time he was 12 years old. Bradford also became immersed in Puritan theology at a young age, so he was a prime candidate to be a leader of the Pilgrims on their journey. Bradford experienced great loss well into his adult life, as he and his wife, Dorothy, decided that it would be best to leave their three year old son in Holland because the trip across the Atlantic was too dangerous for the child. By doing this, "Bradford was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son" (Philbrick 23) but it was the proper decision to make since the harsh conditions of the Mayflower expedition would've probably taken the boy's life. Despite this, Bradford became one of the leaders of the group, as he explored much of Cape Cod in one of the Mayflower's shallops. However, emotional trauma never seemed to escape Bradford, as his wife died when she accidentally fell off the side of the Mayflower. Even though this devastated Bradford and he was often distraught with grief, he never stopped working to improve relations with neighboring native tribes and the Plymouth colony itself. Besides his government work, he was an exceptional writer, producing an accurate account of the Plymouth colony with his book "Of Plymouth Plantation." Despite his persona hardships, Bradford served as governor of Plymouth colony several times and lived for nearly forty years after the initial landing at Plymouth Harbor. His death in 1657 "was lamented by all the colonies of New England," (Philbrick 189) and he was remembered as a "father to them all" (Philbrick 189). Bradford demonstrates how one can overcome scarring personal hardships and become a hero and mentor to all through good-natured actions and words.
William Bradford's tenacity and perseverance through difficult times continued to amaze me throughout Philbrick's chronicle of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford had an unimaginably dark childhood that was filled with loss, as he "had lost almost everyone he had ever loved" (Philbrick 10) by the time he was 12 years old. Bradford also became immersed in Puritan theology at a young age, so he was a prime candidate to be a leader of the Pilgrims on their journey. Bradford experienced great loss well into his adult life, as he and his wife, Dorothy, decided that it would be best to leave their three year old son in Holland because the trip across the Atlantic was too dangerous for the child. By doing this, "Bradford was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son" (Philbrick 23) but it was the proper decision to make since the harsh conditions of the Mayflower expedition would've probably taken the boy's life. Despite this, Bradford became one of the leaders of the group, as he explored much of Cape Cod in one of the Mayflower's shallops. However, emotional trauma never seemed to escape Bradford, as his wife died when she accidentally fell off the side of the Mayflower. Even though this devastated Bradford and he was often distraught with grief, he never stopped working to improve relations with neighboring native tribes and the Plymouth colony itself. Besides his government work, he was an exceptional writer, producing an accurate account of the Plymouth colony with his book "Of Plymouth Plantation." Despite his persona hardships, Bradford served as governor of Plymouth colony several times and lived for nearly forty years after the initial landing at Plymouth Harbor. His death in 1657 "was lamented by all the colonies of New England," (Philbrick 189) and he was remembered as a "father to them all" (Philbrick 189). Bradford demonstrates how one can overcome scarring personal hardships and become a hero and mentor to all through good-natured actions and words.
Of all the characters in Nathaniel Philbrick’s "Mayflower", Massasoit, came out to be a character that I admired the most. Tradition is a transmission of customs and beliefs passed down from generation to generation, and many sachems try to do their best to follow the past and do what their old leaders had once done, which was always to kill the newcomers. However, with Massasoit, this was not the case. He went above and beyond to create a lasting relationship between his people, and the pilgrims. In the past, and even in the present, natives, and newcomers had not always had peaceful talks. Before even trying messengers, and interpreters to even begin peace talks, many explicitly went for raids to obtain enemy goods and supplies. Massasoit is a true leader as he tried to create a relationship. It would not surprise me if many of his people disagreed with the possible alliance with Englanders, because of their war-filled path. As it became obvious that Massasoit and the Pokanokets were spying on the pilgrims, Massasoit had the power to easily attack, and raid the pilgrim’s settlement. He was however, smart enough to realize that allies are more important than enemies. With their newfound alliance, they came up with many agreements, such as, "If any did unjustly war against him, we would aid him; if any did war against us, he should aid us" (Philbrick 99). This term is seen in modern times, as well as in World War 2, where one would rally behind an ally after someone wages war against them. Massasoit is an admirable sachem because of his wise, intelligent decisions. In desperate times, he chose peace, instead of destructive war, which would open the beginning to a new chapter.
In Nathaniel Philbrick’s, Mayflower I came to respect the sachem of Pokanoket tribe, Massasoit. I found that the civility Massasoit had toward the Pilgrims was astounding. Most sachems would have viewed the foreigners as intruders and attacked. Massasoit however waited to find out about the intensions of the Pilgrims before he set a course of action. I also respected how Massasoit tactfully used the Pilgrims as a way to make himself the head sachem of the region once again, but he did it in a way that benefitted the Pilgrims as well. My admiration toward Massasoit reached its peak when he was extremely ill and thought to be on his deathbed; his main focus was still on his people instead of himself. So much so that when a possible cure arose he was more concerned about his people being healed rather than himself. Also even though it is just speculation, the conspiracy of Massasoit poisoning Squanto makes me like him even more. It shows just how powerful Massasoit was and how he was not going to let someone betray him and escape the consequences. Throughout the Mayflower, Massasoit acted in ways that gained my respect for him as both a leader and a person.
While reading “Mayflower” by Nathaniel Philbrick, I had mixed emotions towards one of the Native American leaders, Squanto. When he was first introduced, Squanto readily aided the Pilgrims when they were struggle to recover from the first winter that caused the death of half of the original population of the colony. Also, he was one of the few Native Americans that also spoke English, so he became an interpreter between the two groups for helping create alliances with others to trade for essentials they didn’t have. He also taught the Pilgrims new techniques to grow more vegetables than previously. Overall, because he was considered a large reason why the Pilgrims were able to flourish and communicate with other communities, trust was established. But I was disappointed and angry to learn the truth Squanto planned from the beginning to overthrow the Pokanokets’ supreme sat and become the next leader of Native Americans in New England. When the people of the Plymouth colony learned the truth, the citizens wanted him executed but Bradford didn’t want to lose his most valuable resource, so he lived. I was angry with his decision about Squanto because he could endanger the entire colony if he purposely translates something wrong to another tribe, and cause more conflict. In my opinion, Squanto is one of the most power Native Americans because he is able to manipulate both Natives and Pilgrims by gaining their trust and giving them false information.
After reading through the excessive battles and bloodshed of King Philip’s War, it’s hard to feel sorry for its instigator. But looking back at some of the conditions Philip was dealing with, and his more personal issues with the Pilgrims, gives me some reluctant sympathy towards the sachem. Philip had been left with both the successes and blunders of his father; he’d come into power long after the Pilgrims had land been in New England. So while Massasoit had the benefit of an upper hand and been able to manipulate the Puritans when they’d arrived, Philip had no such leverage. In reality, he was disadvantaged by the tricky Pilgrims, often out maneuvered in court. And financially, while Massasoit had been able to get away with selling his own homeland, Philip made the mistake of doing this on a more debilitating level, with not a lot of other options.
Philip was also dealing with the understandable resentment he felt over his brothers death, who had died in suspicious circumstances. Despite all this, it seems that Philip didn’t like the war he had been forced to start out of circumstance and desperation (in an effort to both live up to his father, and to appease his own men), later admitting to Quakers that “fighting was the worst way” (252). Overall, I agree with Mary Rowlandson’s assessment of Philip: though she acknowledged his personal kindnesses to her, she never suggests “that the sachem was unfairly portrayed by her fellow Puritans” (296). Philip may have been overwhelmed, and even upset, at the level of violence that broke out, but that doesn’t diminish part of the blame that can be pinned on him for the death toll.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed feelings of admiration towards Benjamin Church because of his kindness to everyone, including the Natives, his ability to put others before himself, and his intelligence. Benjamin Church was a thirty three year old carpenter who lived in Sakonnet. Sakonnet was the home to not only Church, but female sachem Awashonks and her people. Church was not intimidated to be the only Englishman living in Sakonnet, he was “quite content to be living among the heathen” (233). Awashonks trusted Church, and asked him to advise her about what she should do about King Philip's War since it seemed as though joining Philip would soon become inevitable. On his way to Plymouth to discuss with the governor what the Sakonnets should do, Church came across Weetamoo and told her to go to Aquidneck Island, a place where he thought she would be safest from Philip. This proves that Church’s kindness to the Natives was not just for personal gain as one could perceive his relationship with the Sakonnets because they live on land that he could potentially need. Church had nothing to gain by helping Weetamoo find safety, but he did it anyway. When the war rolled around, Church wanted to help his people and decided to become a soldier. In one of the first skirmishes of the war Church fought alongside Hammond, Belcher, and each of their troops. Belcher and Hammond were both wounded during the fight and while most fled for the garrison, Church went and saved both of these men, risking his life for the lives of others. Church thought “twas a shame to run and leave a wounded man there to become a prey to the barbarous enemy.” (240). During the Great Swamp Fight, Church was wounded and instead of accepting help from his troops, he urged them to continue on their mission as it was more important. Church knew that his troops could be hurt while helping him and he was well aware that they were running low on ammunition so he decided that completing the mission was necessary, once again putting his life second. From the beginning of the war, Church recommended to use the Native Americans who offered to fight alongside the English, as they know the lay of the land and they are familiar with Native warfare. His intelligent idea was too crazy for the rest of the Englishmen to handle at the time. It wasn’t until late into the war that the rest of the English decided it would be best to fight alongside the Natives if they were to have any chance of beating Philip and his men. These Natives led by Church are who ultimately won the war for the English. Without Church, the English would have never gained relations close enough with the Native Americans to allow them to fight together and it is quite possible that the results of King Philip’s War would have been much different.
As I was reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed an emotion towards Benjamin Church. His bravery, leadership skills, and intelligence proved to be essential in the war. He did not like to retreat and knew how to come out victorious in the most dangerous battles. One of the examples of his bravery and leadership skills is the Pease Field Fight. Church and his small band of soldiers should have been killed within minutes, but that was when his bravery came to play. “Church was confident that no matter how bad it looked now, “not a hair of their head[s] should fall to the ground” if they continued to be “patient, courageous, and prudently sparing their ammunition.” It was a soldier’s version of predestination: God was in control, and he was on their side” (249). Being assured that God was on his side, Church believed the he and his people were meant to survive this battle. But Church wasn’t just brave soldier and a great military leader. He was also very clever. During the Great Swamp Fight, he realized that while attacking from one side, they shot their combatants. “Studying the wound, Church realized that the bullet had come from the upland side of the swamp and therefore must have come from an English musket. As soldiers pulled Gardner’s body from the fort, Church sent the word back to Winslow that English soldiers were being killed by their comrades behind them ”(273). That observation had a significant contribution to the victory. Courage, great leadership skills, and astuteness were the main characteristic of Benjamin Church that made me admire him.
One of the most influential characters in the entire novel in my opinion was Samoset the Native American of the Abenaki tribe and I feel very grateful to him. I felt that he was the most courageous of any one involved in the entire relationship built between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. His character resonated with me so much because he was the one who first established contact with the Pilgrims and that seems like it would be a very daunting task for an Indian with fairly primitive weapons to approach the completely unknown visitors who have guns and other much more powerful weapons. If Samoset had failed to make the first contact with the Pilgrims, the first time the two groups met could have been in battle and King Philip's war could have come a lot sooner. This would prevent the Native Americans from teaching the Pilgrims how to farm on this type of land and the Pilgrims may not have survived in the New World, and we might not even have been here today. The fact that Samoset had the courage to step up and make the first contact between the Native Americans and Pilgrims, and have that contact be peaceful is the reason I feel deep gratitude toward Samoset.
A character that I have come to admire is Squanto. He was like the buffer between the pilgrims and the indians and without him, the two side may have never communicated and lived in fear of each other. Like Clara, i admire the fact that, even though he was a born and raised indian, he still chose to help the pilgrims out. Though he could have sabotaged the pilgrims by mis-translating the conversations between the two groups, he never did. When Squanto returned to his tribe after being sold into slavery, escaping, and living with monks for a few years, he came back to find his entire tribe dead from smallpox. He didn’t let this or anything else that had happened previously in his life drag him down. He went on to help the settlers of the new world learn the lay of the land and how to utilize what nature gave them. What some may consider unfortunate, later on in life, he used some of his newly gained power to threaten Massasoit into making a quick decision with fear of the plague. As cowardice as this may seem, it appears to be quite intelligent. With all the power he now held in the palm of his hand, the only time he really abused it was to get things moving a bit quicker. In my opinion, he did much more right than he did wrong and he remained one of the most important and imperative people to the pilgrims. The necessity of Squanto to the pilgrims was evident when one of Massasoit’s men brought news to the pilgrims that Squanto was captured and killed by one of Corbitant’s warriors. William Bradford immediately took action with strength and brutality. Though it had turned out that Squato was not dead, this gave the pilgrims a newfound respect from the indians. This series of actions showed how Squanto had become such a fundamental person to the pilgrims that they were willing to raid an entire indian tribe in the middle of the night just to seek vengeance. All in all, though Squanto wasn’t perfect, he made a considerable difference in the pilgrims lives and did what he could to help them out. He was a man who meant no evil and sought only to help out his new people, the pilgrims.
In the beginning Massasoit went out of his way to help the English settlers. If he hadn't helped them they would have been another failed attempted settlement in the New World. He extended his arm, let his people show the settlers how to grow crops in the land, and protected them from other Native American groups. In the end I developed deep sympathy towards him. He did all these kind acts for the settlers in hope that these two different people from different backgrounds could coexist. He worked his whole life on that goal but in the end his people ended up losing and being betrayed. He eventually took over another smaller Native American group and watched the collapse from a distance. He watched the clashes of the younger generations new leaders take power and let greed and ambition get in the way of the relationship established by their elders.
While reading Mayflower, I found myself admiring and sympathizing with William Bradford. At the age of twelve, “he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (7). The burden of these losses would weigh heavy on anyone, but at his young age I wouldn’t be surprised if his illness was tied to the strain of losing everyone. He was then struck by the “mysterious ailment” (7) after moving in with his uncles, and since his family was full of “prosperous, land-rooted farmers” (7), the illness prevented him from being the same. Despite the misfortune of being sick, his incapability’s allowed him to read. Like most individuals, Bradford flocked to the Bible “for consolation and guidance” (7). He soon found himself amongst others with the same forbidden beliefs and decided to flee to a new land. One thing that intrigued me about Bradford is his intellect. Obviously it was a different time and the Bible was popular for everyone to read back then, but for a young boy to read a book about “the Protestants martyred by Queen Elizabeth’s Catholic predecessor on the throne…” (8) is impressive. Not only to read it, but for the book to have a lasting influence on Bradford, further solidifying his beliefs, is notable. Also the fact that despite being the age when all you want to do it fit in, Bradford didn’t conform to everyone else’s beliefs but instead formed his own. When it came time to start the journey to the New World, Bradford and his wife Dorothy had to leave their son behind. Not only was this emotionally draining on his wife, but also Bradford leaving his child alone in Holland “was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son” (23). Later we find out that both his wife and son had drowned falling off of the Mayflower. Although I felt much sympathy for Bradford during the book, I admired him for keeping confident and poised throughout his tough times. He never let his sorrows or emotions influence his decisions when it came to governing. There is a quote that reads, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I think this describes William Bradford perfectly. I also admire that he never betrayed his faith, and like the Pilgrims as a whole, I think religion drove him to accomplish as much as he did.
Somebody that I felt somewhat of a connection to while reading Mayflower was William Bradford. As many have stated, William Bradford had the grim fortune of suffering many losses in his life, as the book states "by the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). The losses and the sickness that ailed him would have been a disastrous obstacle for most, but faith was the constant in Bradford's life. Faith was the factor that kept pushing him forward. The Bible guided him, and his faith grew strong enough that he made the trek to the New World just so he could practice his religion freely. One of the first to arrive at the Plymouth colony, he later became governor. From the very beginning Bradford took on a leadership role. For example he signed the Mayflower compact, became governor and drafted the legal code. In my opinion just deciding to travel to the New World with little idea about how the outcome would turn out, is a sign of leadership. I admired Bradford's actions because I am someone who likes to take charge, which Bradford does many times in this book. Summing up Bradford's leadership role within the colony is a quote that reads "If not for Bradford's steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony" (7).
From the beginning of Mayflower, I found Squanto to be one of the most interesting characters from the book. He got my attention because of the trust both the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets had in him. Squanto first learned English after being “abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614” (52) he returned to his homeland of Patuxet in 1619 with English explorer Thomas Dermer and repositioned himself with Massasoit and the Pokanokets. It wasn’t till 1621 that he saw an opportunity to use his knowledge of English and interact with the Pilgrims. Squanto began to persuade Massasoit into reaching out to the Pilgrims. As Squanto tried to convince Massasoit by “insisting that the worst thing he could do was attack the the Pilgrims” (96) and by explaining that if he “became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in the position to break the Narragansetts” (96) I became more invested in him and his motives. Philbrick explains that the “suggestion played on Massasoit’s worst fears” (96) because if he were to interact with the English he would need to take power out of his own hands and place it along with Squanto because of his ability to speak both tongues. As I read, Squanto became a character whom I was wondered whether or not to trust, just like Massasoit. I saw that “Squanto had named himself for the Indian spirt of darkness” (100) and felt it could hint at his true intentions or foreshadow a turn of events. The English seemed quick to accept Massasoit or rather Squanto's offering of friendship. This led to powwows between Governor Carver and the sachem as well as a recorded agreement of their alliance. But, of course these actions were done through the interpretation of Squanto. As Squanto was “becoming the one person in New England they could not live without” (100) I began to consider him as a loyal friend to the Pilgrims. He helped the Pilgrims advance as a community by making them feel safe and teaching them Indian agricultural techniques. Ultimately the trust they had in Squanto made them vulnerable to his control. Both groups became so reliant on him that he was able to blindly “plan to become the most powerful Indian in New England” (120).
As I read, Squanto’s capability to play with people’s trust is what drew me to to him. He interestingly appears to friendly but then deceivingly takes advantage of vulnerability and plans his rise to the top. Constantly questioning his intentions, I admired his cunningness but felt sad to find out he wasn’t the helpful native that many Pilgrims made him out to be.
While reading Philbrick’s Mayflower I felt pity for William Bradford. Bradford had great loss within his life and I felt for him. “ Bradford had experienced more than his share of dislocation and loss. By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother and sister, but also his grandfather who raised him… he was struck by a mysterious ailment that prevented him from working in the fields.” (7) After reading this my focus was drawn towards this sad boys life, wondering what sadness was to come. However, he became so much more than this sad little boy. He grew to be a leader. Although Bradford suffered incredible loss, he ultimately gained from this, for example, his loneliness won him the governorship, “ But as governor, he inevitably came to know the loneliness of being Plymouth's ultimate decision maker.”(103). With the position of power he gained as governor he unfortunately lost his happiness because he felt the emptiness of his personal life while in a position of power. “Had left his son in Holland and lost his wife in Provincetown Harbor” (103). Philbrick made me feel a strong sense of pity towards Bradford.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, the person I felt most strongly towards was William Bradford. Bradford’s account of the Plymouth settlement is considered one of the “greatest [books] written in seventeenth-century America”. (7) Throughout the book, Bradford is a prominent leader within the plantation, however his was a rise to power instead of being gifted it. He was born “in the tiny farming town of Austerfield, Yorkshire” (7) were adventure and creativity were lacking. Aside from living in a small town, he also struggled with the death of his nuclear family and having to struggle with extreme illness during his teens. Because of his traumatic childhood he turned to puritanism for consolation and guidance. This new-found relationship with God allowed him to survive incredible losses, even after the death of his wife. I admired his ability to remain composed and dignified throughout his time in the Plymouth Plantation, while still being fit for leadership. I had great sympathy and admiration for Bradford because he was able to put the welfare of the planation before his own health and sadness in a time of extreme struggle and turmoil.
In Nathaniel Philbrick’s book The Mayflower I felt for emotion for Benjamin Church. In the beginning of his story he is a cocky and reckless soldier, a example of this is at the Pease Field Fight. As he is fighting the Natives he realizes that the only option is to retreat, he mistakenly leaves his sword and hat behind. As Church and he men are leaving, he remembers his lost articles and decides to challenge the Native's bullets and goes back to retrieve his items. This showed how truly cocky and reckless he is at the beginning of the War. As he keeps battling in the war he recognises the Englishman's greatest strengths, other friendly Natives. He learns how to use the “friendly Indians” to his advantage since they know all of King Phillip’s army’s tricks, and the tricks they can use to their benefit. Through fighting with Natives by his side Church also becomes their advocate and their victories and against King Philip garner them respect in the public’s eye.
Church was also outspoken by other Colonial members in matters of strategy. An example of when he is outspoken, is at the Great Swamp Fight. At this battle Church is trying to get the men to not burn the Native’s wigwams, so they can have a place to stay for the night and also pillage their much needed food contained within them. Church is over ridden by his superior captain Samuel Moseley, who tells the soldiers to burn down the wigwams with people and food inside. By doing this the soldiers have to march back to the rest of the army through the freezing cold and on empty stomachs. Throughout The Mayflower Benjamin Church is the voice of reason and thought for the Colonial side.
In the novel Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I developed admiration for William Bradford. William Bradford was a devote separatist in Europe and it wasn't till he journeyed to the New World he felt truly religiously free. In order to be free he had to leave his son in Europe, a incredibly hard decision but one based on the dedication of his beliefs. After journeying to the New World on the Mayflower he was one of the men to sign and help create the hugely important Mayflower Contract. Then Bradford would soon become governor of the Plymouth colony between 1622 and 1656, a thirty one year term. He faced many challenges and played one of most important roles in making sure the Pilgrims would survive and continue growing the religiously liberated New World. With the help of Myles Standish’s military experience, Bradford and him were able to create a “military” to defend Plymouth from Indians. He also secured an alliance with the Indian tribe Pokanoket and their leader, and most powerful Indian at the time, Massasoit. The thing I admire most about William Bradford is not only his incredible courage and leadership that allowed the Pilgrims to survive and grow in the New World, but also his mindfulness to write down what was occurring in the beginnings of the New World. It allowed us to know a lot more about the time period. For example Nathaniel Philbrick used much of Bradford’s writing as sources for the Mayflower. The most important and substantial piece of William Bradford's literature was, Of Plymouth Plantation. I admire Bradford's ability to lead the Pilgrims in the New World. My cousin is also named after Bradford so I found it pretty cool to learn about him and how important and influential William Bradford truly was.
While reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a sense of pity for King Philip. The Pokanoket sachem seems to have been held accountable for the fourteen month bloody conflict that bears his name. However, I believe that when Philip launched the initial attack on Plymouth, he never intended to or expected to start such a widespread and long lasting war. Furthermore, Philip was in a position in which he felt as though he had no other choice. The pressure of the pilgrims was relentless and greedily growing. As of September of 1671, Plymouth officials demanded that Philip “turn over all his weapons,”(218) pay a large fine, and “pay the colony an annual tribute of five wolves’ heads,”(218). At this point, Philip realized that “if he was to survive as the sachem of the Pokanokets, he must now go to war”(218). So, considering the circumstances, I don’t feel as though Philip should be fully blamed or admonished for the actions that he took. Philip wasn’t simply bloodthirsty; he acted in a way that he thought would best protect the freedom of his people. However, as other colonists and tribes got involved and took sides, what was one attack turned into an ongoing and deadly divide. As the fighting perpetuated, Philip became overwhelmed by what I believe he unintentionally started. In fact, the sachem was “not the mastermind behind a coordinated plan of Native attack,” (264). Philip was not documented as present at a single battle in the fall of 1675. Instead he was hiding out near the Massachusetts-Vermont border, away from the main conflict. Yet, overall, the young sachem was blamed for and viewed as the driving force of the war. For this reason, I feel a bit of pity for Philip and how many people misconstrued him to be purely villainous, when in truth he wanted to preserve the independence of the Pokanokets.
Thomas Morton was a unique character whose beliefs differed from The Pilgrims, causing him to be a character that stood out to me. Different from the Pilgrims, Morton was an Anglican who spent his Sunday’s hunting with his falcon rather than in prayer. He lived most of his life in the wilderness, rather than devoting his life to God; “God was not to be taken overly seriously” (163). Morton made strong ties with the Indians, and with them he mocked the Pilgrims and their exclusivity at the Plymouth Settlement. He created a new settlement called “Merrymount” and erected an eighty-foot high maypole there, a pagan symbol. “Morton represented everything the Pilgrims had come to escape” (163). The Pilgrim’s sent Standish to capture Morton, and after the way he was treated he “began to question who were now the true savages of the land” (164). Morton was an appealing character because he was humane towards the Indians. He created relations with them through trade, rather than expecting dominance. “He happily thumbed his nose at authority” and had bold behaviors. He did what he wanted even if it bothered the Pilgrims. He wrote ribald verses, shared drinks with the Indians, and mocked the Pilgrims. He was emotionally appealing because he had a different outlook on life than the Pilgrims, making him an unusual character.
While reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a sense of pity for King Philip. The Pokanoket sachem seems to have been held accountable for the fourteen month bloody conflict that bears his name. However, I believe that when Philip launched the initial attack on Plymouth, he never intended to or expected to start such a widespread and long lasting war. Furthermore, Philip was in a position in which he felt as though he had no other choice. The pressure of the pilgrims was relentless and greedily growing. As of September of 1671, Plymouth officials demanded that Philip “turn over all his weapons,”(218) pay a large fine, and “pay the colony an annual tribute of five wolves’ heads,”(218). At this point, Philip realized that “if he was to survive as the sachem of the Pokanokets, he must now go to war”(218). So, considering the circumstances, I don’t feel as though Philip should be fully blamed or admonished for the actions that he took. Philip wasn’t simply bloodthirsty; he acted in a way that he thought would best protect the freedom of his people. However, as other colonists and tribes got involved and took sides, what was one attack turned into an ongoing and deadly divide. As the fighting perpetuated, Philip became overwhelmed by what I believe he unintentionally started. In fact, the sachem was “not the mastermind behind a coordinated plan of Native attack,” (264). Philip was not documented as present at a single battle in the fall of 1675. Instead he was hiding out near the Massachusetts-Vermont border, away from the main conflict. Yet, overall, the young sachem was blamed for and viewed as the driving force of the war. For this reason, I feel a bit of pity for Philip and how many people misconstrued him to be purely villainous, when in truth he wanted to preserve the independence of the Pokanokets.
While reading Mayflower, it was hard not to be drawn to William Bradford, a leader in many aspects of the Plymouth community. Bradford was by far the most devout Christian of all the characters in the novel, never losing sight of the true purpose of the voyage across the Atlantic: religious freedom. For most of his life, Bradford’s connection to God was all he had. He lost his whole family before he turned twelve, so he devoted himself to worship and built relationships through Christianity. He married and had a son with Dorothy May in 1613, but she fell off the Mayflower and drowned in 1620. Once again, Bradford’s family was taken from him, but he had little opportunity to mourn his wife because he had to help run the Plymouth settlement. Despite Bradford’s losses and misfortune, he stayed true to God and worked his hardest to do what was best for his people. What stands out most about William Bradford is that he did not change himself to fit his new surroundings; the man he was in Leiden was just as hardworking, determined, and dedicated to God as the man he became in the New World. Until the day he died, he sought to “create a tightly knit and godly community”, even when many citizens were growing farther from God. Throughout Mayflower I admired Bradford’s devotion to his congregation, his level-headedness during crises, and how he didn’t follow the rest of the community down a path of greed and entitlement. While I cannot relate to his religious zeal, I found myself inspired by Bradford and hoping some of his strong character would rub off on me.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed an admiration for William Bradford. This man had dealt with a lot of sorrow and loss during his life, “by the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him.” (7) As a seventeen year old, he had uprooted himself and moved to Holland with the only people he had connections with; the Separatists. Following the only people he knew and trusted, he also came to the new world. I really admire Bradford for being a strong leader and never faltering in his beliefs in G-d. I admire very much his ability to stay strong after experiencing so much loss. Even after he lost his wife, he still believed that “every occurrence meant something.”(77) so he remained strong. Bradford continued to lead the pilgrims even through the harsh winters and the confusing interactions with the Natives. I admire that Bradford saved his translator Squanto even though Bradford “acknowledg[ed] that Squanto deserved to die, Bradford stubbornly insisted that his interpreter was vital to the welfare of the plantation.” (134) I admire Bradford because he was a strong and fair leader and didn’t falter even through the many losses he experienced.
A character that I grew surprisingly fond of was Massasoit. At the time that the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, the relationship between the Native Americans and the Europeans was one of violence and distrust. However, Massasoit changed that by going to the Pilgrims and establishing an agreement with them that contained principles such as “if any did unjustly war against [the Native Americans], [the Pilgrims] would aid [them]; if any did war against” (99) the Pilgrims, then Massasoit should aid them. I admired Massasoit’s courage to face people that could potentially be his enemy and them into allies that could help him in the future. In fact, throughout Massasoit’s life the two groups experienced a mutually beneficial relationship where the Natives knowledge and guidance was exchanged for the Pilgrims aid in battle. As much as I admired Massasoit’s wisdom to form an alliance I was disappointed to see that he did not pass on that same insight to his son. When more English settlers began to flood New England, a lot of the Native’s land was taken from them. Instead of trying to comprise a new agreement with the English, he gathered Native Americans to start an uprising and eventually led to a very bloody war.
While reading “Mayflower” by Nathaniel Philbrick, I was most surprised by Squanto’s character. When learning about Squanto in elementary school, I always thought he was he brave and noble man who was able to escape capture twice and reconnect with his people after believing they were all destroyed by disease. However, after reading “Mayflower”, I realized that Squanto’s past did not make him stronger, but only made him bitter for revenge and thirsty for power that he was always stripped of. At first, I admired Squanto. He was able to communicate in both English and his native tongue and aided the Pilgrims by teaching them methods to help them survive on the new land, and by setting up an agreement between Massasoit and the Pilgrims. However, Squaanto had more ambitious ideas than to simply help the Pilgrims. By being an English speaking Native, bringing the Pilgrims food and establishing trade partners for them, Squanto soon made himself “the one person in New England they could not live without” (100). Also, by being one of the only people able to communicate the Pilgrims “true motives” to other Native Americans to gain their trust. He began to manipulate other tribes and have them believe that “the Pilgrims…possessed the plague, and they were able to unleash it at will” (133). By gaining both the Pilgrims and Natives trust, Squanto was able to control people in a way I never knew he was capable of. Although I admire Squanto’s ambition, I will never think of him in the same light again.
As I read through part four of Mayflower, I found that I pitied and supported Phillip and his cause far more than I did the English. Despite the fact that he ‘started’ the war, I believe he was forced into it and had no other way to turn. The true aggressors were the ones who took all his people’s lands and left them destitute and unable to feed themselves, ultimately forcing them to war. As Annawon, Phillip’s chief warrior, said: “[he] blamed the outbreak of hostilities on two factors: the duplicity of the Praying Indians, i.e., John Sassamon, and the impetuosity of the young warriors. He compared them to ‘sticks laid on a heap, till by the multitude of them a great fire came to be kindled’” (343). Phillip had actually made every effort to avoid war up until he believed he could no longer restrain his warriors. As one witness recounted, “there were hundreds of warriors, their faces painted, their hair, ‘trimmed up in a comb fashion … with their powder horns and shot bags at their backs,’ and with muskets in their hands. They danced to the beat of drums, the sweat pouring from their already greased bodies, and with each day, the call for action grew fiercer. Phillip knew he could not hold them back much longer” (229). Even once the war had begun, Phillip’s cause was still just, in attempting to create a Pan-Indian fighting force to reclaim their lost lands and drive the English from their continent. Unfortunately, divisions between the Indians prevented such a thing from coming together until it was too late, and only after much of their populations had been wiped out did all of the Indian tribes finally band together as Phillip had dreamed.
There were many characters in this book that evoked emotion in me, but "Mayflower" made me develop a real admiration towards Massasoit. The Pokanoket sachem dealt with a major change in the area in a very responsible way. I was amazed at how instead of violently attacking the Pilgrims for encroaching on his space he put his frustration aside to create an important alliance with the Pilgrims. Often times Native Americans are perceived as mere roadblocks to the colonization of the New World, but Massasoit and the Pokanokets were vital to the prolonged success of the Pilgrims in Plymouth. Other sachems in the area were not as understanding as Massasoit as their first thought was violence, but Massasoit used his intelligence to realize that becoming allies with the Pilgrims would be most beneficial to the natives. I really admired how Massasoit earned the trust and help from the settlers. When Massasoit was struggling with disease he knew he could count on Winslow to nurse him back to help. Similarly, Massasoit and the Pokanokets helped the Pilgrims when they were in danger of being attacked by another tribe. Massasoit's willingness to become allies with the Pilgrims and his support made me develop an admiration towards him rather than someone else in this book.
While reading Nathaniel Philbrick's the Mayflower, I developed an admiration towards Benjamin Church. During King Philip's war, there were many military leaders who wanted to burn everything that belonged to the natives whether it was dangerous or not. One of these ruthless leaders was Captain Moseley, to whom "the idea of sleeping in a wigwam and eating the Indian's food was abhorrent."(277) Church was more reasonable with the notion of using Indian resources because he knew that doing so would make his men stronger and more equipped to fight off later attacks. Unfortunately for the time being, Church was ignored and Moseley burned the fort. Later along however, once Church gained more power and influence, he was able to change the tides of the war by doing what no other Englishman thought possible. Most Englishmen were appalled by the idea of working with friendly Indians, but Church was able to change most of their minds. After spending some time with his family, Benjamin Church returned to the fight, but “Church had his own ideas about how to fight the war. He must find an army of his own.”(312) Church was aware of the Englishman's disadvantage in the fight; they were not willing to work with the Natives against Philip. What is admirable about Church is that he knew what needed to be done and he did it, starting by recruiting Awashonks. After one Native group joined the English, many more followed which allowed more battles to be won and thus more Englishmen were keen to seeking out Native alliances. In the end Church was the man to lead the final attack on King Philip in which Philip was killed, allowing the war to finally come to an end (besides the few clean up raids Church had to take care of). Overall, Benjamin Church was the most admirable character in the Mayflower because he was able to see what was needed to be done despite what most others thought, and execute it perfectly.
Benjamin Church, I respect his actions because he is enlightened and conducts his military campaign very intelligently. Unlike most other Pilgrim military leaders, Church had Native Americans under his direct control. Church had an edge over other Puritan forces because the Native warriors knew the land just as well as King Philip, a prominent enemy at the time, thus making Church’s army to be more effective in terms of movement and tracking enemies. Church himself “was quickly learning how to use the Indians’ own tactics of concealment and surprise against them” (247), and the ambushes the Native Americans used would inflict the most damage out of any engagement. Also, his army selection could not have been better because he needed to seek and destroy King Philip who caused the King Philip's War. Other than military success, he also disliked racial bias and slavery of Native Americans. When some Native American prisoners were sold off to slavery, Church scorned the slave traders. Church is a respectable character in “The Mayflower” because he went to higher levels of performance to protect and serve his Pilgrim community and he had an enlightened mind for his time.
A particular character that caught my attention within the first 50 pages of the novel is John Carver. As the Pilgrims near the end of their journey to the new world, they face the daunting task of naming a new leader. Carver was noticed to play “a central role in organizing the voyage”(42), making him a strong candidate for governor. He had devoted large sums of his personal wealth to fund the Leideners’ congregation and voyage to America. I admire his emotional intelligence as the book progresses and his decision to embark on this intimidating expedition. The election of a governor would ultimately lead to the wellbeing or downfall of the Pilgrims’ settlement, causing voters to chose a candidate wisely. According to one account, Carver is described as “a gentlemen of singular piety, rare humility, and great condescendency”(42). After careful thought and discussion, Carver is chosen as governor not only for a temporary period, but also for the duration of a year’s time. The Pilgrims “chose or rather confirmed, Mr. John Carver (a man godly and well approved amongst them) their governor for that year”(43). His leadership skills and selfless acts are reputable and should be practiced through the generations of leaders to come. Later on, Carver’s death stands for the loss of “ the man whose judgment and counsel it had come to depend”(102). Carver is admirable for his contributions and guidance of the Pilgrims’ settlement, which started them off on the right foot.
ReplyDeleteLike Olivia, I was greatly drawn to John Carver and grew very fond of his character. Carver was a quintessential asset in the preparations of the voyage, as he not only "succeeded in securing a patent from the Virginia company" (19) and "[secured] supplies and provisions" (22) along with Robert Cushman, but also devoted an ample amount of his own time and money into the voyage. Furthermore, as the Pilgrims neared the new world, they were in desperate need of a new governor. Carver, recognized as "a gentlemen of singular piety, rare humility, and great condescendency” (42), was the obvious choice for the Pilgrims and was elected as governor for the following year. John Carver was a strategic and trustworthy leader throughout his career, beginning when he "provided Standish with 'cautions, directions, and instructions'" (57) when the Mayflower first landed and continuing as he "[wished] to speak and trade with [Massasoit] and hoped to establish a formal peace" (98). The Pilgrims admired and respected Carver all the way until his unfortunate death in a coma, when they "laid their governor to rest with as much pomp and circumstance as they could muster" (102).
DeleteThroughout Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I found that I felt sympathy and admiration for William Bradford. During Bradford’s journey, there were many moments where his unfortunate experiences caused me to feel sympathy for him. Firstly, I sympathized with Bradford because of the family members he lost while in America. Upon losing his wife of seven years, Bradford wrote a poem reflecting his emotions that includes the lines “For, whom he loves he doth chastise,/ And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). Although Bradford was a resilient, strong, and faithful leader, these lines show the heavy grievances he felt upon losing his wife and how he hoped to move past her death and continue to be a strong leader. I also sympathized with Bradford when the unity of the Plymouth colony began to crumble during the end of his time as governor. During what he considered to be a troubling time for Plymouth, Bradford wrote “...it is now part of my misery in old age, to find and feel the decay, and… with grief and sorrow of heart to lament and bewail the same”(187). This caused me to feel sympathy and pity towards Bradford because, despite Bradford’s tenacity towards making a holy colony, he understood the decay of religious devotion in the community.
ReplyDeleteI also felt admiration and appreciation for Bradford because of his strong decisions as a ruler and dedication to his cause. Bradford made many positive contributions to his community including strengthening Colonist-Native relations. For example, it was Bradford who “determined [the Puritans] should send a delegation to visit ‘their new friend Massasoit’”(104). It was this decision to explicitly express peace and friendship with the Natives that led to the first Thanksgiving, reflecting Bradford’s wise decision making and strong leadership. I also admired Bradford for his commitment to his beliefs, especially in creating an ideal holy colony. In the history of Plymouth Bradford recorded in his final days, he wrote “And though I cannot attain to much herein, yet I am refreshed, to have seen some glimpse hereof”(189). I admire that despite knowing his colony never achieved the spiritual purity he originally sought, Bradford still held hope for himself and his colony in Heaven. It is for these reasons that I developed feelings of sympathy and admiration for William Bradford.
While reading Mayflower, I grew to admire Benjamin Church. In terms of social tolerance, Church was respectful and unprejudiced; for example, where the original Pilgrims “had done their best to separate themselves from the wilderness and the ungodly,” Church purposefully built strong relationships with both (233). Church put effort into befriending the neighboring Sakonnet Indians and their leader, Awashonks, so that he was eventually held in “great esteem among them.” (233) Church also had positive interactions with the Baptists and Quakers of Aquidneck Island, despite the fact that “proper Puritans” avoided socializing with such “ungodly” people (234). The sense of superiority that was common among the Pilgrims and Puritans did not seem to affect the way Church treated others. I was also impressed with Benjamin Church when I learned that he believed that selling Indian captives as slaves was “a shocking abomination of justice.” (253) Many English settlers supported the Indian slave trade because they wanted to get rid of native enemies, while others believed that slavery was a merciful alternative to execution; Church was not so ignorant. Lastly, I admire how Church was compassionate when it came to recognizing the true victims of the King Philip’s War. Church believed that the only Indians that deserved to die were King Philip and his warriors, because they were the ones who had started the conflict. All of the other tribes of the region, even those who eventually joined King Philip, “had been pushed to become King Philip’s allies through the... arrogance... of the English,” and thus they “should be... treated with compassion.” (321) Despite all of this, Church, like many others during the war, killed Indians and sold captives into slavery. He was “no paragon of virtue,” nor was he without flaws (253). Keeping all of this in mind, Church still stood out as an ethical and compassionate man in contrast to the cruelty of other Englishmen during this time. I admire his ability to overlook the popular prejudices of his people, and his sympathetic views concerning the victims of the war.
ReplyDeleteInitially, I developed a similar sense of admiration towards Benjamin Church while reading, especially when he was first introduced as the self-made wilderness man with a unique compassion towards the Natives. However, as you mentioned, Church was no saint, and while Philbrick emphasized Church’s virtue, by the end of Mayflower I personally found that Church’s biggest contribution was his relative virtue. At a time when warfare was rife in New England, Church seemed to be the antithesis to the colonists’ rigidity and cruelty, preferring persuasion over execution or slavery and adopting a do-it-yourself attitude, especially in military circumstances. Though he was indisputably more forgiving and accepting of the Natives than many of the English were, Church’s virtue did not seem to extend to his fellow colonists, who he treated with a distinct contempt made visible in his disregard for the law and direct challenges to authority. There were many occasions throughout King Philip’s War and the following decades where Church directly defied orders from this superiors, including the Plymouth magistrates, governors, and various military officers; he also refused to listen to the advice of his relatives and close friends, especially on personal matters. These instances of defiance could have been costly for Church and any men under his command; for example, in August of 1676 Church decided to visit his wife Alice in Rhode Island without official permission despite the fact that Philip and his forces remained at large, and if not for the coincidence that Philip happened to be residing nearby, the war may not have reached its conclusion for some time yet. In light of this disregard for order and disdain for authority, I think Church did possess the superiority typical of the Pilgrims at the time, simply directed at his compatriots rather than the Natives, and as such his virtue was glorified throughout Mayflower.
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ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel the Mayflower, that character made the biggest impact on me was Squanto. The fact that he knew English as well as the Native American’s indigenous languages gave him power over both sides. It amazed me how much power this gave him and how he used it to manipulate others. Even though both the English and the Native Americans knew Squanto “played his own game” (53) they chose to trust his interpretations. Squanto could have deliberately translated entire conversations wrong in order to achieve his desired outcome. This is shown when the pilgrims went to visit Massasoit. Winslow stated that they wanted to trade with the Native Americans and establish a formal peace agreement. However Winslow believed that Squanto “did not well express it.”(98) Squanto wanted Massasoit to make a quick and decisive agreement with the English. To ensure this would happen, he claimed that the English kept the plague in barrels buried under their storehouse, when in fact they contained gunpowder. Massasoit began to “shake with trepidation” (98) and the pilgrims and Pokanokets quickly recorded an agreement. Later Squanto broke the terms of this agreement, and was supposed to be delivered to the Pokanokets to be executed. However Bradford refused to give up his interpreter. Massasoit could have retaliated against the pilgrims for breaking their agreement. Bradford risked the entire colonies safety order to keep Squanto alive. The fact that Squanto could interpret Bradford’s conversations gave him the power and is what saved his life. Squanto was also an opportunist. All of his actions were calculated and with the sole purpose of becoming “the most powerful Indian leader in New England.” (120) Squanto wanted to overthrow Massasoit. He had been conducting a “covert psychological warfare”(133) on Native American villages. He claimed that the pilgrims possessed the plague and he would be able to convince them not to release it if the villages sent him “sufficient tribute.” (133) Squanto hoped this would cause the pilgrims to attack Massasoit and in the chaos he would emerge as the most powerful leader. This proves Squanto’s egotism that he would betray both sides and launch them into a war all in the name of power. I am awed at how Squanto could manipulate large groups of people, a power given to him by his ability to communicate with both the English and the Native Americans
Throughout Mayflower, my feelings toward Squanto changed drastically. Initially, his character seemed that of loyalty and assistance, until his underlying desires of honorable power were eventually revealed. It is surprising that any reader (myself included) could be astonished by the way Squanto would try to become more powerful. Before the expedition of the Pilgrims, on his trip along the coast with the English explorer Thomas Dermer, Squanto laid witness to many Indian plantations, “not long since populous, now utterly void” (52). He began to have “similar, if not greater ambitions” (53) to Epenow, another captive of the English who had become a sachem, or Indian leader. Before more Englishmen had come to America, Epenow “distrusted Squanto” (54) because by knowing English, Squanto could “possess a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54) over the other Indians.
DeleteSimilar to both the Pilgrims and Indians of nearby Plymouth, I began to forget about Squanto’s want for sabotage as he began to take a more prominent role in making better relationships between both groups. Squanto, “the only one fluent in both English and Massachusett”(96), was cautiously chosen by Massasoit to be an interpreter, and while staying with the starving English settlers, brought back many eels from the ocean. Through this deed, he “was on his way to becoming the one person in New England they could not live without” (100). “Thanks to Squanto” (102), the Pilgrims were able to succeed in cultivating their own crops, and he would also “go from village to village to establish trading relations for the Pilgrims” (110). As the English unknowingly became “controlled” (120) by Squanto, they were blind to the fact that “he had been meeting secretly with Indians throughout the region” (130) according to Hobbamock’s claims, and he had been gaining supporters by convincing them that the Pilgrims had plague and would “unleash it at will” (133). I do respect Squanto’s cunning and determination “to resuscitate his and his family’s fortunes” (133) by gaining more honor, but unlike William Bradford, who had “bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way” with the Native American, when I learned of his true intentions, my admiration had turned to that of hatred.
Towards the end of Mayflower, I developed a disapproval of King Philip. He played a large part in starting the King Philip’s war but once it began, he participated very little in the fighting. Philip quickly became a mythical figure among the English and a hated figure among the Native Americans. It was later learned that he spent most of the summer and fall of 1675 “holed up near the Massachusetts-Vermont state border(231)” rather than fighting or planning coordinated attacks. Towards the end of the war, Philip’s cowardice increased. As the English hunted him he ran away, leaving some of his closest followers to be killed by the English. This cowardice led to my disapproval of Philip.
ReplyDeletePhilip became hated even among allied Native American tribes due to his lack of activity in the war and for beginning “a war with the English that had brought great trouble upon them(231).” He was one of the main aggressors in a war that negatively affected all of the tribes in the region. Philip forced or convinced nearly all of the local sachems to fight for him in the war and even tribes that managed to remain neutral suffered due to the English’s belief that all Native Americans were enemies. The widespread involvement of the local tribes caused many thousands of Native Americans to be killed or sold into slavery. Philip’s role in starting a war that he had little to no positive involvement in and in causing the death of thousands of Native Americans by drawing their tribes into the war caused me to develop a strong disapproval of him.
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ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, Benjamin Church was a character whose intelligence in battle and compassion towards the Native Americans I admired. He successfully developed peaceful relations with his own men and also created a sense of community among the Native Americans. Church didn't let his English ego overshadow his views of the Native Americans, and instead was one of the only ones who believed that there was something to be learned from them. He knew that adopting the battle tactics of the Native Americans would be essential for him to succeed, and so he did. Church was a strategist. His ability to plan and take advice from others was ultimately his greatest asset. Church served in several swamp battles where he once was attacked by several hundred Native Americans. He convinced his men to stand behind him and was pleased at how they “bravely and wonderfully defended themselves” (248). Philbrick writes that Benjamin Church was “prideful and more than a little cavalier with the lives of his men, but he was winning the war” (325). I appreciate that Church chose to trust his own instincts in battle while also maintaining positive relations with some of the Native Americans. He was not only a leader in battle, but he was also a humanitarian. Church chose to live in the outskirts of the colony near the settlements of the Native American tribes and “was one of the first New Englanders to embrace the wilderness his forefathers had shunned” (357). Church opposed the unfair treatment of the Native Americans and even tried to assure their safety on several occasions. During the Great Swamp Fight, he tried to save Native American women and children from inside the forts that the English had set on fire. Many of the Pilgrims felt a sense of superiority over the Native Americans, but Church looked at and treated them as equals. These Native Americans eventually sided with Church and fought alongside him during King Philip’s War. Throughout the novel Benjamin Church proved to be a noble leader and a compassionate man and it was these qualities that made me develop an admiration towards him.
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ReplyDeleteAs I read Mayflower, I developed a feeling of hatred towards the devout Christian, Captain Miles Standish. When the Mayflower arrived in Provincetown Harbor on November 11, 1620, a group of 16 men including William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins and Edward Tilley led by Standish rowed to land to investigate a feasible settlement site. Each man “was equipped with a musket, sword, and corselet, a light form of body armor that included a metal breastplate” (57). The men followed and traced a group of Indians’ footsteps and dug up their “ basket made of woven reeds filled with… four bushels of dried Indian corn” (61). Instead of leaving the Indians’ belongings alone, Standish and his men proceeded to steal other Native valuables from a graveyard: “Only the week before they’d decided it was wrong to violate the Indians’ graves; this time they could not help themselves”(67). In addition to these heinous acts, Miles Standish and his men looted unoccupied Native houses and took “some of the best things with them” (69). Without the leadership of Standish, many of the men would not have violated the Indians’ property, and put the Pilgrim and Indian relationship at risk. By the end of this chapter, I became angry at Standish because of his voracious behavior that put the entire colony at risk. Philbrick portrays Standish as imperious when pursuing the Indians in Eastham: “Some of the Pilgrims led no doubt by Standish, followed for about a quarter of a mile, then stopped to shoot off their muskets” (72).
ReplyDeleteMiles Standish continued to show his truculent self throughout the novel. After Squanto was captured by Corbitant from the village of Mattapoisett, Standish “Undoubtedly counseled Bradford to take immediate and forceful action” (114) and “Standish was to cut off his (Corbitant’s) head and bring it to Plymouth for public display” (114). I felt as though Standish was eager for war, and willing to put his men at risk. When word reached the Pilgrims that the Massachusetts planned to attack both Wessagussett and Plymouth, Standish invited Pecksuot and Wituwamat ( Massashusetts’ pneise and warrior) to dinner and “had begun stabbing him with his own weapon” (151-152). My disgust for Standish progressively increased each time he committed an immoral act towards the Native Americans. Philbrick describes the Captain’s actions as “killing Indians, not saving lives, appears to have been the captain’s chief priority at Wessagusett” (153), and a “terrifying whirlwind of violence” (153). After arriving at Plymouth as a “hero,” Standish put “Wituwamat’s head...on a pole on the fort’s roof” (153). Although Miles Standish was a brave leader who accomplished what he put his mind to, I found him to be the most brutal character. His constant need to fight even concerned William Bradford who was “normally careful to restrain his combative military officer” (149). Indeed, Standish showed the Indians the capability and strength of the English, but he also showed the hypocrisy they were capable of.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed sympathy towards William Bradford. Within just the first chapter, Philbrick describes the losses Bradford has gone through: “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (7). I admired the fact that Bradford remained a strong and intelligent leader after his wife’s death. Bradford believed that “God controlled what happened on earth. As a consequence, every occurrence meant something” (77). Even as he lost nearly everyone who was dear to him and suffered a harsh winter, he never blamed God and continued to move forward and lead the remaining Pilgrims. Also, Bradford’s relationship with Squanto surprised me. Although Squanto tried to turn the Pilgrims against Massasoit and it was Bradford’s duty to turn Squanto in to Massasoit for punishment, Bradford felt he was vital to the plantation’s success. Philbrick explains the relationship between Squanto and Bradford as: “The two seemed to have bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way, and Bradford was willing to risk the wrath of the supreme sachem of the Pokanokets if it meant keeping Squanto as his interpreter” (134). I admired the fact that Bradford constantly looked after his colony and always thought of what was best for the success of Plymouth. He felt Squanto was vital to their success and would rather face Massasoit and his followers than lose another relationship that was so important to him and the rest of Plymouth. Although I felt sorry for Bradford and the many losses he had to endure throughout his life, I mainly admired his ability to continue on for the welfare of Plymouth Colony.
ReplyDeleteLike Julia I formed an attachment to William Bradford from the beginning of the novel. He is a very strong character who must overcome many challenges and tragedies. Death followed Bradford for a long time, taking away much of his family, yet this did not stop him. He continued to lead the people at Plymouth and remained strong even after his wife died. Lesser men would have seen it as a sign and returned to Europe, where it would be easier to rebuild his life. Bradford did not turn away from his people, nor did he become lazy or depressed, he continued to work hard and help the Plymouth colony succeed. I found Bradford's perseverance and unwavering faith inspiring, and I hope if I were ever unfortunate enough to suffer the losses Bradford has suffered, I would face them with the same courage and strength he did.
DeleteI strongly agree with Reilly and Julia's opinions about William Bradford. His character caught my attention when I read that he had lost his entire family and yet he left everything he had left to help lead a group of people in an undiscovered new world. Without his leadership and strong persona, the Plymouth settlement would have failed. He made wise decisions for the colony and put concern for his people first. He never blamed anyone for his hardships and despite his unfortunate fates, he continued to strive for progress amongst his people and for himself. Bradford's achievements for guiding one of the first permanent settlements in America continue to be admirable today. Although he made mistakes, Bradford never let his flaws define him and for generations after him, people sought to have the same qualities that Bradford had. Bradford's seemingly endless mental strength is something I respect and admire greatly, which is why I felt a very strong emotional connection to this character.
DeleteWhen reflecting upon Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, the character that stood out the most to me was Massasoit. Based on this book, I can only marvel at how truly lucky the Pilgrims were to happen to land in the realm of the Pokanokets during Massasoit’s reign. Had the settlers been forced to deal with any other sachem during those first few years in America, the Mayflower’s story may have ended very quickly. Luckily, “Massasoit’s decision to offer them assistance had saved the Pilgrims’ lives in the short term” (119), and during that first brutally cold and hungry New England winter, the short term was all that mattered. Although rightfully suspicious of the English upon first hearing of their movements and intentions to settle, Massasoit met with the settlers and managed the astonishing feat of a fast friendship. Many sachems would not have extended the friendly hand that Massasoit did, in fact when Massasoit first extended his hand in friendship “many of Massasoit’s allies had yet to be convinced that the pilgrims were good for New England”(100), and had the Pilgrims landed in any of those hostile territories, their first few years would probably have consisted of many more casualties. Massasoit was very helpful to the Pilgrims in those early years, but the alliance did not end there. Throughout Massasoit’s life, the Pilgrims and Pokanokets supported and relied on one another in military conquests as well as with knowledge and trust. Although occasionally tested, this relationship, pioneered by Massasoit, did more than to just help both communities survive. It allowed them each to flourish with “the fearful power of the Pokanoket-Pilgrim alliance”(157).
ReplyDeleteI felt sympathy for Massasoit, as the leader of the Wampanoag people, who was able to broker peace among the various tribes while working with the Pilgrims to go exist peacefully for almost half a century. This is quite an accomplishment even in the early days of America. If I recall from my World Studies last year, look how many leaders have maintained peace among their people and neighbors for 50 years? Very few.
DeleteAs the English settlers grew and followed the Pilgrims into expanding their footprint within New England, this caused tensions to rise among Native Americans and the Europeans. I think Massasoit was a wise and fair leader, but was ill equipped to deal with the growth, inter-group interactions and ever increasing focus on material goods desired by the younger generation. Even Massasoit’s own son, Philip undermined his authority and drew people to his cause in harassing the English settlements and ultimately launching an all out assault that would eventually consume 8% of the Englishmen in Plymouth colony. I think this is an example of Massasoit being an effective leader for his time, but times change and you can’t stop ambitions, wants and progress by the people.
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ReplyDeleteAt the start of Mayflower, Philbrick explains how he will be following the story of William Bradford and Benjamin Church. This is because they recorded most of their experiences that they had in the New World. Towards the end of the novel, I developed a great reverence for Benjamin Church. This was due to his compatibility with the Natives and his determination. While reading, it was not hard to feel sympathy for the Natives as the mysterious Pilgrims begin to infiltrate their land. Church put himself apart from the others through the relationship he establishes with the Indians. Church, “Instead of being intimidated by the fact he was the only Englishman in Sakonnet… Church relished the chance to start from scratch” (233). From the start Church dauntlessly segregates himself from the other English, a daring move. Bravery isn’t the only admirable characteristic Church exhibits as he also shows his amity with the Natives. In a short amount of time Church has developed “...a good acquaintance…” (233) with the Natives in close proximity to him. Without the support of any other Englishman, Church constitutes positive relations amidst the Native community.
ReplyDeleteWhen at war with King Philip, catching him is no easy feat. Church and his comrades pursue him, facing the great hardships and disappointments that accompany it. At one point Church and his men are battling at a strong Narragansett fort when Church himself gets wounded. As Church had approached the fort “... he had been hit by three pieces of lead” (275). Church’s influence on his men is demonstrated clearly when, “His men rushed to his side and began to carry him out of the fort…” (275). Carrying on despite his own injury, Church faces the struggles of his men by their side and shows incredible perseverance. Church seeks out Philip with the help of the Sakonnets and actually sees him on a tree, described as “...a younger man with his hair cut short...” (326). The older Indian with Philip is shot, without knowing it’s Philip, the younger one, “...escapes back into the forest…” (326). Even though Church later “learned that the other Indian had been Philip himself” (326), Church continues to chase after him. In the end Philip is eventually caught, but it could not have been accomplished without the unwavering determination that Church possessed.
While reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I became intrigued with Squanto's character. Growing up we are taught that Squanto was the ideal "savior" for the Pilgrims and that he brought everyone together, which may be true in its own way; but he had a secret, power-hungry agenda from the beginning. When Squanto came across his old, plagued Indian plantation with English explorer Thomas Dermer "he began to see the catastrophic consequences of the plague as a potential opportunity" (53). Before recognizing and coping with the great loss of his home and family members "he may already have begun to think about reestablishing a community in Patuxet that was independent of Pokanoket control" (53). This began Squanto's thirst for power and he knew when the ignorant Pilgrims came to Plymouth he could manipulate them and grow in authority.
ReplyDeleteSquanto's knowledge of the English and Native languages could "posses a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage" (54) in taking over other native tribes. When Massasoit sent Squanto to make relations with the Pilgrims, both the Native Americans and English were putting a vulnerable situation in the hands of someone who might not be trusted. Winslow automatically picked up on Squanto's "true motives" when Governor Carver's ideas were expressed, he was "under the impression that Squanto "did not well express it," but enough of his meaning was apparently communicated to please Massasoit" (98). There were many more instances before Squanto died that made me second guess how helpful he really was. For example, at the same time as teaching the Pilgrims basically how to survive in the New World he used threats like, "The Pilgrims... possessed the plague, and they were about to unleash it at will" (133) to get other tribes to trust him but be fearful of the Pilgrims. I think the different facts verse myths that we hear of Squanto makes him such an interesting figure to try and understand.
After reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I have to admit that my response to this question is much different than I would have previously imagined. When I began reading the book I thought that I would relate to and identify with the pilgrims strongly. While I did begin to feel emotions like sympathy for William Bradford and admiration for John Carver and even Myles Standish, I became most enamored with the Indian translator, Sqaunto. He was a “‘tall straight man’... His hair was black, short in front abd long in back, and his face was hairless” (93). After learning of Squanto’s plight I immediately empathized with him. His journey was incredible. After being captured and sold in a foreign land Squanto came back to New England and escaped his holders. I felt a sense of joy over Squanto’s triumph in returning home. However, this was tempered again with the dramatic realization that his Puatux village had been decimated while he was in England. Because he knew English, Squanto became a translator between the Indians and the Pilgrims. His ability to communicate and bridge the gap could be considered a main reason why the Pilgrims made it in those first few years. Squanto not only was a mediator between Massasoit and the Englishmen but he also was their teacher. Without him the Pilgrims would have starved after that first winter. He taught them how to fish and plant the right crops in this foreign land. He was truly an unsung hero and for this I feel felt grateful. Squanto was a pivotal figure in our countries early development. He built the relationship between the Pilgrims and Massasoit that the foreigners could not have survived without. After reading this book I now understand that without him, and communication between the natives and settlers, English settlement in New England would be virtually impossible. Though later, “it became increasingly clear that Squanto had been laboring long and hard to to overthrow Massasoit” (133), we should be forever grateful for his work in forging a relationship between the Pilgrims and Indians that led to the permanent settlement of New England.
ReplyDeleteIn Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, “Squanto” immediately drew my attention. When first introduced to Squanto, who was formally named “Tisquantum”, he is an Indian guide accompanying Thomas Dermer back to the Plymouth settlement. Squanto's ability to communicate with both Native Americans and the English makes him a vital resource with huge importance to both sides. Learning this, and seeing Squanto try and help the Pilgrims survive and flourish in the new land made me respect him. Being able to communicate with both cultures holds a huge gain in itself. Those individuals, “...possess a powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54). Squanto could deliberately change the communications between the two, without having anyone know if he is telling the truth or not. This establishes a huge amount of trust on both the parts of the Indians and English. As the novel progresses, the established trust becomes stronger. Squanto tries to, “[become] the one person in New England [the settlers] could not live without” (100), and for the English, losing Squanto would mean, “[losing] their tongue” (113). Captain William Bradford felt an even deeper connection to Squanto. “The two [seemed] to have bonded in a deep, almost spiritual way” and Bradford was even willing to endanger himself and community, “...if it meant keeping Squanto as his interpreter” (134). But as the novel progresses Squanto’s true intentions of, “[overthrowing] Massasoit as the Pokanokets’ supreme sache” and “...[emerging] as New England’s preeminent Native leader” (133) came to light. After learning Squanto’s true intentions, and that he had these ideas from the beginning, I began to really dislike him. He broke a bond with a whole community who trusted him with their lives for his own personal gain.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading Mayflower, I began to admire the decisions made by Massasoit. He was a strong leader who overcame his hatred in order to establish a healthy relationship with the English. While this decision was not easy for him, it positively affected both the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. If the Pilgrims had settled near any other tribe, there may have been a different outcome. The treaty signed by the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets benefited both groups. The treaty included terms like, “That if their men came to us, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them, as we should do our pieces when we came to them.” (99) This treaty became helpful for Massasoit when he was captured because his Pilgrim allies supported him. The colonists and the Pokanokets did not always get along but leaders like Massasoit were able to overcome disagreements and reestablish connections. Other sachems during this time period did not have the desire to become allies with the English colonists but Massasoit did and his actions benefited both groups. Massasoit was a strong sachem and leader and I came to admire the decisions he made.
ReplyDeleteFrom the novel Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed empathy and respect for William Bradford. Philbrick explains how Bradford lost his closest relatives at the age of twelve. From recent experience, I know that dealing with the death of a family member is a challenging and traumatizing event to handle. On top of losing his family, Bradford suffered from an illness during his childhood. At such a young age, Bradford experienced the pain that resulted from loss, and the loneliness that came from being sick, but did not let these scarring hardships control his whole life. Instead, he overcame the hardships, which made him a better person as it “saved him from the vanities of youth, and made him the fitter for what he was afterwards to undergo” (7). Bradford’s ability to move past trauma proves his admirable strength. I also connected with Bradford as he consistently participated in religion. Growing up, Bradford used the Bible as a source of structure and comfort. As a religious person, I understand the contentment that results from association with religious faith. Throughout Mayflower, Bradford commendably stayed steadfast to his religious morals, such as when Philbrick describes how Bradford’s goal for the colony at Plymouth was to “create a tightly knit and godly community... (where) everyone must live together and worship in the same church” (184). While Bradford’s objective is unrealistic and a little naive to think that everyone would be cooperative, there is still something valuable to be said about someone who persists strongly in one path, and in Bradford’s case, a religious path. Even during the days preceding his death, Bradford’s time was spent studying Hebrew, the original language of the Bible, in order to “have as direct a connection as possible with the word of God” (189). I can relate to this as I have recently visited Israel, a place where mostly everyone speaks Hebrew, and because of this, I appreciate the deep religious connection that derives from the ancient language. Reading about Bradford’s strength and religious devotion throughout his life sparked emotions of empathy and respect in me as a reader.
ReplyDeleteHearing the tragic tale of Mary Rowlandson’s experience being a prisoner of war is enough to draw sympathy from anyone. This remarkable woman watched the slow death of her daughter and the slaughter of her family but still kept her morale up long enough to be released by the Indians. However, it was not her perseverance that impressed me the most about her.
ReplyDeleteRowlandson had an amazing ability to keep her composure around Philip that contributed to the reason why she lived to tell her story. By keeping Philip close and remaining friendly with him she was given special treatment. If I were in her position at a dinner with Philip, the first thing I would do is to seek revenge. Mary knew that making more enemies was not the answer to staying alive. By knitting “a shirt and cap for Philip’s son” (295) Mary played a cunning game with Philip to the point where he went as far as to offer “his hand and some words of encouragement” when she was struggling.
What makes Mary all the more impressive is how no matter how close she appeared with her captor, and how nicely Mary treated Philip and vice versa, Mary never forgave Philip for what he had done. That means that through all the gifts and dinners they shared deep down inside of her there was an anger that could not be quelled. Mary Rowlandson was a brave smart and crafty woman who was able to suppress her emotions to save her own life.
Personally, while reading the novel Mayflower, I grew an admiration for Squanto. Befriending the English settlers, he willingly used his knowledge of the familiar land to assist the Pilgrims. He taught them farming and hunting techniques, as this land was far different from their experience with English land. Although these were unknown strangers to him at first, he ended up saving a majority of them over the unexpected harsh first winter. Not to mention that Squanto also had the impressive and unusual skill of being fluent in English and able to interpret and translate each language. Having this knowledge gave him an immense amount of power over the English and Native Americans, which makes sense why he would be an ideal target for kidnapping. I found it an admirable quality that when he was kidnapped by Thomas Hunt, he managed to escape despite the English’s advances in weaponry. But, what I also found interesting was Squanto’s ability to completely demolish the English’s survival: he had the ability to translate “incorrectly” but since the Pilgrims were so desperate for advice for their survival in this unknown land, they trusted anything he said without doubt despite just meeting this stranger. Squanto was arguably the most powerful Native American in New England. He was able to save himself from execution because Bradford did not want his most valuable resource to be gone, despite Squanto defying the rules of the agreement. Constantly causing chaos and having the Natives and Pilgrims turn on one another was his way of manipulating his way up to the top as most powerful Native.
ReplyDeleteIn the Mayflower, a character that stood out for his generosity was the Native leader Massasoit. First, Massasoit gave away some of the natives' land in exchange for peace with the English settlers. Some then called him a “benevolent and wise leader” (172) while some members of his own tribe saw him as a “leader whose personal prosperity depended on the systematic dismantling of their homeland” (172). He still proved himself in that he was willing to lose the respect of some of his tribe to gain peace for as long as it could last. Massasoit also helped the Pilgrim’s survive their first year at Plymouth. In the peace agreements between Massasoit and the Pilgrims, they both decided not to bring any weapons when trading. This protected both groups of people. Massasoit also told Edward Winslow, a senior leader, about a conspiracy plot by the Massachusetts Indians to attack Plymouth Colony so Miles Standish with his Pilgrims plus some of Massasoit’s men shut down this attack before it was even fully planned out (mayflower history.com). When Winslow first met Massasoit, the sachem wore a “necklace made of white shell beads and a long knife suspended from a string” (97). This showed that Massasoit meant business but he did not use his knife which meant he did not have any intention to hurt anyone. This friendship between Massasoit and the Pilgrims made both of their lives easier and overall more pleasant.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, Nathaniel Philbrick introduced many people that had a prominent role in the Pilgrim community. In the beginning, the "New Englanders" were out of place and without a leader, causing chaos in the settlement. The newcomers needed someone to take control and keep the community in order. Miles Standish, "a small man with a broad, powerful physique and reddish hair" (88) stepped up and was put in a tough position as captain of military orders. While reading Mayflower, I would have never thought that Miles Standish would be the man that I developed an emotion toward. He was “a man of very little stature, yet of very hot and angry temper” (164) and he was a man that not many people of the new settlement liked at all. Unlike the rest of the Pilgrims, I soon realized that his brutality was all for good reason. Without a mean and angry man like Standish, the Pilgrims would have never been a respected community by the Indians and would have been raided almost immediately. When Standish was around, everybody felt protected and everything was organized. Leading an unorganized and inexperienced settlement in a new land is not a simple task. He risked his life attempting to attack Cobitant just so his community would be safe from an Indian attack. For Miles Standish to overcome this obstacle displays courage for his settlement to strive and love for his people. I grew to respect and develop an emotion toward Miles Standish because of his will and motivation to protect the present and future of the Pilgrim settlement.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel the Mayflower, I developed emotion towards William Bradford. Philbrick describes how at a very young age he lost loved ones, and he was also very sick, separating him from the rest of the kids his age. Even though he was struck with hard times at a very young age, Bradford overcame his struggles and came back even stronger, something that I admired a lot about him as a character. Philbrick also describes how Bradford lost his wife of seven years. Bradford was struck by tragedy multiple times, but he pushed forward and never let anything get him down, and I truly admire how he did that. Bradford was also the person to suggest for the Englishmen to try and establish a good relationship with the natives, something that became very important later on in the novel. Also, Bradford realized how the community was not following the original religious beliefs that pushed the Pilgrims to leave England way before anyone else, but once people started to listen to him it was too late. He was able to sense problems before they started, something that was also very important for the Pilgrims. Overall, Bradford stood out to me as being a very strong leader that did not let anything get in his way, even at his worst, he was able to battle back and become stronger, something that I found very admirable.
ReplyDeleteAs I read Mayflower, I found myself particularly intrigued by Thomas Morton. Philbrick describes Morton as “a figure from future America: the frontiersman who happily thumbed his nose at authority while embracing the wilderness” (163). In his attempts to create a new settlement north of Plymouth called “Merrymount”, he quickly became a target for the Pilgrims who were threatened by the success and prosperity of Merrymount. As a result, Standish and his men aggressively took Morton, falling “upon him as if they would have eaten him”(164). They brought him to Plymouth where he was tried and subsequently exiled. My fascination with Morton begins with his differences in beliefs from the Pilgrims, not only in terms of religion but also in his views towards the Natives. The Pilgrims were strict Puritans, while Morton loosely studied the Anglican religion. Morton even erected an eighty-foot high maypole in Merrymount, a pagan symbol that infuriated the Pilgrims even further. Unlike the Pilgrims, Morton developed an extremely strong bond with the Native people, which “made him the favored trading partner in the region” (163). After being taken by Standish, Morton wrote that he had “found the Massachusetts Indians more full of humanity than the Christians” (164). Morton’s legacy in the region was relatively insignificant, and information about him in Mayflower is confined to only a few pages; however, out of all the other characters in Mayflower I found him to be an extremely compelling character whose uniqueness instilled a sense of wonder at what he would have been capable of accomplishing had he not become a target of the vindictive Pilgrims.
ReplyDeleteIn an antiquated society in which men with brawn and influence dominated political affairs, Weetamoo, the female sachem of the Pocasset tribe, posed as a powerful leader who exhibited a distinctive mindfulness. Her story could easily be overlooked as she was rarely portrayed as a decisive leader; however, I found her defiant mind to be most impressive. Despite her familial connection to King Philip, Weetamoo was not “inclined to join forces with him” (235) against the English in King Philip’s War. This resistance suggests that Weetamoo did not feel constrained to the bounds of male dominance and was willing to test the patriarchal society. I had never read of such an evolutionary act of defiance against a man during this time period, and it elated me to know that this woman bore a mind of her own. When Benjamin Church travelled to her village to uncover where her loyalties lied in terms of the war, Church found her “alone and despondent, on a hill”(235). The two conversed and Weetamoo admitted her fear of the war. She was reasonable enough to know that war “was inevitable”(235), yet her tenacious mind resisted it. Abandoned by her warriors, who “were all gone, against her will, to the dances”(235), she stood alone in her thinking. The comparison between Weetamoo and the males of Mayflower demonstrated how aspirations for power could cloud the mind, and obstruct the dividing line between right and wrong. King Philip’s War could have been avoided had the English and Indians verbally reached a common ground. However, the boldness of the soldiers on either side lead to a merciless battle that extracted unnecessary bloodshed. Weetamoo was more sensible in that she detested the thought of her warriors dying, and would have avoided war altogether had she not been forced into it strategically by the Pokanokets. In retrospect, Weetamoo’s thinking was more evolved than that of her male counterparts. Unfortunately, her lack of a voice deterred her from taking action during the preliminary stages of the war. Her unrest grew throughout the alliance and during her march with Philip’s men, Weetamoo made a swaying decision that would alter the course of the war. The sachem recognized how the “women and children were unable to go much farther”(258). She decided to march with two hundred civilians, despite the possibility of “capture and certain death”(258). While reading, I marveled at Weetamoo’s ability to see beyond the stream of bullets, and emotionally connect with her people. Her decision impressed me because often times in human history, certain individuals solely fought to amass more power. In contrast, Weetamoo fought for the livelihood of her people. She did not conspire against the English,instead, she sought to coexist with them, as long as it meant that her tribe would remain safe. Despite her minimal relevance in the story, Weetamoo proved herself to be an understanding and reasonable human being, in an era in which power was acquired through bloodshed. I admired Weetamoo for her bravery to disagree with an influential male, as well as her modern way of thought.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Mayflower, one person with whom I was both fascinated by and sympathized with was Phillip’s “chief captain” (338), Annawon. Although he was “one of Phillip’s fiercest warriors” (339), his kindness and acceptance after being captured surprised me. After Philip’s death, Annawon escapes from the English, and it is decided he must be captured and until then “the colony would not be safe” (338). Benjamin Church believes that Annawon “would never be taken alive” (339), building up his ferocious reputation. The Indian guiding Church to Annawon refuses to “take up arms against his “old friend”” (340), showing that Annawon may be kinder than expected. Once the English attack, Annawon quickly surrenders by falling “back in despair” (341), in order to protect his son, who “the Englishman could easily bludgeon” (341). Based on Annawon’s reputation, I expected him to put up a violent fight against the English before surrendering, but his actions prove he most likely was fighting the war to protect his people and out of loyalty to Philip. After his capture, Annawon surprised Church by presenting him with “a woven basket” (342), filled with “several belts of wampum… two glazed powder horns and a rich red blanket” (343). Annawon gives his captor gifts, signaling his respect for Church. I expected to dislike Annawon, assuming he felt hatred towards the English and was a strong instigator in the war. However, this was untrue based on his kindness towards the English. The kindness he expressed shocked me because of his reputation for being intense and unforgiving. The difference between Annawon’s reputation and his true character is shocking and confirms the English’s incorrect assumptions about many of the Natives.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I developed strong emotions towards the Pokanoket leader, Massasoit. I admire his strength as a leader and his willingness to help the Pilgrims during their time of despair even though, "Massasoit's first impulse was not to embrace the English but to curse them" (95). Massasoit did not trust the Pilgrims at first because sailors on an English ship had killed many of his men without provocation. But with the help of Squanto, Massasoit decided that it was in the Pokanoket’s best interest to forge a relationship with the Pilgrims. "If Massasoit became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in a position to break the Narragansetts' stranglehold on the Pokanokets. Enemies that were too strong for him" (96). This is why Massasoit was such a great leader. He did not attack the Pilgrims to get revenge, but rather joined them because it was best for his people. This decision to pair with the Pilgrims proved to be a success for Massasoit and the Pokanokets. “Once in danger of being forced to pay tribute to the Narragansetts, [Massasoit] had found a way to give the the Pokanokets, who were just a fraction of the Narragansetts in terms of population, a kind of parity with the rival tribe” (120). The Pokanokets would not have been able to achieve this power without the strong leadership of Massasoit.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, the character that fascinated me the most was the Pokanoket’s sachem, Massasoit. As many tribes strayed as the Pilgrims arrived to their new home, Massasoit saw it in a positive light. Unlike any other sachem, he was welcoming to the Pilgrims. The English thought of “Massasoit as a benevolent and wise leader who maintained a half century of peace in New England” (172). He generously gave land to the Pilgrims. As the Pilgrims admired his charity, Indians that lived in the region saw Massasoit as a “leader whose personal prosperity depended on the systematic dismantling of their homeland” (172). Although his tribe had dwindling respect for Massasoit, he managed to be a successful leader and keep positive ties with the English. In 1632 as the Narragansetts attacked, the English helped Massasoit find refuge in an English building near the trading post under attack. As the English “rallied to the sachems defense…the Pokanokets were soon free to return to their village” (172). Massasoit did everything he could to keep his relationship with the Pilgrims and keep his tribe safe. He was an impressive leader and without his help the Pilgrims would not have been able to prosper as they did. Although he lost the respect of some of his tribe, Massasoit was a strong leader and made the right decisions so both communities could succeed.
ReplyDeleteI developed an admiration for Massasoit as well. Massasoit represents the small power overcoming the large power, a general theme I have been studying for years in school. Massasoit possesses the admirable traits of a sachem: courage and willpower. Massasoit had the courage to trust the Pilgrims and his allied tribes while also possessing the courage to battle his neighboring tribes, and the willpower and determination to preserve his diminished tribe. As noted in the book, Roger Williams stated "'A small bird is called sachem,'...'because of its sachem or princelike courage and command over greater birds... and put into flight the crow and other birds far bigger than itself.'" (49) Philbrick uses this description to compare to Massasoit, and I could not agree more. Massasoit used his resources (primarily his alliances) to overcome the Narragansett tribe, who threatened the Pokanoket existence when their sachem Canonicus "now considered the Pokanokets his subjects." (49) The "never-give-up" attitude of Massasoit is one I look up to with great respect and admiration, and is something I strive to achieve myself. For these reasons and those stated by Jenny, I look up to Massasoit as a role model.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the story within Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I gradually developed a strange feeling of praise for the character Squanto, a Native American originally from the Patuxet tribe who, in my opinion, had one of the most interesting backgrounds of all the characters in the book. Squanto, “who’d been abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614,” (52), spent five years in lands foreign to the Native Americans entirely and survived, which was what initially drew my attention. I find it difficult to believe a Native American would be able to adapt to a culture so contrastingly opposite from his native culture; a culture “that was a wondrous and terrifying mystery to most Native Americans,” (54). This intimidating wisdom possessed by Squanto rightfully frightened Native Americans like Epenow and Massasoit, and it prompted a lust for power in Squanto I was surprised to read of. Ignorantly, I thought Native Americans as generally a peaceful people who felt satisfied with the role they were born in to or rightfully earned, whether one be a healer or a sachem, but I was shocked to read of a Native American so willing to do anything for power. Perhaps it was because he had been exposed to the English culture for so many years, or maybe it was an innate desire unusual to Native American peoples, but I found his willingness to betray friends and manipulate allies incredibly interesting. And although his endeavors were eventually proven fruitless, I praise him for his canny utilization of the uncommon wisdom he obtained while being held captive in Europe and for the clever “kind of covert psychological warfare” (133) he had been conducting.
ReplyDeleteThough Squanto was ultimately made out to be a double-dealing and self-serving character, he did turn out to be an essential asset to the success of the Pilgrims. As a translator between the Native Americans and the Englishmen, Squanto was necessary to negotiations between the Pilgrims and the nearby Native villages. With this powerful advantage, Squanto could have easily “claim to know what the English were saying, and no one would know whether or not they were telling the truth,” (54), and therefore, as Squanto had not yet proven real loyalty to the Pilgrims, his “true motives were anyone’s guess” (54). However, despite the deceitful power Squanto’s bilingual ability entailed, he did not utilize that power at any point between translation. If he had used it, he easily could have manipulated both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans into doing what he wanted, but by staying truthful to the translations, Squanto built a great loyalty with the Pilgrims, particularly with William Bradford. Squanto’s friendship with Bradford ultimately saved his life when Squanto’s master plan was brought to light. Squanto deserved death for his crime against Massasoit, but Bradford sacrificed everything for Squanto and eventually urged Massasoit to spare his life. Thus, it was not only Squanto’s clever manipulation done in self-interest that enthralled me by his character, but also his wisdom in choosing the right times to be loyal and disloyal that drew me to his character the most out of all the characters in Mayflower.
While reading The Mayflower, I developed an emotional connection as well as a strong admiration towards Benjamin Church. As an avid leader during the beginning of an agonizing war time, Church led the first military troop to leave the garrison. With the Indians' advantage of fighting on their homeland, most Pilgrims remained under the protection of the garrison at Swansea watching as Church led the first troop out. After the Indians immediately ambush the troop and kill Belcher, most troopers galloped back to protection of the garrison. Church, however, shamed his cowardly soldiers for leaving wounded men behind. Instead, Church remained under the danger of Indian attack, as he courageously "attempted to save Belcher's life" (240). I found Church's act of courage truly touching. Church proved to his men what real bravery and loyalty means, as he sacrificed his life for the respect of another soldier's life.
ReplyDeleteChurch continues to pull on my heartstrings not just on the battlefield, but in politics as well. Regarding the controversy of selling Indian captives as slaves, Church was one of the few Pilgrims to stand against the cruel economic idea. Church saw the act as an "abomination of virtue that would only prolong the war" (253). After recognizing the hard work of the Sakonnets, Church worked diligently to ensure the Indians would continue to "live freely and peacefully in the region" (253). I admire Church for being able to stand up against the common belief of his people, especially during such a controversial war time. I feel proud of leaders, like Church, who proved their courage while holding their morals, both on the battlefield and off.
The character that caught my attention the most in The Mayflower was Annawon, King Phillip’s “chief captain”. When Church learns that he has an opportunity to catch Phillips “most ferocious warrior” I expected a large bloody fight. Yet when Church takes Annawons camp Annawon cannot defend himself and finds him and his fellow tribe members Churches prisoners. Church tells Annawon that if he and his people cooperate then they shall be treated well, with the exception of Annawon who should face the Plymouth Courts. Church shortly falls asleep and when he wakes up everyone but Annawon is asleep. This showed a lot about Annawon to me. Knowing that if he were to escape he would have left his tribe to be at Churches mercy. This is very powerful because Annawon cares for the survival of his people rather than himself. Later on when Annawon leaves briefly Church expects to be attacked, yet Annawon appears with a basket and the quote “Great captain, you have killed Phillip and conquered his country, for I believe me and my company are the last to war with the English, so I suppose the war is ended by your means and therefore these things belong to you” (342). Annawon proceeds to give Church many decorated belts that belonged to Philip. Annawon now speaks of how great a leader Massasoit was and how weak Philip had been. This passage really made me feel pity for the Indians. Annawon had once been led by a great leader and already seen enough of his people's suffering. Then once Philip took control Annawon is plunged into a whole new battle full of bloodshed. Annawon knows that they have lost and only wishes to keep his people alive. The Pilgrims hadn't realized this but Annawon was not a fearless warrior he was just a scared man trying to avoid the costs of war.
ReplyDeleteThe character that caught my attention the most in The Mayflower was Annawon, King Phillip’s “chief captain”. When Church learns that he has an opportunity to catch Phillips “most ferocious warrior” I expected a large bloody fight. Yet when Church takes Annawons camp Annawon cannot defend himself and finds him and his fellow tribe members Churches prisoners. Church tells Annawon that if he and his people cooperate then they shall be treated well, with the exception of Annawon who should face the Plymouth Courts. Church shortly falls asleep and when he wakes up everyone but Annawon is asleep. This showed a lot about Annawon to me. Knowing that if he were to escape he would have left his tribe to be at Churches mercy. This is very powerful because Annawon cares for the survival of his people rather than himself. Later on when Annawon leaves briefly Church expects to be attacked, yet Annawon appears with a basket and the quote “Great captain, you have killed Phillip and conquered his country, for I believe me and my company are the last to war with the English, so I suppose the war is ended by your means and therefore these things belong to you” (342). Annawon proceeds to give Church many decorated belts that belonged to Philip. Annawon now speaks of how great a leader Massasoit was and how weak Philip had been. This passage really made me feel pity for the Indians. Annawon had once been led by a great leader and already seen enough of his people's suffering. Then once Philip took control Annawon is plunged into a whole new battle full of bloodshed. Annawon knows that they have lost and only wishes to keep his people alive. The Pilgrims hadn't realized this but Annawon was not a fearless warrior he was just a scared man trying to avoid the costs of war.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a feeling of admiration towards Benjamin Church. Church is a unique combination of courage, loyalty, and adaptability. Benjamin Church’s courage was most evident in his raid on the shores of the Native controlled island of Pocasset. When the small army he was leading was ambushed by an Indian force vastly superior in numbers to his own, Church did not waver in his leadership and quickly took command of the situation, leading his men to a more defensive position by the coast. Rescue came in the form of Captain Roger Goulding’s sloop from Aquidneck island, and Church allowed all of his men to board the ship before him. He bravely stayed behind on the shore to ensure his men’s escape. Upon realizing he had left his hat and sword by a well further inland, Church showed remarkable courage by charging alone to retrieve his possessions in the midst of the battleground. Although all Indian rifles in the area were trained on him, he managed to return to the ship unscathed. Loyalty is a trait that can be seen clearly during Church’s discussions with the Council of War. Church asked to take an army of three hundred men, a third of them Indians, and utilize them in combat against Phillip’s forces. His plan involved using the strategies of the Indians in order to defeat the Native leader. Although he was turned down numerous times by the Council of War, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to the English cause. Church demonstrated adaptability in all of his combat experiences. The trait is most evident in his ability to utilize Native American combat styles to his advantage, eventually leading to his capture of King Phillip and thereby ending the war. His courage, loyalty and adaptability make it impossible not to develop a feeling of admiration towards Benjamin Church in Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower.
ReplyDeleteIn the Mayflower the person I established an emotional connection with was William Bradford. Multiple heartbreaking events occur during Bradford's adventure in the New World. Bradford began his journey leaving his youngest son behind in Holland. Abandoning his son most likely contributed “to Bradford’s sadness” (187) a constant feeling haunting this man throughout his entire journey. His prolonged despair upset me as the reader while also strengthening my connection towards Bradford's feelings. When the Mayflower finally arrives in the New World more anguish strikes Bradford. Shortly after the Pilgrims anchored, William’s wife, Dorothy May Bradford, “slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (76). Bradford, now with the loss of two family members, becomes overwhelmed with grief. At this point in the Pilgrims travels, death was not only affecting the Bradford family, but troubling everyone in the colonies. Bradford soon fell ill and many “feared Bradford might not last the night” (85). Bradford survived and his misfortune began to change when he was elected the new governor of Plymouth. But, with this new responsibility came consequences. Bradford now had to make many tough decisions about the colonists relationship with neighboring Native tribes. Also with his new position in power he grew close with Squanto, the interpreter for the English. Soon Squanto died making Bradford again visit the uncomfortable sorrow of death. After losing multiple people close to him including Governor Carver, his wife and now a trusted Native friend, Bradford had to “regroup and find a way to continue on” (138). As Montana mentioned, even with his losses, Bradford still managed to rely on his religion and continuously remind and promote religion as the reason the Pilgrims came to the New World. Also, his faith never wavered after many close relations died, a quality that made Bradford a strong leader for Plymouth. Towards the end of Bradford's life he had the comfort of his son, now eleven, meeting him in the colonies. Consequently, when his son John arrived, the meeting ended in disaster. Bradford’s son left his father and moved to Connecticut. John wanted to escape his famous father who had abandoned him as a child at three years old. Due to these multiple, personal, heartbreaking events, I developed a connection towards Bradford feeling pity for him during his time of loss while finding a character to route for when he experienced good fortune. Bradford is someone I admire, even after losing many close friends and family in a new land, he always seemed to continue on through faith.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, I grew to admire Mary Rowlandson. Mary was a mother of three and wife of Lancaster’s minister. During King Philip’s War, as the Indian attacks grew closer to Lancaster, the Rowlandson’s house had become one of five garrisons. By daybreak of February 10th, the garrison had come under attack. Mary saw the chaos around her and decided to leave the house with her daughter in her arms and her two other children and niece surrounding her. The amount of bravery she needed to be able to walk into a line of Indians wielding muskets, hatchets and spears is unimaginable. Mary was seeing her loved ones die around her while being swept away into captivity and having to be separated from two of her three children. This event alone is more trauma than one should see in a lifetime. After nine days of being kept by the Indians, her youngest daughter, Sarah, died in her arms. Instead of using “wicked and violent means to end my own life,”(291) Mary set out to find her two other children, which she did only to be turned away from seeing them. I admire her will to keep going instead of letting the traumatic loss of her daughter take over. Even with all the pain and suffering she had gone through, when Mary had an encounter with Philip she remained unbreakable. Although Philip showed Mary nothing but kindness and respect, she would never be able to forgive him for starting the war that claimed the life of her daughter and several other loved ones. After naming her own ransom price and finally being released, the memories of her captivity still haunted her. She later wrote “[W]hen others are sleeping, mine eyes are weeping.” Mary Rowlandson’s story was one that captivated me for her non-wavering bravery, courage, and perseverance.
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ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s novel Mayflower I found that I had developed a strong emotional connection to Squanto. At first I thought I would have a strong emotional connection to William Bradford due to his ability to continue on throughout conflict and loss of his wife. However I found myself being drawn to Squanto more intensely, further into the novel. Squanto originally came off as a character that would either in the end be breaking your heart, by betraying the Pilgrims, or by saving the day. In the end he was able to save the Pilgrims by developing a strong desire to be the Native American ruler. By becoming the Native’s ruler he could decide the fate of the Pilgrims instead of conforming to the beliefs of the existing ruler. I found myself strongly admiring Squanto’s ability to speak English and become a strong friend to Bradford. Although William Bradford found himself not necessarily needing an interpreter anymore, he had found a new found connection with Squanto. At the time of Squanto’s passing, it was for Bradford “..it was yet another terrible personal and professional loss...he must once again regroup and find a way to continue on.” (pg 138) Although Squanto had previously defied the rules of the agreement, Bradford was willing to do whatever it would take to protect Squanto. Their bond made me admire them both, with their dedication and passion towards a better world. William Bradford took Squanto’s death hard, but he was able to continue on with all of the knowledge he had received from Squanto.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I developed an emotional connection towards the Native leader of the Pokanokets, Massasoit. At first, Massasoit did not trust the Pilgrims seeing how in the past, ships like the Mayflower have come and killed his men for no apparent reason. However, throughout the novel, he gets to know these Englishmen and understand their ideals. Once he meets the Pilgrims and gets to know them, I truly admire his kindness and friendly nature as he readily helps the Pilgrims when they are struggling to survive in the New World. He was the first sachem to develop a relationship with the Pilgrims and this would both help and hinder him in the years to come. Massasoit and the rest of the Pokanoets spent the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and showed them how to plant corn and other crops. He had the courage to trust the Pilgrims and in turn, they helped one and other and formed an alliance. The pilgrims, led by William Bradford and the Indians, guided by Massasoit were master negotiators who quickly learned the art of compromise for the good of all. Without Massasoit’s leadership and eagerness to help the Pilgrims, they would not have been able to survive in the New World. As a reader, I admire a character like Massasoit because of the honorable traits that he posses.
ReplyDeleteI had no particular emotions toward any one person in the book at the beginning (with the possible exception of Miles Standish, who angered me with his impetuosity and brutal killing of several Native Americans), but in the latter parts of the book, I grew to like Benjamin Church, a carpenter who became a hero during King Philip’s War. He was more practical and strategically-minded than virtually anyone else mentioned in Mayflower when it came to fighting. When Church and the other settlers took control of a Native American fort, Church suggested that they take shelter in the fort rather than risk the long, treacherous journey back to Wickford. His advice was ignored, and many settlers died making the trip. He was disregarded in part because Captain Moseley was too proud to have his men “sleeping in a wigwam and eating the Indians’ food” (277). Church had no such reservations, and his practicality was what endeared him to me.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I developed a strong emotional connection towards Massasoit, “the most powerful Native leader, or sachem, in the region.” (48). While the Pilgrims were up against thousands of hostile unwelcoming Native Americans upon arriving in America, Massasoit was the only Native American that came to their aide. Allying with the Pilgrims would have been a risky decision for any Native American sachem; however, because of Massasoit's past experiences with the English, this decision was particularly courageous. Because “Massasoit determined that he must ‘make friendship’ with the English”, the Pilgrims were now protected by the most powerful sachem (96). Without the support of Massasoit and the Pokanokets, the Pilgrims would not have been able to survive: “Massasoit's decision to offer them assistance had saved the Pilgrims’ lives.” (119). Massasoit's courage, leadership and generosity touched the hearts of thousands of people: Natives and English alike. His influence over these two groups of people is shown during his near-death experience: “they received word from some Indians that Massasoit was dead. ‘This news struck us blank’” (142). This alarming news shattered the hearts of many. The eulogy Hobbamock delivered describes the incredible leadership displayed by Massasoit: “‘He was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel… [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and… he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved.’” (143). When it was discovered that Massasoit was not in fact dead, just incredibly ill, people from all over traveled great distances to be there for the great sachem: “Indians from as many as a hundred miles away continued to arrive at Pokanoket” (146). After everything Massasoit risked to help the Pilgrims, the English finally had a chance to repay Massasoit for all that he had done. It was Edward Winslow who nursed the sachem back to health, “‘Never did I see a man so low… recover in that measure in so short a time’” (145), and because of this, Massasoit was certain he made the right decision allying with the Pilgrims: “‘Now I see the English are my friends and love me,’ Massasoit announced to the assembled multitude; ‘and whilst I live, I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.’” (146).
ReplyDeleteMassasoit's unconditional support and leadership towards the Pilgrims, and his influence across New England is both inspiring and aweing. Looking back at the novel Mayflower as a whole, the Pilgrims would never have survived without the help of the great sachem, Massasoit.
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ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I found myself especially admiring Massasoit. The Indian chieftain struck me as a particularly just and caring leader. Throughout his interactions with the settlers, both positive and negative, he remained mature and unbiased. Massasoit proved his justness while dealing with Squanto’s betrayal; Rather than save the life of one of his own, he pledged to follow the conditions of his pact with the settlers and execute him. Massasoit dealt Squanto’s betrayal of him, and those around him, with utmost care. Massasoit was a gift to the settlers, as they struggled through their first years in New England. It is also notable about Massasoit that his good faith saved the Pilgrims many potential skirmishes with other tribes in the area. By being the first chief to ally and extend welcome to the Pilgrims, Massasoit paved the way for other pilgrim-native alliances to take place in later years. In his speech, Massasoit speaks about “the many villages that paid him tribute and of how those villages would all trade with the Pilgrims” (108). The colonists’ steady relationship with Massasoit and the Pokanokets would greatly better the chances of their success and survival in New England.
ReplyDeleteAlthough he was a relatively small character in this immense and intricate timeline, Thomas Morton is a character that I developed an emotion too. Thomas Morton evoked a feeling of ease and humanity within me when I read about him. He was an extraordinarily refreshing character, in a sense, as he was so incredibly unique. For starters, his settlement was called "Merrymount" and in this settlement, instead of a wall, "Morton erected an eighty-foot-high maypole-- a gleeful and decidedly pagan proclamation that God was not to be taken overly seriously." (163) That in and of itself puts a smile on my face; as it is a thrust of joy and reveling and rebelling in a world of seriousness and hate and mistrust. Additionally, Morton was incredibly friendly with the nearby Indian communities; he drank with them, danced with them, and traded with them. And he even made the bold statement of saying that the Indians were "more full of humanity than the Christians."(164) This kind of anti-establishment and bold behavior that he was prone to immediately makes him one of my favorite people in this book. Furthermore, it was said that Morton was a man who enjoyed the wilderness; he was a frontiersman, an adventurer. That kind of happy-go-lucky attitude is quite attractive, in terms of character, as who doesn't like a thrill-seeker? Lastly, Morton's humorous outlook on the infuriated Captain Standish, offered a comical and cleansing perspective on the general atmosphere of New England and all its people. It can sometimes be forgotten that all these people we are reading about were really REAL people, and just as today, those people also laughed and cried and yelled and felt things. That is why Morton is a character worth letting yourself develop an emotion toward; he reminds us of the humanity that existed in all these people in this book.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Philbrick's Mayflower, I felt respect for John Robinson, the congregation leader. He was said to be "charismatic" (5) and proved to be wise when he wrote to Bradford after the slaughter of three Massachusett natives. In his letter he wrote "It is... a thing more glorious, in men's eyes, than pleasing in God's or convenient for Christians, to be terror to poor barbarous people. And indeed I am afraid lest, by these occasions, others should be drawn to affect a kind of ruffling course in the world" (156).
ReplyDeleteAlthough he's not mentioned much, Robinson must receive credit for keeping his congregation together in England, and again when they migrated to Holland. Under his leadership, the congregation was said to have "more than tripled in size" (5). Robinson was also a peacekeeper, urging his friends on the Mayflower to "do everything they could to avoid conflict with their new compatriots" (29). His "selfless yet strong-willed insistence on probity" (29), is something that Philbrick emphasized would be missed by the Pilgrims when they departed for America.
Throughout Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick a certain person that caught my attention and admiration was Benjamin Church. Philbrick states that “Church preferred to do things his own way”(266) which is seen through the way that he is able to not only move onto native land, but also in the way he befriends the local sachem, Weetamoo. Although some of his superior officers “may have began to realize that this was a soldier whose ambition and zeal verged on recklessness”(237) his fellow soldiers could not help but recognise him as “one of the army's more colorful and audacious figures”(239). I recognise Church as being the most rational of those in the army, he was a strategist who recognised the way the Native Americans fought and “was quickly learning how to use the Indians’ own tactics of concealment and surprise against them”(247). Church was also a very strong, compassionate leader whose opinion was occasionally overlooked. When Church suggested that the soldiers spend a night in a well stocked Native wigwam instead of march sixteen miles in the subzero temperatures, Moseley, his subordinate, decided it was “better to consume this wretched fortress in purifying fire than spend a single night living like the heathen enemy”(277) and because Church had been injured, his insight was not taken seriously. After marching all night through the snow and “twenty-two of the army’s wounded died during the march”(278) Church and the other wounded were transferred to Newport, where Puritan historian William Hubbard admitted “Church had been correct”(278), that if not forced to march in so far in the bad conditions many of the wounded would still be alive. This is not the only time he has been correct yet doubted. When Church believed the town of Duxbury to be vulnerable to a Native attack, he moved himself and his family to Aquidneck Island. This "was an unpopular decision both with the authorities, from whom he needed a permit, and with his wife's relations"(298) but, he ultimately saved their lives when the Duxbury went under attack. Benjamin Church had a “talent for improvisation and risk”(324) which demanded respect, it also made me develop fondness for him unlike any other person in Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I began to develop emotions toward the leader of the Pokanoket tribe: Massasoit. At the beginning of the novel, Massasoit distrusted and felt hatred toward the pilgrims because of previous situations in which, Englishmen killed multiple Indians for no reason. Massasoit was a strong and strategic leader that possessed the willpower to overcome his hatred toward the pilgrims and as a result formed a relationship with the pilgrims. Massasoit did not seek vengeance for the English murdering his people, instead, he realized to overcome the Narragansett tribe it would be wise to befriend the pilgrims. Massasoit and his people helped the pilgrims survive their first year in the New World. Although some members of the Pokanoket tribe were upset with Massasoit for seeking friendship with the English, Massasoit strived to uphold peace between the tribe and the pilgrims. The pilgrims were able to succeed because of the help of the Pokanoket tribe and Massasoit was determined to help both communities prosper. I began to admire Massasoit for his determination and his willingness to do what is best for the majority of people.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I have developed emotions towards William Bradford himself. From the start I remember feeling awful when Philbrick revealed that Bradford “had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (Philbrick 7). But then as they prepared to sail to the New World, him and Dorothy had to leave their son behind to not have any idea what or how he was doing. They missed his days growing up and had no idea how he was. Thankfully they were reunited when John was eleven years old, but John “must have had little memory of his father” (Philbrick 187). Also, soon after they settled in the new world Dorothy allegedly committed suicide, leaving Bradford all by himself. The world was just not on his side as the people he grew to love and spend his days with left the earth. But as Sarah Tripodi said, becoming the governor of Plymouth briefly turned his life around. This position of power distracted him from all of his grief, even though according to his writing he never acknowledged his losses. He continued on with his life only to lose Squanto, who he had become closely acquainted with. But no matter what, his leadership remained steady and fair right up until he passed away on May 8, 1658. Another reason why I developed emotions toward Bradford was because of how wise and selfless he could be. His last few days were spent trying to become closer to God and “he told those who gathered around his sickbed that ‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world’” (Philbrick 189). This moment really summarized how strong he was for everyone around him who relied on Bradford for their own strength. I admire Bradford for the perseverance he had throughout losing most of his loved ones and the way he never succumbed to his overbearing grief. To me, Bradford was one of the people who I developed an emotional connection to while reading Mayflower.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower I harbored admiration towards Squanto. After years of enslavement in Europe Squanto returns to New England only to become a prisoner once again. Massasoit, the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket tribe kept a close eye on Squanto once the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth because Massasoit “was not yet sure whose side Squanto was on” (Philbrick 95). Squanto knew he had more power than anyone since his impressive grasp of the English language qualified him to be the clear choice for the native to Pilgrim interpreter. After only a short time with Pilgrims “Squanto was on his way to becoming the one person in New England they could not do without” (Philbrick 100). I found Squanto’s intelligence and cunning noteworthy for after being a slave for so many years he comes back and manipulates an entire region to do his bidding. Squanto had “the diplomatic instincts of a leader” (Philbrick 138) and used his talents to reach his ambitions. Although he ultimately fails in becoming the most powerful sachem in New England, Squanto survives slavery and uses his wits to change the New World for his benefit.
ReplyDeleteLike Jemma, at the beginning of the novel, I was appreciative of Squanto’s efforts to aid the Pilgrims during their struggle for survival in the New World. Because he was multilingual, he possessed a unique ability to communicate with both the Pilgrims and his native counterparts. In his first days of living with the Pilgrims, Squanto went fishing, and “returned with so many eels that he could barely lift them all with one hand”(Philbrick 100). The Pilgrims relished the meal, and were incredibly grateful for Squanto’s assistance. Because of his knowledge of the English language, Squanto represented familiarity, albeit in an ethnically different package. This led the Pilgrims to trust him above all other natives. However, Squanto was an unscrupulous opportunist, and his tenure at Plymouth was nothing more than a step in his plan to become the supreme sachem in the region. When Squanto initially entered the story, I was relieved on the Pilgrims behalf, because I knew from my limited understanding of the First Thanksgiving that he would enable them to survive the first harsh year in Plymouth. However, upon learning of his true motives, I developed emotions of shock and dismay towards him. Squanto’s unique abilities gave him great power, which he then proceeded to abuse disgustingly by working with the Massachusetts and Narragansett tribes to overthrow Massasoit. Even more horrifying was the fact that William Bradford resisted Massasoit’s request to have Squanto executed immediately. Squanto became inexorably intertwined in life at Plymouth, and despite his traitorous behavior, the Pilgrims were willing to risk their relationship with Massasoit to protect him. This heavy dependence on Squanto’s assistance highlights the extent to which Squanto abused his power, and shows how he exploited the both Pilgrims’ naïveté towards tribal rivalries and their desperation for survival.
DeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s The Mayflower, I grew to appreciate one of the Native American leaders, Squanto. In my opinion, without the assistance of Squanto, the community of the Pilgrims may not have been able to recover from the first winter. When Squanto arrived in Plymouth, he noticed sick Pilgrims that were dying from their journey into the New World. The Pilgrims lacked resources, farming techniques and did not speak the language of any of the local tribes. Squanto taught the English to plant corn and introduced them to the other tribes. Furthermore, Squanto acted as an interpreter between the two communities that enabled them to trade and use each others resources for their own benefit. Essentially, Squanto spoke both languages, so having a translator was crucial for the Pilgrims adaptation to the New World. Before arriving in Plymouth, Squanto was captured by the English. There, Squanto had spent time in a prison in London, where he learned the English language. By manipulation, Squanto escaped from the English and returned to Plymouth with knowledge about both languages. Thus, Squanto was able to communicate with the Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, on behalf of the Pilgrims and communicate with William Bradford, leader of the English, for the Native Americans. Using Squanto as a guide and translator was ultimately one of the fundamental reasons that drove the two communities together.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized that I had developed an emotion toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. He was a perfect leader and a huge ally to the Pilgrims; without him they may not have survived, he and his people showed them how to grow crops and survive off the land of the New World. His friendship protected the Pilgrims from other Native attacks and initiated other Native groups to create alliances with them. Even when the Pilgrims fired upon his people in the beginning of the book, he found it in his heart to forgive them and move forward. He governed his people with grace and dignity, no one had anything bad to say about him, “[H]e was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel…; in anger and passion he was soon reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards such as had offended him; [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and … he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved” (143). In a world of violent and sometimes reckless leaders, Massasoit’s ability to be loved by his people as much as he was really struck me and made me appreciate him even more. It is very apparent how much he was loved by those he ruled when the news of his “death” reached Hobbamock, he “could not contain his sorrow over the loss of Massasoit. ‘My loving sachem, my loving sachem!’ he cried. ‘Many have I known, but never any like thee’” (143). When Massasoit died, I surprised myself and found myself upset. He was one of the few men in the New World, Native or Pilgrim/Puritan, that always tried to do the right thing and saw things they way they were, not just the way he wanted to see them and I was disappointed, to say the least, when I learned that he had passed. The Pilgrims had lost a great friend and ally, the Natives had lost a great leader, and the entire New World has lost a great man.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized that I had developed an emotion toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. He was a perfect leader and a huge ally to the Pilgrims; without him they may not have survived, he and his people showed them how to grow crops and survive off the land of the New World. His friendship protected the Pilgrims from other Native attacks and initiated other Native groups to create alliances with them. Even when the Pilgrims fired upon his people in the beginning of the book, he found it in his heart to forgive them and move forward. He governed his people with grace and dignity, no one had anything bad to say about him, “[H]e was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel…; in anger and passion he was soon reclaimed; easy to be reconciled towards such as had offended him; [he] ruled by reason in such measure as he would not scorn the advice of mean men; and … he governed his men better with few strokes, than others did with many; truly loving where he loved” (143). In a world of violent and sometimes reckless leaders, Massasoit’s ability to be loved by his people as much as he was really struck me and made me appreciate him even more. It is very apparent how much he was loved by those he ruled when the news of his “death” reached Hobbamock, he “could not contain his sorrow over the loss of Massasoit. ‘My loving sachem, my loving sachem!’ he cried. ‘Many have I known, but never any like thee’” (143). When Massasoit died, I surprised myself and found myself upset. He was one of the few men in the New World, Native or Pilgrim/Puritan, that always tried to do the right thing and saw things they way they were, not just the way he wanted to see them and I was disappointed, to say the least, when I learned that he had passed. The Pilgrims had lost a great friend and ally, the Natives had lost a great leader, and the entire New World has lost a great man.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I developed an emotional connection toward Massasoit, the sachem of the Pokanokets. In my opinion, Massasoit is the reason the Pilgrims stayed and thrived in the New World. When the Pilgrims first arrived many tribes and tribe leaders took off as the Pilgrims annoyed them. But, Massasoit with the help of Squanto changed is original opinion on the English and decided to help them. It took a lot of courage and bravery for Massasoit to work with the Pilgrims but in the end both the Pilgrims and Native Americans benefited from this relationship. That courage is a trait I admire in Massasoit. Massasoit's decision to “‘make friendship’ with the english” (96) was beneficial to both the English and Pokanokets because with Massasoit's help the English would learn how to survive in the New World and Massasoit “would suddenly be in a position to break the Narragansetts’ stranglehold on the Pokanokets” (96). Most sachems would not have done what Massasoit did for the English and that is why everyone admires him, he was a strong leader and a “faithful friend” (143).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the novel Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I realized my emotional connection to Benjamin Church. From the moment Church was introduced on page 233, I had already grown a liking towards him. I liked that “instead of being intimidated by the fact that he was the only Englishman in Sakonnet, he relished the chance to start from scratch” (233). This showed me that Church was a man who was not afraid to put his life in jeopardy and he lived on the edge. I applaud Church for being able to be “quite content to be living among the heathen-both red and white” (233). When the Pilgrims first arrived on the new land, the thought of a Pilgrim and an Englishman living together in peace was insane but Church was ahead of the rest. He was a man not of the ordinary. Later in the novel, I realized Church’s devotion to his fighting force. He was injured and was not able to fight for weeks but when “he badly gashed two of his fingers, he smiled. If he was going to injure himself, he might as well do it in battle. It was time he returned to the war” (310). This displayed his want to fight and he would in fact die for his army. I also like the fact that Church had some mercy inside of his heart. Instead of killing every single Indian he saw, he would give them the chance to help him out and in return their lives would be spared. Benjamin Church was a great leader who had a tremendous impact on the outcome of King Phillip’s War.
ReplyDeleteUpon finishing Nathaniel Philbrick’s novel, Mayflower, and learning the outcome of King Philip’s War, my admiration of Benjamin Church grew due to his independence and compassion. When Church realized it was time for him to return back to the war effort, he did not want to be in the shadow of his fellow Englishman Bradford. “Church had no intension of serving under Bradford...Church had his own ideas.” (311-312) I admire his drive to forgo Bradford’s leadership and his confidence in his own ideas. Confidence is a quality required in every good leader in order to achieve success. Church also proved his independence when he chose to meet with the Awashonks without a sanction from the authorities. This bold decision did not come with failure, which stands out to me. Additionally, Church was compassionate towards the Native Americans. When he captured 173 Indian prisoners, “Church made sure to provide both the guards and their prisoners with food and drink.” (331) Church also said that enslaving the Native American captives was “a shocking abomination of justice.” (253) These unnecessary acts of kindness prove Church’s empathy towards the Native Americans. Lastly, when the counterparts of Philip, Tusaquin and Annawon were captured, Church vowed for mercy upon them. Many leaders of his nature would be bathing in their blood, however Church’s compassion for Native Americans allowed him to feel pity. By then end of the novel, I grew a deep admiration towards Benjamin Church for his outstanding leadership skills that helped the English achieve victory in the King Philip’s War.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I found myself developing an admiration and respect for William Bradford's strength, courage, and undeniable dedication to God. From the start, I felt empathy towards Bradford, who, "by the time he was twelve," "had lost almost everyone he ever loved," including "his father, his mother, a sister, [and] the grandfather who raised him" (23, 26). As if the pain of losing multiple loved ones was not enough, Bradford also suffered a "long sickness" that "prevented him from working" (23). However, despite his suffering, Bradford stayed strong and "looked to the Bible for consolation and guidance" (23). Bradford was able to stay composed and face his losses with the mindset that everything happened for a reason and that everything would be okay. For me, a believer of fate, Bradford's ability to move past his losses without unmanageable mourning, or questioning "why him," is quite admirable. Once again, Bradford experienced pain when the Mayflower set sail, upon leaving his youngest son behind, but stayed strong and "soon emerged as one of the leading members of the congregation" (34). Then, "Bradford received what would have been, for many men, the final blow ... his wife of seven years, and the mother of his three-year-old son," passed away; however, he stayed focus on the goal (108). I find it quite remarkable that Bradford was able to push aside the loss of nearly six loved ones, remain dedicated to his religious faith, and stay focused on governing the Pilgrims' soon to be stable civilization. Throughout his time in the New World, Bradford maintained the role of a composed governor, and "if not for [his] steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony" (22). In times of hardship Bradford emerged as a sturdy role model and leader for the Pilgrims, who made well-thought-out decisions and helpful directions. During warfare, he bravely faced the natives with confidence, encouraged the soldiers to believe God would not let anything bad happen to them, and reassured them that their lives were in his hands. He gave the Pilgrims strength and hope, and undeniably impacted the future success of their developed civilization. Throughout the book, I deeply appreciated and respected Bradford's astonishing strength, faith, courage, which allowed him to stay motivated and confident, no matter how much loss he endured and no matter how much trouble the Pilgrims got themselves into. I believe without the steady leadership of Bradford, the Europeans would never have stayed strong enough to successfully conquer New England.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading Mayflower, the character Squanto made a big impact on me. Similar to the common knowledge of the first Thanksgiving, there are multiple common misconceptions about Squanto. For instance, he is usually thought of as a native man who was nothing but nice to the Pilgrims and aided them as guide, interpreter and a teacher. While this is correct, there is more to the story behind Squanto. Squanto did help the Pilgrims, but for his own good. Later on, he turned several tribes against one another to result in greater power for himself. During the early 1600s, Squanto was “a Native guide who’d been abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614” (52). He aided Captain John Smith and his crew on their exploration of Plymouth only to be captured and brought back to Spain. He spent five years there and eventually returned home to Plymouth with Thomas Dermer, a different explorer. Squanto could “speak the Englishmen's language” (54), which was a “powerful and potentially dangerous advantage” (54). After the the Mayflower had left for England, Squanto aided the Pilgrims with planting in the poor soil that was in Plymouth. He taught them “to fertilize the soil with dead herring” (101). If it wasn’t for Squanto’s “crash course in Indian agriculture” (101), the Pilgrims would have not survived because their “barley and peas suffered in the alien soils of the New World” (102). In addition to teaching the Pilgrims about the agriculture, he also aided them as guides on their expeditions. It was especially helpful because when they came into contact with other natives, Squanto could serve as a translator and interpreter for both groups. For example, when Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins went to see Massasoit, Squanto served as their guide. As a result of Squanto’s aid to the Pilgrims, Squanto gained their trust. Squanto took advantage of this and now the Pilgrims “were now being controlled-whether they realized it or not” (120), and Squanto would later “emerge as New England’s preeminent Native leader” (133). Squanto was two-faced and tried to get the Pilgrims to attack Massasoit. His behavior proved that he was too power-hungry and it got the best of him, causing him to turn on people that he seemed loyal to. He manipulated and tricked the supposedly smart Englishmen and tribes such as the Wampanoags. My feelings towards Squanto definitely changed through the book as he became determined to gain complete control in the New England area.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a connection toward Benjamin Church. The way Philbrick wrote about Church made me understand his intellect and ways of thinking about different events. It reminded me of the way that I think about things, which led me to have great respect and empathy towards him. At many points in the story, but specifically during the Great Swamp Fight, it seemed as if Church could see the consequences of actions before they happened. Even after being shot in the hip during the battle, Church focused on the welfare of the soldiers, and realized that if they burned the fort to the ground, the much needed provisions being stored in the wigwams would disappear. He also calculated the toll that would be taken on the soldiers if they marched back to the garrison through the snow, and realized that something had to be done. After being opposed by many others, the troops did exactly the opposite of what Church had planned, and by the next morning, “more than 20 percent of the English soldiers had been either killed or wounded” (278). I really connected with Church when I read this. He knew what was going to happen, and if people had listened to him, the outcome of the battle would have been different. I have great respect for people like him who logically find a solution to a problem, is denied, but continues to push forward and fight. After the Great Swamp Fight, Church continues to challenge authority to bring his ideas into reality. No one thought that using friendly Indians as a fighting force would succeed, but Church had faith, and with a company made up largely of natives, continued to attack, capture, and kill, until he got his true prize: Philip. I think many people today could learn from Benjamin Church’s perseverance. He had to jump obstacle after obstacle, but in the end he got was he was fighting for.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the novel Mayflower, I felt that I developed a strong emotional connection towards the Native leader of the Pokanokets, Massasoit. When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth they were susceptible to Native American attacks like previous English sailors. Even though Massasoit was a great and caring leader, who was crucial to the Pilgrims; even “Massasoit’s first impulse was not to embrace the English but to curse them”(95). Massasoit feels this way because earlier English sailors attacked and killed many of his men for no apparent reason. However, Massasoit is able to put the past behind him and forge new beginnings with the english because he knows it is beneficial to the Pokanoket tribe. With the help of his interpreter Squanto, “Massasoit determined that he must ‘make friendship’ with the English”(96). Massasoit proves to be a caring and helpful figure to the Pilgrims, he and the Pokanokets taught the Pilgrims how to plant crops such as corn and helped protect them from other Native American attacks. However, this relationship that was created also benefitted the Pokanokets; “If Massasoit became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in position to break the Narragansetts’ stranglehold on the Pokanokets”(96). When Massasoit fell extremely sick the Pilgrims ran to his side and began to give him aid to help him gain back his health. Massasoit was extremely grateful to the Pilgrims, “‘Now I see the English are my friends and love me… and whilst I live, I will never forget this kindness they have showed me”(146). Massasoit was a great leader who embodied great kindness and caring, and who was a crucial piece to the Pilgrims survival in America.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I was drawn to William Bradford. One of the "founding fathers" of Plymouth Colony, Bradford went through a plethora of hardships while trying to found a colony solely off of religious belief and tolerance (or lack of) for those with other beliefs. I sympathized with the death of Bradford's wife of seven years, and for leaving his son back on the mainland when he left for the New World. These grievances left an obvious toll on Bradford as a person, and the coldness associated with his hardships helped Bradford with strong leadership in a time when the lives of many depended on a strong leader. With Bradford's leadership, colonist-native relations were good, which became the building block for the growth of Plymouth colony and the colonies surrounding it. With the trust of Massasoit, the Pilgrims pledged their loyalty a native people and paved the way for the trade that helped Plymouth grow and diversify. Without Bradford's leadership, Plymouth colony would not be a landmark in the way it is today.
ReplyDeleteAs of finishing Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I have concluded that the character who stood out to me the most was Hobbamock. He was "a pniese - a warrior of special abilities and stamina" (p. 114) and proved to be a loyal man both Pilgrims and to his sachem, Massasoit. At the time when the Pilgrims were in constant danger in unfamiliar lands, loyalty was the most important thing that could be offered. Hobbamock was the one who had warned the English of Squanto's betrayal. He told them that the Massachusetts had allied themselves with the Narragansetts and "were planning to attack Standish and the trading party" and insisted that Squanto was in on the plot. Bradford, being close with Squanto, did not want to believe him, but Standish, who had formed a sort of friendship with the pniese, "both warriors by inclination and training," did not write off the possibility of the interpreter's malicious intent. Later, when Standish departed for with ten of his men, accompanied by both Hobbamock and Squanto, one of Squanto's relatives came to Plymouth and claimed that Massasoit had betrayed them and agreed with Narragansetts to attack the settlement. Bradford ordered to fire the cannons, and Standish, being in the earshot of the signal, came back. "Being a pniese, he [Hobbamock] was certain he would have been consulted by Massasoit if the sachem had been planning some kind of attack." (p. 133) They decided to send Hobbamock's wife to find out whether Squanto's allegations were true, and as she brought the good news of peace and "assurances to Bradford that he [Massasoit] would certainly warn him of any possible threats to Plymouth if they should ever arise." Later, after Squanto died from presumably natural causes, it was Hobbamock who became the Native whom the Pilgrims trusted the most.
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ReplyDeleteSimilar to Ben, I also grew a of feeling of admiration towards the lawyer Thomas Morton who developed friendly ties with the Native Americans. For such a small part in the book, Morton made a positive impact unlike many of the other colonists we follow. I admired his intelligent belief that any god should not be the only force of action in a civilization or to “not be taken overly seriously.” (163) All people should be able to have free range of religion, however not to the extent where wars and forced conversion take place, similar to that of the Pilgrims’ forced practices on those who arrived from the Fortune. Morton also seemed to be a lighthearted and friendly fellow who with his men “danced around the maypole with their Native neighbors, making a mockery of the solemn exclusivity of the Plymouth settlement.” (163) Him becoming friends with the Natives, actually benefited the Natives as well as his own relations necessary to survival. For instance, he was able to become a well liked and valued trading partner and exchanged guns for furs with the Natives. His charismatic persona was unlike many of the other characters dispersed throughout the book, and therefore was a somewhat breath of fresh air. In my opinion, Morton appeared to have his priorities straight over the selfish and war driven Pilgrims, and even stated that the Natives were "more full of humanity than the Christians." (164) which made him an enjoyable character to read about.
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ReplyDeleteWhile reading The Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a strong feeling of pity for King Philip. While he was not by any means a hero, I did feel like he was a victim of many unfortunate events. Many view him as the instigator of the war, however, Philbrick makes it very clear that there were many factors including the murder of John Sassamon, the behavior of the English, the trial of Tobias, and the turbulent nature of Philip's warriors that, along with the sachem's actions, led to the conflict. The scenes in which Philip meets with New England magistrates especially invoked feelings of pity. During these meetings you could feel how hopeless Philip was against the power of the English. While the magistrates were ganging up on Philip, I felt like no matter what he said, he would lose. Philip wanted to stop the expansion of the English, not to cause the deaths of thousands of his people; it was even said that when the war began Philip "wept at the news" (224). Despite his image of being a mystical warrior and leader, we learn that Philip spent most of the war in hiding, and running away from battles, even when his own warriors yelled for him to "Iootash!-Fight!" (336). Philip was blamed by many as the cause of the war, and hunted by Englishmen as well as Indians, and he always kept running away, even when there was no hope of victory and he had lost everyone close to him, he kept running. We get the image of a coward who suddenly became the most infamous person in New England. One moment that stood out for me was when Church's company encountered King Philip "sitting on a tree's stump" (327). His hair cut off, and devoid of everything that distinguished him as a sachem, Philip was just sitting on a tree stump. Not leading his people and away from the safety of his camp, by now he probably knew that the end was near, and he may even have been thinking about what the war has caused. It was quite a sad image.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began reading Philbrick’s Mayflower, Squanto’s character really fascinated me. When first introduced to him, he seemed like a very helpful and reliable source for the English, someone they could really use when creating relations and communicating with the Natives. Because of his ability to speak and communicate with both the English and the Natives, he became a very important figure in the novel, assisting both sides. He willingly taught the Pilgrims farming techniques, assisting them on how to survive on this type of land, rather than what they are used to. Creating bonds with many Englishmen, such as Bradford, Squanto was essentially a savior for the Englishmen. The English put all of their trust in his hands. As the novel advances, we begin to see Squanto’s real personality. “Over the next few weeks, it became increasingly clear that Squanto had been laboring long and hard to overthrow Massasoit as the Pokanoket’s supreme sachem” (133). As Squanto reveals his real character, my feelings towards him began to change and I began to dislike him, as he betrayed the people who really needed and trusted him.
ReplyDeleteOne particular person I developed several emotions toward while reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick was William Bradford. Bradford was one of the original founders of Plymouth colony, a place created from the Pilgrims journey to find religious tolerance. That alone must have been an extremely difficult task which invokes admiration toward Bradford for having the courage to leave his life and his son back on the mainland when he left for the New World. Bradford was also elected governor in a time when sick, restless and overall not very happy people’s lives depended on a strong leader. With Bradford's leadership, the colony managed to survive and also develop a relationship with the Natives, which became vitally important for the growth of Plymouth colony and other colonies later on. Bradford’s leadership ultimately helped the colony survive and develop. I admire Bradford for all his service that he provided to the colony and for his distinct trait of leadership. Without William Bradford, Plymouth colony would have had a much more difficult time becoming successful.
ReplyDeleteI felt sorrow for King Philip throughout Mayflower. Although he was blamed by the colonists for the war, it seemed like he had very little real power over his own people. He was the wrong man at the wrong time. His people traded land away foolishly and were pushed to the brink of war. Philip tried to prepare them so they would have a chance but war broke out before he could get totally ready. From there he was pushed around by other Indians while being chased by the colonists. Philip himself seemed to hate war as he always fled battle and only wanted to restore his father's empire to the point that his people could go on in a comfortable lifestyle. Because of this, King Philip seems to be a good man trying to do what was best for his people but everything around him feel apart in the most horrendous way leading to an all out war. Thus, I felt sorrow for poor King Philip as he was looked down upon by his own people when he only wanted to help.
ReplyDeleteI felt sorrow for King Philip throughout Mayflower. Although he was blamed by the colonists for the war, it seemed like he had very little real power over his own people. He was the wrong man at the wrong time. His people traded land away foolishly and were pushed to the brink of war. Philip tried to prepare them so they would have a chance but war broke out before he could get totally ready. From there he was pushed around by other Indians while being chased by the colonists. Philip himself seemed to hate war as he always fled battle and only wanted to restore his father's empire to the point that his people could go on in a comfortable lifestyle. Because of this, King Philip seems to be a good man trying to do what was best for his people but everything around him feel apart in the most horrendous way leading to an all out war. Thus, I felt sorrow for poor King Philip as he was looked down upon by his own people when he only wanted to help.
ReplyDeleteThroughout Mayflower i grew feelings of pity for King Philip. Philip did not war but seemed to have been pushed into it by by his own country which brought it upon themselves. Britain's imperialistic nature brought them into conflict and King Philip had some big shoes to fill after his father's empire. He only wanted to help and please his country by ruling like his favorable father. Conflicts arose and his people cried out for resolution. Philip could not let his people down by sating no which eventually lead to a war for which he was blamed that ultimately brought his demise.
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ReplyDeletePrior to reading Mayflower, I was familiar with Miles Standish's name, but not his character traits or actions. After finishing the book, I certainly developed an aversion to Standish. To me, he stood out among the other prominent figures in Plymouth Colony because he came off as a blood thirsty, belligerent man. As a military leader of the Pilgrims, many people would likely consider Standish a brave, courageous man. Throughout his lifetime, he most certainly displayed these traits, especially during the initial arrival of the settlers in 1620, but I was nonetheless disturbed by a lot of his actions and intentions.
Standish is introduced in the very beginning of the book as a pugnacious individual, which prompted me to believe he might not have been as peaceful as other leaders. Of course, aggression in a leader can often be a good thing, but Standish's overt aggression felt unnecessary at times. I was particularly infuriated when Standish led his men to a burial site of the Indians and decided to violate the graves by "[resolving] to dig it up" (67). Personally, I find that disturbing the dead is one of the most disrespectful things one can possibly do. Of course, it wasn't just Standish who partook in this, but he was the leader of the men, and this was only the very beginning of his alarming actions as a leader. Surely, my feelings towards Standish are not too different from many of the settlers, given that he "conducted himself with a haughty impulsiveness that did not endear him to some of the settlers" (89). Standish always seemed motivated by his desire to both avenge and attack the Pilgrims, even pressuring William Bradford into taking forceful action to "show the Indians the consequences of challenging the English" (114), proving that Standish only really knew how to settle things through force. Upon learning that "Standish was to cut off [Corbitant's] head and bring it back to Plymouth for public display" (114), I became fully aware of just how malevolent this man was. Perhaps one could argue that Standish merely wished to protect his people as much as he possibly could, but I felt that he constantly pushed it to the limit, only endangering his people further by repeatedly disrespecting and provoking the natives.
Like Annabelle, I was unfamiliar with Miles Standish before reading Mayflower, but once acquainted, I despised him. After Wituwamat becomes a favored guest by Canacum rather than Standish, Standish acts childish and "chastised the two Massachusett Indians for their refusal to pay him the proper respect" (142). Not only that, but he storms out of the wigwam and does not return. This, to me, signals that Standish cannot look at the big picture. Rather than realizing his actions will offend the Native Americans, he leaves. This incident displays how Standish cannot put his pride aside, which makes him my least favorite character in Mayflower. Furthermore, he does not realize that the interactions between Wituwamat and Canacum at Manomet show that the Pilgrims were being conspired against, illustrating that he could not see a bigger picture. Conclusively, Miles Standish did not give a good impression in Mayflower.
DeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I developed emotions for Massasoit the Pokanoket sachem. Massasoit was a very smart and effective leader. I began to admire him for the strength and courage how showed while leading the Pokanoket tribe. Massasoit showed courage by attempting to create a relationship with the Pilgrims. In the past foreigners had killed many Native Americans. Massasoit was smart enough to create a relationship with the Pilgrims so they wouldn't feel threatened and view the Pokanokets as rival neighbors. In addition, Massasoit also showed courage by trusting Squanto and the interpreter. He had no way of telling if Squanto was telling the truth in his translations. I also admire Massasoit for his heart. He noticed the Pilgrims were struggling with their new colony and decided to help them. Even though the Pilgrims fire on his people in the beginning of the book. Massasoit shows his heart and decides to help the Pilgrims and they might not have made it without him. Massasoit was not the average sachem. He altered the patter of war between Native Americans and the English settlers, which is why he is such an admirable leader.
ReplyDeleteI came to respect the Pokanoket sachem, Massasoit. Undoubtedly, he played a colossal role in the success of the settlers. Even with the terrible history between the Natives and Europeans, Massasoit was still open to diplomacy; where one leader may have seen only violence, he was able to perceive the big picture in which he may benefit from the success of The Pilgrims. This assumption is proven correct when Massasoit is able to gain control of the majority of the region with assistance from his European allies. His foresight also saved his life when he received medical aid, eventually curing his typhus. Massasoit proved to be an important and strong ally during the early days of Plymouth Plantation, and I eventually found myself looking up to him with admiration for both his skill and kindness.
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ReplyDeleteI came to respect the Pokanoket sachem, Massasoit. Undoubtedly, he played a colossal role in the success of the settlers. Even with the terrible history between the Natives and Europeans, Massasoit was still open to diplomacy; where one leader may have seen only violence, he was able to perceive the big picture in which he may benefit from the success of The Pilgrims. This assumption is proven correct when Massasoit is able to gain control of the majority of the region with assistance from his European allies. His foresight also saved his life when he received medical aid, eventually curing his typhus. Massasoit proved to be an important and strong ally during the early days of Plymouth Plantation, and I eventually found myself looking up to him with admiration for both his skill and kindness.
ReplyDeleteWhile not emotional, the portrayal of Massasoit in Mayflower was easily the most surprising to me. While I had already outgrown most of my superstitions about the early English colonies (such as those about Thanksgiving), I had managed to preserve the fantasy that the early native leaders were not dealt fairly with by the colonists. Despite Philbrick’s fairly even-handed portrayal of Massasoit, I found him to be singularly conniving and lacking in forward thought, holding his own immediate interests above those of others at least as much as common mythos describes the colonists of the time. For example, by encouraging Standish and the rest of the Pligrim leadership to preemptively attack the Massachusetts at Wessagussett, he secured a much larger area from which he would build a much larger nation (155). Meanwhile, both the Pilgrims and the natives inhabiting the area were set back significantly due to the lull in trade following the raid. Further along, Massasoit acted in a manner best described as careless. As time passed, he funded his tribe by means of selling land, rather than outcompeting the English in any market. As a result of this “systematic dismantling of [the Pokanokets’] homeland” (172), Phillip had little choice but to continue in doing so. Ultimately, the war carrying his own name would be wrought largely over the issue of native lands. Thus, rather than being the example of a helpful friend to the early Pilgrims, he proved to be the root of some of their largest problems.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s enthralling epic, Mayflower, I constantly found myself sympathizing and deeply caring for a certain character. Similar to Kyra’s impressions, William Bradford took a toll on my emotions upon reading his tragic timeline. Bradford’s grim tale begins in Austerfield, Yorkshire, which is described as a miniscule farming town. Although he came from a thriving and successful family, disaster struck and shattered his once stable lifestyle. Philbrook records, “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). At any age, these devastating losses can understandably cause great mental and emotional misery. However, even after being diagnosed with a serious illness that prevented him from working in the fields, he found an escape. Bradford turned to the Bible for comfort and direction. Since his new-found beliefs were not accepted in Austerfield, he and and many others decided to flee England. Bradford then married his first wife, Dorothy May, who gave birth to his son, John. Later, when a segment of his church planned to journey to America on the Mayflower, Bradford and his wife decided to go on the voyage, leaving their son behind for his own safety. Although this was probably the best decision, it was extremely tough, “It was certainly safer for the child, but the emotional cost, especially for the boy’s mother, would become increasingly difficult to bear” (23). If this pain was not enough, when the ship finally arrived at Plymouth and Bradford went to explore the island, he returned to learn “Dorothy May Bradford, his wife of seven years and the mother of his three-year-old son, John, had slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (77). It is curious as to whether this was an accidental death or a suicide, but this was definitely devastating for Bradford, proven by a short scripture he recorded, “Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust, Fear not the things thou suffer must; For, whom he loves he doth chastise, And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). This was a rough obstacle to hurtle, but Bradford somehow overcame his grief. He was elected governor of the Pilgrims multiples of times and re-married the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, with whom he had three more children. Bradford managed to remain composed as a governor and carry out his duties, even after the many traumatizing events that had occurred throughout his life. Philbrook notes, “If not for Bradford’s steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony” (7). One could infer that it was his infinite faith that kept him strong. Throughout his life, Bradford was consumed by religion and continued to ponder and study the inherent questions of the unknown. Stricken by illness, he shared the following with his friends around his sickbed, “‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world, and the first-fruits of his eternal glory’” (189). Upon his own death, the vaunted leader shared his message and beliefs of faith, encouraging freedom to worship God in this fashion, for it would lead to heaven, blessings, and redemption. Bradford’s life greatly touched me, for even after so many dreadful tragedies that he faced, he continued to live his life, while being a remarkable leader for the Pilgrims. Besides being an extraordinary governor, he was also an exceptional father and faithful husband. I greatly admire his strength, leadership skills, steadfast faith, and trust in the power of God. His story is emotionally moving and greatly touched me whilst reading the epic.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s enthralling epic, Mayflower, I constantly found myself sympathizing and deeply caring for a certain character. Similar to Kyra’s impressions, William Bradford took a toll on my emotions upon reading his tragic timeline. Bradford’s grim tale begins in Austerfield, Yorkshire, which is described as a miniscule farming town. Although he came from a thriving and successful family, disaster struck and shattered his once stable lifestyle. Philbrook records, “By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). At any age, these devastating losses can understandably cause great mental and emotional misery. However, even after being diagnosed with a serious illness that prevented him from working in the fields, he found an escape. Bradford turned to the Bible for comfort and direction. Since his new-found beliefs were not accepted in Austerfield, he and and many others decided to flee England. Bradford then married his first wife, Dorothy May, who gave birth to his son, John. Later, when a segment of his church planned to journey to America on the Mayflower, Bradford and his wife decided to go on the voyage, leaving their son behind for his own safety. Although this was probably the best decision, it was extremely tough, “It was certainly safer for the child, but the emotional cost, especially for the boy’s mother, would become increasingly difficult to bear” (23). If this pain was not enough, when the ship finally arrived at Plymouth and Bradford went to explore the island, he returned to learn “Dorothy May Bradford, his wife of seven years and the mother of his three-year-old son, John, had slipped over the side of the Mayflower and drowned” (77). It is curious as to whether this was an accidental death or a suicide, but this was definitely devastating for Bradford, proven by a short scripture he recorded, “Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust, Fear not the things thou suffer must; For, whom he loves he doth chastise, And then all tears wipes from their eyes” (77). This was a rough obstacle to hurtle, but Bradford somehow overcame his grief. He was elected governor of the Pilgrims multiples of times and re-married the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, with whom he had three more children. Bradford managed to remain composed as a governor and carry out his duties, even after the many traumatizing events that had occurred throughout his life. Philbrook notes, “If not for Bradford’s steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony” (7). One could infer that it was his infinite faith that kept him strong. Throughout his life, Bradford was consumed by religion and continued to ponder and study the inherent questions of the unknown. Stricken by illness, he shared the following with his friends around his sickbed, “‘the good spirit of God had given him a pledge of happiness in another world, and the first-fruits of his eternal glory’” (189). Upon his own death, the vaunted leader shared his message and beliefs of faith, encouraging freedom to worship God in this fashion, for it would lead to heaven, blessings, and redemption. Bradford’s life greatly touched me, for even after so many dreadful tragedies that he faced, he continued to live his life, while being a remarkable leader for the Pilgrims. Besides being an extraordinary governor, he was also an exceptional father and faithful husband. I greatly admire his strength, leadership skills, steadfast faith, and trust in the power of God. His story is emotionally moving and greatly touched me whilst reading the epic.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I felt sad for Massasoit. As the sachem of the Pokanoket tribe, he made decisions that prolonged the survival of his tribe and family. By creating an alliance between the Pokanoket tribe and the Pilgrims, Massasoit was able to rise politically in the Native American tribes of New England. Massasoit also helped the survival of his tribe by relieving tensions between the Pokanoket and Pilgrims through the sales of land. All Massasoit was trying to do was create an everlasting peace in New England. When his son Philip took over as sachem of the Pokanokets, this peace was broken. The harassment of Pilgrim settlers plunged New England into King Philip’s War. All of Massasoit’s hard work to create peaceful relations between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans became irrelevant when King Philip’s War broke out. This is very sad because when someone devotes their life to reaching a certain goal, then that goal becomes unreachable, it is devastating for them.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I felt sad for Massasoit. As the sachem of the Pokanoket tribe, he made decisions that prolonged the survival of his tribe and family. By creating an alliance between the Pokanoket tribe and the Pilgrims, Massasoit was able to rise politically in the Native American tribes of New England. Massasoit also helped the survival of his tribe by relieving tensions between the Pokanoket and Pilgrims through the sales of land. All Massasoit was trying to do was create an everlasting peace in New England. When his son Philip took over as sachem of the Pokanokets, this peace was broken. The harassment of Pilgrim settlers plunged New England into King Philip’s War. All of Massasoit’s hard work to create peaceful relations between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans became irrelevant when King Philip’s War broke out. This is very sad because when someone devotes their life to reaching a certain goal, then that goal becomes unreachable, it is devastating for them.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Bradford's tenacity and perseverance through difficult times continued to amaze me throughout Philbrick's chronicle of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford had an unimaginably dark childhood that was filled with loss, as he "had lost almost everyone he had ever loved" (Philbrick 10) by the time he was 12 years old. Bradford also became immersed in Puritan theology at a young age, so he was a prime candidate to be a leader of the Pilgrims on their journey. Bradford experienced great loss well into his adult life, as he and his wife, Dorothy, decided that it would be best to leave their three year old son in Holland because the trip across the Atlantic was too dangerous for the child. By doing this, "Bradford was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son" (Philbrick 23) but it was the proper decision to make since the harsh conditions of the Mayflower expedition would've probably taken the boy's life. Despite this, Bradford became one of the leaders of the group, as he explored much of Cape Cod in one of the Mayflower's shallops. However, emotional trauma never seemed to escape Bradford, as his wife died when she accidentally fell off the side of the Mayflower. Even though this devastated Bradford and he was often distraught with grief, he never stopped working to improve relations with neighboring native tribes and the Plymouth colony itself. Besides his government work, he was an exceptional writer, producing an accurate account of the Plymouth colony with his book "Of Plymouth Plantation." Despite his persona hardships, Bradford served as governor of Plymouth colony several times and lived for nearly forty years after the initial landing at Plymouth Harbor. His death in 1657 "was lamented by all the colonies of New England," (Philbrick 189) and he was remembered as a "father to them all" (Philbrick 189). Bradford demonstrates how one can overcome scarring personal hardships and become a hero and mentor to all through good-natured actions and words.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Bradford's tenacity and perseverance through difficult times continued to amaze me throughout Philbrick's chronicle of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford had an unimaginably dark childhood that was filled with loss, as he "had lost almost everyone he had ever loved" (Philbrick 10) by the time he was 12 years old. Bradford also became immersed in Puritan theology at a young age, so he was a prime candidate to be a leader of the Pilgrims on their journey. Bradford experienced great loss well into his adult life, as he and his wife, Dorothy, decided that it would be best to leave their three year old son in Holland because the trip across the Atlantic was too dangerous for the child. By doing this, "Bradford was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son" (Philbrick 23) but it was the proper decision to make since the harsh conditions of the Mayflower expedition would've probably taken the boy's life. Despite this, Bradford became one of the leaders of the group, as he explored much of Cape Cod in one of the Mayflower's shallops. However, emotional trauma never seemed to escape Bradford, as his wife died when she accidentally fell off the side of the Mayflower. Even though this devastated Bradford and he was often distraught with grief, he never stopped working to improve relations with neighboring native tribes and the Plymouth colony itself. Besides his government work, he was an exceptional writer, producing an accurate account of the Plymouth colony with his book "Of Plymouth Plantation." Despite his persona hardships, Bradford served as governor of Plymouth colony several times and lived for nearly forty years after the initial landing at Plymouth Harbor. His death in 1657 "was lamented by all the colonies of New England," (Philbrick 189) and he was remembered as a "father to them all" (Philbrick 189). Bradford demonstrates how one can overcome scarring personal hardships and become a hero and mentor to all through good-natured actions and words.
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ReplyDeleteOf all the characters in Nathaniel Philbrick’s "Mayflower", Massasoit, came out to be a character that I admired the most. Tradition is a transmission of customs and beliefs passed down from generation to generation, and many sachems try to do their best to follow the past and do what their old leaders had once done, which was always to kill the newcomers. However, with Massasoit, this was not the case. He went above and beyond to create a lasting relationship between his people, and the pilgrims. In the past, and even in the present, natives, and newcomers had not always had peaceful talks. Before even trying messengers, and interpreters to even begin peace talks, many explicitly went for raids to obtain enemy goods and supplies. Massasoit is a true leader as he tried to create a relationship. It would not surprise me if many of his people disagreed with the possible alliance with Englanders, because of their war-filled path. As it became obvious that Massasoit and the Pokanokets were spying on the pilgrims, Massasoit had the power to easily attack, and raid the pilgrim’s settlement. He was however, smart enough to realize that allies are more important than enemies. With their newfound alliance, they came up with many agreements, such as, "If any did unjustly war against him, we would aid him; if any did war against us, he should aid us" (Philbrick 99). This term is seen in modern times, as well as in World War 2, where one would rally behind an ally after someone wages war against them. Massasoit is an admirable sachem because of his wise, intelligent decisions. In desperate times, he chose peace, instead of destructive war, which would open the beginning to a new chapter.
ReplyDeleteIn Nathaniel Philbrick’s, Mayflower I came to respect the sachem of Pokanoket tribe, Massasoit. I found that the civility Massasoit had toward the Pilgrims was astounding. Most sachems would have viewed the foreigners as intruders and attacked. Massasoit however waited to find out about the intensions of the Pilgrims before he set a course of action. I also respected how Massasoit tactfully used the Pilgrims as a way to make himself the head sachem of the region once again, but he did it in a way that benefitted the Pilgrims as well. My admiration toward Massasoit reached its peak when he was extremely ill and thought to be on his deathbed; his main focus was still on his people instead of himself. So much so that when a possible cure arose he was more concerned about his people being healed rather than himself. Also even though it is just speculation, the conspiracy of Massasoit poisoning Squanto makes me like him even more. It shows just how powerful Massasoit was and how he was not going to let someone betray him and escape the consequences. Throughout the Mayflower, Massasoit acted in ways that gained my respect for him as both a leader and a person.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading “Mayflower” by Nathaniel Philbrick, I had mixed emotions towards one of the Native American leaders, Squanto. When he was first introduced, Squanto readily aided the Pilgrims when they were struggle to recover from the first winter that caused the death of half of the original population of the colony. Also, he was one of the few Native Americans that also spoke English, so he became an interpreter between the two groups for helping create alliances with others to trade for essentials they didn’t have. He also taught the Pilgrims new techniques to grow more vegetables than previously. Overall, because he was considered a large reason why the Pilgrims were able to flourish and communicate with other communities, trust was established. But I was disappointed and angry to learn the truth Squanto planned from the beginning to overthrow the Pokanokets’ supreme sat and become the next leader of Native Americans in New England. When the people of the Plymouth colony learned the truth, the citizens wanted him executed but Bradford didn’t want to lose his most valuable resource, so he lived. I was angry with his decision about Squanto because he could endanger the entire colony if he purposely translates something wrong to another tribe, and cause more conflict. In my opinion, Squanto is one of the most power Native Americans because he is able to manipulate both Natives and Pilgrims by gaining their trust and giving them false information.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading through the excessive battles and bloodshed of King Philip’s War, it’s hard to feel sorry for its instigator. But looking back at some of the conditions Philip was dealing with, and his more personal issues with the Pilgrims, gives me some reluctant sympathy towards the sachem. Philip had been left with both the successes and blunders of his father; he’d come into power long after the Pilgrims had land been in New England. So while Massasoit had the benefit of an upper hand and been able to manipulate the Puritans when they’d arrived, Philip had no such leverage. In reality, he was disadvantaged by the tricky Pilgrims, often out maneuvered in court. And financially, while Massasoit had been able to get away with selling his own homeland, Philip made the mistake of doing this on a more debilitating level, with not a lot of other options.
ReplyDeletePhilip was also dealing with the understandable resentment he felt over his brothers death, who had died in suspicious circumstances. Despite all this, it seems that Philip didn’t like the war he had been forced to start out of circumstance and desperation (in an effort to both live up to his father, and to appease his own men), later admitting to Quakers that “fighting was the worst way” (252). Overall, I agree with Mary Rowlandson’s assessment of Philip: though she acknowledged his personal kindnesses to her, she never suggests “that the sachem was unfairly portrayed by her fellow Puritans” (296). Philip may have been overwhelmed, and even upset, at the level of violence that broke out, but that doesn’t diminish part of the blame that can be pinned on him for the death toll.
While reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed feelings of admiration towards Benjamin Church because of his kindness to everyone, including the Natives, his ability to put others before himself, and his intelligence. Benjamin Church was a thirty three year old carpenter who lived in Sakonnet. Sakonnet was the home to not only Church, but female sachem Awashonks and her people. Church was not intimidated to be the only Englishman living in Sakonnet, he was “quite content to be living among the heathen” (233). Awashonks trusted Church, and asked him to advise her about what she should do about King Philip's War since it seemed as though joining Philip would soon become inevitable. On his way to Plymouth to discuss with the governor what the Sakonnets should do, Church came across Weetamoo and told her to go to Aquidneck Island, a place where he thought she would be safest from Philip. This proves that Church’s kindness to the Natives was not just for personal gain as one could perceive his relationship with the Sakonnets because they live on land that he could potentially need. Church had nothing to gain by helping Weetamoo find safety, but he did it anyway. When the war rolled around, Church wanted to help his people and decided to become a soldier. In one of the first skirmishes of the war Church fought alongside Hammond, Belcher, and each of their troops. Belcher and Hammond were both wounded during the fight and while most fled for the garrison, Church went and saved both of these men, risking his life for the lives of others. Church thought “twas a shame to run and leave a wounded man there to become a prey to the barbarous enemy.” (240). During the Great Swamp Fight, Church was wounded and instead of accepting help from his troops, he urged them to continue on their mission as it was more important. Church knew that his troops could be hurt while helping him and he was well aware that they were running low on ammunition so he decided that completing the mission was necessary, once again putting his life second. From the beginning of the war, Church recommended to use the Native Americans who offered to fight alongside the English, as they know the lay of the land and they are familiar with Native warfare. His intelligent idea was too crazy for the rest of the Englishmen to handle at the time. It wasn’t until late into the war that the rest of the English decided it would be best to fight alongside the Natives if they were to have any chance of beating Philip and his men. These Natives led by Church are who ultimately won the war for the English. Without Church, the English would have never gained relations close enough with the Native Americans to allow them to fight together and it is quite possible that the results of King Philip’s War would have been much different.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed an emotion towards Benjamin Church. His bravery, leadership skills, and intelligence proved to be essential in the war. He did not like to retreat and knew how to come out victorious in the most dangerous battles. One of the examples of his bravery and leadership skills is the Pease Field Fight. Church and his small band of soldiers should have been killed within minutes, but that was when his bravery came to play. “Church was confident that no matter how bad it looked now, “not a hair of their head[s] should fall to the ground” if they continued to be “patient, courageous, and prudently sparing their ammunition.” It was a soldier’s version of predestination: God was in control, and he was on their side” (249). Being assured that God was on his side, Church believed the he and his people were meant to survive this battle. But Church wasn’t just brave soldier and a great military leader. He was also very clever. During the Great Swamp Fight, he realized that while attacking from one side, they shot their combatants. “Studying the wound, Church realized that the bullet had come from the upland side of the swamp and therefore must have come from an English musket. As soldiers pulled Gardner’s body from the fort, Church sent the word back to Winslow that English soldiers were being killed by their comrades behind them ”(273). That observation had a significant contribution to the victory. Courage, great leadership skills, and astuteness were the main characteristic of Benjamin Church that made me admire him.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most influential characters in the entire novel in my opinion was Samoset the Native American of the Abenaki tribe and I feel very grateful to him. I felt that he was the most courageous of any one involved in the entire relationship built between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. His character resonated with me so much because he was the one who first established contact with the Pilgrims and that seems like it would be a very daunting task for an Indian with fairly primitive weapons to approach the completely unknown visitors who have guns and other much more powerful weapons. If Samoset had failed to make the first contact with the Pilgrims, the first time the two groups met could have been in battle and King Philip's war could have come a lot sooner. This would prevent the Native Americans from teaching the Pilgrims how to farm on this type of land and the Pilgrims may not have survived in the New World, and we might not even have been here today. The fact that Samoset had the courage to step up and make the first contact between the Native Americans and Pilgrims, and have that contact be peaceful is the reason I feel deep gratitude toward Samoset.
ReplyDeleteA character that I have come to admire is Squanto. He was like the buffer between the pilgrims and the indians and without him, the two side may have never communicated and lived in fear of each other. Like Clara, i admire the fact that, even though he was a born and raised indian, he still chose to help the pilgrims out. Though he could have sabotaged the pilgrims by mis-translating the conversations between the two groups, he never did. When Squanto returned to his tribe after being sold into slavery, escaping, and living with monks for a few years, he came back to find his entire tribe dead from smallpox. He didn’t let this or anything else that had happened previously in his life drag him down. He went on to help the settlers of the new world learn the lay of the land and how to utilize what nature gave them. What some may consider unfortunate, later on in life, he used some of his newly gained power to threaten Massasoit into making a quick decision with fear of the plague. As cowardice as this may seem, it appears to be quite intelligent. With all the power he now held in the palm of his hand, the only time he really abused it was to get things moving a bit quicker. In my opinion, he did much more right than he did wrong and he remained one of the most important and imperative people to the pilgrims. The necessity of Squanto to the pilgrims was evident when one of Massasoit’s men brought news to the pilgrims that Squanto was captured and killed by one of Corbitant’s warriors. William Bradford immediately took action with strength and brutality. Though it had turned out that Squato was not dead, this gave the pilgrims a newfound respect from the indians. This series of actions showed how Squanto had become such a fundamental person to the pilgrims that they were willing to raid an entire indian tribe in the middle of the night just to seek vengeance. All in all, though Squanto wasn’t perfect, he made a considerable difference in the pilgrims lives and did what he could to help them out. He was a man who meant no evil and sought only to help out his new people, the pilgrims.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning Massasoit went out of his way to help the English settlers. If he hadn't helped them they would have been another failed attempted settlement in the New World. He extended his arm, let his people show the settlers how to grow crops in the land, and protected them from other Native American groups. In the end I developed deep sympathy towards him. He did all these kind acts for the settlers in hope that these two different people from different backgrounds could coexist. He worked his whole life on that goal but in the end his people ended up losing and being betrayed. He eventually took over another smaller Native American group and watched the collapse from a distance. He watched the clashes of the younger generations new leaders take power and let greed and ambition get in the way of the relationship established by their elders.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, I found myself admiring and sympathizing with William Bradford. At the age of twelve, “he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who had raised him” (7). The burden of these losses would weigh heavy on anyone, but at his young age I wouldn’t be surprised if his illness was tied to the strain of losing everyone. He was then struck by the “mysterious ailment” (7) after moving in with his uncles, and since his family was full of “prosperous, land-rooted farmers” (7), the illness prevented him from being the same. Despite the misfortune of being sick, his incapability’s allowed him to read. Like most individuals, Bradford flocked to the Bible “for consolation and guidance” (7). He soon found himself amongst others with the same forbidden beliefs and decided to flee to a new land. One thing that intrigued me about Bradford is his intellect. Obviously it was a different time and the Bible was popular for everyone to read back then, but for a young boy to read a book about “the Protestants martyred by Queen Elizabeth’s Catholic predecessor on the throne…” (8) is impressive. Not only to read it, but for the book to have a lasting influence on Bradford, further solidifying his beliefs, is notable. Also the fact that despite being the age when all you want to do it fit in, Bradford didn’t conform to everyone else’s beliefs but instead formed his own. When it came time to start the journey to the New World, Bradford and his wife Dorothy had to leave their son behind. Not only was this emotionally draining on his wife, but also Bradford leaving his child alone in Holland “was inflicting his own childhood experience on his son” (23). Later we find out that both his wife and son had drowned falling off of the Mayflower. Although I felt much sympathy for Bradford during the book, I admired him for keeping confident and poised throughout his tough times. He never let his sorrows or emotions influence his decisions when it came to governing. There is a quote that reads, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I think this describes William Bradford perfectly. I also admire that he never betrayed his faith, and like the Pilgrims as a whole, I think religion drove him to accomplish as much as he did.
ReplyDeleteSomebody that I felt somewhat of a connection to while reading Mayflower was William Bradford. As many have stated, William Bradford had the grim fortune of suffering many losses in his life, as the book states "by the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him” (7). The losses and the sickness that ailed him would have been a disastrous obstacle for most, but faith was the constant in Bradford's life. Faith was the factor that kept pushing him forward. The Bible guided him, and his faith grew strong enough that he made the trek to the New World just so he could practice his religion freely. One of the first to arrive at the Plymouth colony, he later became governor. From the very beginning Bradford took on a leadership role. For example he signed the Mayflower compact, became governor and drafted the legal code. In my opinion just deciding to travel to the New World with little idea about how the outcome would turn out, is a sign of leadership. I admired Bradford's actions because I am someone who likes to take charge, which Bradford does many times in this book. Summing up Bradford's leadership role within the colony is a quote that reads "If not for Bradford's steady, often forceful leadership, it is doubtful whether there ever would have been a colony" (7).
ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning of Mayflower, I found Squanto to be one of the most interesting characters from the book. He got my attention because of the trust both the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets had in him. Squanto first learned English after being “abducted by Thomas Hunt in 1614” (52) he returned to his homeland of Patuxet in 1619 with English explorer Thomas Dermer and repositioned himself with Massasoit and the Pokanokets. It wasn’t till 1621 that he saw an opportunity to use his knowledge of English and interact with the Pilgrims. Squanto began to persuade Massasoit into reaching out to the Pilgrims. As Squanto tried to convince Massasoit by “insisting that the worst thing he could do was attack the the Pilgrims” (96) and by explaining that if he “became an ally to the Pilgrims, he would suddenly be in the position to break the Narragansetts” (96) I became more invested in him and his motives. Philbrick explains that the “suggestion played on Massasoit’s worst fears” (96) because if he were to interact with the English he would need to take power out of his own hands and place it along with Squanto because of his ability to speak both tongues. As I read, Squanto became a character whom I was wondered whether or not to trust, just like Massasoit. I saw that “Squanto had named himself for the Indian spirt of darkness” (100) and felt it could hint at his true intentions or foreshadow a turn of events. The English seemed quick to accept Massasoit or rather Squanto's offering of friendship. This led to powwows between Governor Carver and the sachem as well as a recorded agreement of their alliance. But, of course these actions were done through the interpretation of Squanto. As Squanto was “becoming the one person in New England they could not live without” (100) I began to consider him as a loyal friend to the Pilgrims. He helped the Pilgrims advance as a community by making them feel safe and teaching them Indian agricultural techniques. Ultimately the trust they had in Squanto made them vulnerable to his control. Both groups became so reliant on him that he was able to blindly “plan to become the most powerful Indian in New England” (120).
ReplyDeleteAs I read, Squanto’s capability to play with people’s trust is what drew me to to him. He interestingly appears to friendly but then deceivingly takes advantage of vulnerability and plans his rise to the top. Constantly questioning his intentions, I admired his cunningness but felt sad to find out he wasn’t the helpful native that many Pilgrims made him out to be.
While reading Philbrick’s Mayflower I felt pity for William Bradford. Bradford had great loss within his life and I felt for him. “ Bradford had experienced more than his share of dislocation and loss. By the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother and sister, but also his grandfather who raised him… he was struck by a mysterious ailment that prevented him from working in the fields.” (7) After reading this my focus was drawn towards this sad boys life, wondering what sadness was to come. However, he became so much more than this sad little boy. He grew to be a leader. Although Bradford suffered incredible loss, he ultimately gained from this, for example, his loneliness won him the governorship, “ But as governor, he inevitably came to know the loneliness of being Plymouth's ultimate decision maker.”(103). With the position of power he gained as governor he unfortunately lost his happiness because he felt the emptiness of his personal life while in a position of power. “Had left his son in Holland and lost his wife in Provincetown Harbor” (103). Philbrick made me feel a strong sense of pity towards Bradford.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower, the person I felt most strongly towards was William Bradford. Bradford’s account of the Plymouth settlement is considered one of the “greatest [books] written in seventeenth-century America”. (7) Throughout the book, Bradford is a prominent leader within the plantation, however his was a rise to power instead of being gifted it. He was born “in the tiny farming town of Austerfield, Yorkshire” (7) were adventure and creativity were lacking. Aside from living in a small town, he also struggled with the death of his nuclear family and having to struggle with extreme illness during his teens. Because of his traumatic childhood he turned to puritanism for consolation and guidance. This new-found relationship with God allowed him to survive incredible losses, even after the death of his wife. I admired his ability to remain composed and dignified throughout his time in the Plymouth Plantation, while still being fit for leadership. I had great sympathy and admiration for Bradford because he was able to put the welfare of the planation before his own health and sadness in a time of extreme struggle and turmoil.
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ReplyDeleteIn Nathaniel Philbrick’s book The Mayflower I felt for emotion for Benjamin Church. In the beginning of his story he is a cocky and reckless soldier, a example of this is at the Pease Field Fight. As he is fighting the Natives he realizes that the only option is to retreat, he mistakenly leaves his sword and hat behind. As Church and he men are leaving, he remembers his lost articles and decides to challenge the Native's bullets and goes back to retrieve his items. This showed how truly cocky and reckless he is at the beginning of the War. As he keeps battling in the war he recognises the Englishman's greatest strengths, other friendly Natives. He learns how to use the “friendly Indians” to his advantage since they know all of King Phillip’s army’s tricks, and the tricks they can use to their benefit. Through fighting with Natives by his side Church also becomes their advocate and their victories and against King Philip garner them respect in the public’s eye.
ReplyDeleteChurch was also outspoken by other Colonial members in matters of strategy. An example of when he is outspoken, is at the Great Swamp Fight. At this battle Church is trying to get the men to not burn the Native’s wigwams, so they can have a place to stay for the night and also pillage their much needed food contained within them. Church is over ridden by his superior captain Samuel Moseley, who tells the soldiers to burn down the wigwams with people and food inside. By doing this the soldiers have to march back to the rest of the army through the freezing cold and on empty stomachs. Throughout The Mayflower Benjamin Church is the voice of reason and thought for the Colonial side.
In the novel Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick I developed admiration for William Bradford. William Bradford was a devote separatist in Europe and it wasn't till he journeyed to the New World he felt truly religiously free. In order to be free he had to leave his son in Europe, a incredibly hard decision but one based on the dedication of his beliefs. After journeying to the New World on the Mayflower he was one of the men to sign and help create the hugely important Mayflower Contract. Then Bradford would soon become governor of the Plymouth colony between 1622 and 1656, a thirty one year term. He faced many challenges and played one of most important roles in making sure the Pilgrims would survive and continue growing the religiously liberated New World. With the help of Myles Standish’s military experience, Bradford and him were able to create a “military” to defend Plymouth from Indians. He also secured an alliance with the Indian tribe Pokanoket and their leader, and most powerful Indian at the time, Massasoit. The thing I admire most about William Bradford is not only his incredible courage and leadership that allowed the Pilgrims to survive and grow in the New World, but also his mindfulness to write down what was occurring in the beginnings of the New World. It allowed us to know a lot more about the time period. For example Nathaniel Philbrick used much of Bradford’s writing as sources for the Mayflower. The most important and substantial piece of William Bradford's literature was, Of Plymouth Plantation. I admire Bradford's ability to lead the Pilgrims in the New World. My cousin is also named after Bradford so I found it pretty cool to learn about him and how important and influential William Bradford truly was.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a sense of pity for King Philip. The Pokanoket sachem seems to have been held accountable for the fourteen month bloody conflict that bears his name. However, I believe that when Philip launched the initial attack on Plymouth, he never intended to or expected to start such a widespread and long lasting war. Furthermore, Philip was in a position in which he felt as though he had no other choice. The pressure of the pilgrims was relentless and greedily growing. As of September of 1671, Plymouth officials demanded that Philip “turn over all his weapons,”(218) pay a large fine, and “pay the colony an annual tribute of five wolves’ heads,”(218). At this point, Philip realized that “if he was to survive as the sachem of the Pokanokets, he must now go to war”(218). So, considering the circumstances, I don’t feel as though Philip should be fully blamed or admonished for the actions that he took. Philip wasn’t simply bloodthirsty; he acted in a way that he thought would best protect the freedom of his people. However, as other colonists and tribes got involved and took sides, what was one attack turned into an ongoing and deadly divide. As the fighting perpetuated, Philip became overwhelmed by what I believe he unintentionally started. In fact, the sachem was “not the mastermind behind a coordinated plan of Native attack,” (264). Philip was not documented as present at a single battle in the fall of 1675. Instead he was hiding out near the Massachusetts-Vermont border, away from the main conflict. Yet, overall, the young sachem was blamed for and viewed as the driving force of the war. For this reason, I feel a bit of pity for Philip and how many people misconstrued him to be purely villainous, when in truth he wanted to preserve the independence of the Pokanokets.
ReplyDeleteThomas Morton was a unique character whose beliefs differed from The Pilgrims, causing him to be a character that stood out to me. Different from the Pilgrims, Morton was an Anglican who spent his Sunday’s hunting with his falcon rather than in prayer. He lived most of his life in the wilderness, rather than devoting his life to God; “God was not to be taken overly seriously” (163). Morton made strong ties with the Indians, and with them he mocked the Pilgrims and their exclusivity at the Plymouth Settlement. He created a new settlement called “Merrymount” and erected an eighty-foot high maypole there, a pagan symbol. “Morton represented everything the Pilgrims had come to escape” (163). The Pilgrim’s sent Standish to capture Morton, and after the way he was treated he “began to question who were now the true savages of the land” (164). Morton was an appealing character because he was humane towards the Indians. He created relations with them through trade, rather than expecting dominance. “He happily thumbed his nose at authority” and had bold behaviors. He did what he wanted even if it bothered the Pilgrims. He wrote ribald verses, shared drinks with the Indians, and mocked the Pilgrims. He was emotionally appealing because he had a different outlook on life than the Pilgrims, making him an unusual character.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed a sense of pity for King Philip. The Pokanoket sachem seems to have been held accountable for the fourteen month bloody conflict that bears his name. However, I believe that when Philip launched the initial attack on Plymouth, he never intended to or expected to start such a widespread and long lasting war. Furthermore, Philip was in a position in which he felt as though he had no other choice. The pressure of the pilgrims was relentless and greedily growing. As of September of 1671, Plymouth officials demanded that Philip “turn over all his weapons,”(218) pay a large fine, and “pay the colony an annual tribute of five wolves’ heads,”(218). At this point, Philip realized that “if he was to survive as the sachem of the Pokanokets, he must now go to war”(218). So, considering the circumstances, I don’t feel as though Philip should be fully blamed or admonished for the actions that he took. Philip wasn’t simply bloodthirsty; he acted in a way that he thought would best protect the freedom of his people. However, as other colonists and tribes got involved and took sides, what was one attack turned into an ongoing and deadly divide. As the fighting perpetuated, Philip became overwhelmed by what I believe he unintentionally started. In fact, the sachem was “not the mastermind behind a coordinated plan of Native attack,” (264). Philip was not documented as present at a single battle in the fall of 1675. Instead he was hiding out near the Massachusetts-Vermont border, away from the main conflict. Yet, overall, the young sachem was blamed for and viewed as the driving force of the war. For this reason, I feel a bit of pity for Philip and how many people misconstrued him to be purely villainous, when in truth he wanted to preserve the independence of the Pokanokets.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower, it was hard not to be drawn to William Bradford, a leader in many aspects of the Plymouth community. Bradford was by far the most devout Christian of all the characters in the novel, never losing sight of the true purpose of the voyage across the Atlantic: religious freedom. For most of his life, Bradford’s connection to God was all he had. He lost his whole family before he turned twelve, so he devoted himself to worship and built relationships through Christianity. He married and had a son with Dorothy May in 1613, but she fell off the Mayflower and drowned in 1620. Once again, Bradford’s family was taken from him, but he had little opportunity to mourn his wife because he had to help run the Plymouth settlement. Despite Bradford’s losses and misfortune, he stayed true to God and worked his hardest to do what was best for his people. What stands out most about William Bradford is that he did not change himself to fit his new surroundings; the man he was in Leiden was just as hardworking, determined, and dedicated to God as the man he became in the New World. Until the day he died, he sought to “create a tightly knit and godly community”, even when many citizens were growing farther from God. Throughout Mayflower I admired Bradford’s devotion to his congregation, his level-headedness during crises, and how he didn’t follow the rest of the community down a path of greed and entitlement. While I cannot relate to his religious zeal, I found myself inspired by Bradford and hoping some of his strong character would rub off on me.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, I developed an admiration for William Bradford. This man had dealt with a lot of sorrow and loss during his life, “by the time he turned twelve, he had lost not only his father, his mother, and a sister, but also the grandfather who raised him.” (7) As a seventeen year old, he had uprooted himself and moved to Holland with the only people he had connections with; the Separatists. Following the only people he knew and trusted, he also came to the new world. I really admire Bradford for being a strong leader and never faltering in his beliefs in G-d. I admire very much his ability to stay strong after experiencing so much loss. Even after he lost his wife, he still believed that “every occurrence meant something.”(77) so he remained strong. Bradford continued to lead the pilgrims even through the harsh winters and the confusing interactions with the Natives. I admire that Bradford saved his translator Squanto even though Bradford “acknowledg[ed] that Squanto deserved to die, Bradford stubbornly insisted that his interpreter was vital to the welfare of the plantation.” (134) I admire Bradford because he was a strong and fair leader and didn’t falter even through the many losses he experienced.
ReplyDeleteA character that I grew surprisingly fond of was Massasoit. At the time that the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, the relationship between the Native Americans and the Europeans was one of violence and distrust. However, Massasoit changed that by going to the Pilgrims and establishing an agreement with them that contained principles such as “if any did unjustly war against [the Native Americans], [the Pilgrims] would aid [them]; if any did war against” (99) the Pilgrims, then Massasoit should aid them. I admired Massasoit’s courage to face people that could potentially be his enemy and them into allies that could help him in the future. In fact, throughout Massasoit’s life the two groups experienced a mutually beneficial relationship where the Natives knowledge and guidance was exchanged for the Pilgrims aid in battle. As much as I admired Massasoit’s wisdom to form an alliance I was disappointed to see that he did not pass on that same insight to his son. When more English settlers began to flood New England, a lot of the Native’s land was taken from them. Instead of trying to comprise a new agreement with the English, he gathered Native Americans to start an uprising and eventually led to a very bloody war.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading “Mayflower” by Nathaniel Philbrick, I was most surprised by Squanto’s character. When learning about Squanto in elementary school, I always thought he was he brave and noble man who was able to escape capture twice and reconnect with his people after believing they were all destroyed by disease. However, after reading “Mayflower”, I realized that Squanto’s past did not make him stronger, but only made him bitter for revenge and thirsty for power that he was always stripped of. At first, I admired Squanto. He was able to communicate in both English and his native tongue and aided the Pilgrims by teaching them methods to help them survive on the new land, and by setting up an agreement between Massasoit and the Pilgrims. However, Squaanto had more ambitious ideas than to simply help the Pilgrims. By being an English speaking Native, bringing the Pilgrims food and establishing trade partners for them, Squanto soon made himself “the one person in New England they could not live without” (100). Also, by being one of the only people able to communicate the Pilgrims “true motives” to other Native Americans to gain their trust. He began to manipulate other tribes and have them believe that “the Pilgrims…possessed the plague, and they were able to unleash it at will” (133). By gaining both the Pilgrims and Natives trust, Squanto was able to control people in a way I never knew he was capable of. Although I admire Squanto’s ambition, I will never think of him in the same light again.
ReplyDeleteAs I read through part four of Mayflower, I found that I pitied and supported Phillip and his cause far more than I did the English. Despite the fact that he ‘started’ the war, I believe he was forced into it and had no other way to turn. The true aggressors were the ones who took all his people’s lands and left them destitute and unable to feed themselves, ultimately forcing them to war. As Annawon, Phillip’s chief warrior, said: “[he] blamed the outbreak of hostilities on two factors: the duplicity of the Praying Indians, i.e., John Sassamon, and the impetuosity of the young warriors. He compared them to ‘sticks laid on a heap, till by the multitude of them a great fire came to be kindled’” (343). Phillip had actually made every effort to avoid war up until he believed he could no longer restrain his warriors. As one witness recounted, “there were hundreds of warriors, their faces painted, their hair, ‘trimmed up in a comb fashion … with their powder horns and shot bags at their backs,’ and with muskets in their hands. They danced to the beat of drums, the sweat pouring from their already greased bodies, and with each day, the call for action grew fiercer. Phillip knew he could not hold them back much longer” (229). Even once the war had begun, Phillip’s cause was still just, in attempting to create a Pan-Indian fighting force to reclaim their lost lands and drive the English from their continent. Unfortunately, divisions between the Indians prevented such a thing from coming together until it was too late, and only after much of their populations had been wiped out did all of the Indian tribes finally band together as Phillip had dreamed.
ReplyDeleteThere were many characters in this book that evoked emotion in me, but "Mayflower" made me develop a real admiration towards Massasoit. The Pokanoket sachem dealt with a major change in the area in a very responsible way. I was amazed at how instead of violently attacking the Pilgrims for encroaching on his space he put his frustration aside to create an important alliance with the Pilgrims. Often times Native Americans are perceived as mere roadblocks to the colonization of the New World, but Massasoit and the Pokanokets were vital to the prolonged success of the Pilgrims in Plymouth. Other sachems in the area were not as understanding as Massasoit as their first thought was violence, but Massasoit used his intelligence to realize that becoming allies with the Pilgrims would be most beneficial to the natives. I really admired how Massasoit earned the trust and help from the settlers. When Massasoit was struggling with disease he knew he could count on Winslow to nurse him back to help. Similarly, Massasoit and the Pokanokets helped the Pilgrims when they were in danger of being attacked by another tribe. Massasoit's willingness to become allies with the Pilgrims and his support made me develop an admiration towards him rather than someone else in this book.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Nathaniel Philbrick's the Mayflower, I developed an admiration towards Benjamin Church. During King Philip's war, there were many military leaders who wanted to burn everything that belonged to the natives whether it was dangerous or not. One of these ruthless leaders was Captain Moseley, to whom "the idea of sleeping in a wigwam and eating the Indian's food was abhorrent."(277) Church was more reasonable with the notion of using Indian resources because he knew that doing so would make his men stronger and more equipped to fight off later attacks. Unfortunately for the time being, Church was ignored and Moseley burned the fort. Later along however, once Church gained more power and influence, he was able to change the tides of the war by doing what no other Englishman thought possible.
ReplyDeleteMost Englishmen were appalled by the idea of working with friendly Indians, but Church was able to change most of their minds. After spending some time with his family, Benjamin Church returned to the fight, but “Church had his own ideas about how to fight the war. He must find an army of his own.”(312) Church was aware of the Englishman's disadvantage in the fight; they were not willing to work with the Natives against Philip. What is admirable about Church is that he knew what needed to be done and he did it, starting by recruiting Awashonks. After one Native group joined the English, many more followed which allowed more battles to be won and thus more Englishmen were keen to seeking out Native alliances. In the end Church was the man to lead the final attack on King Philip in which Philip was killed, allowing the war to finally come to an end (besides the few clean up raids Church had to take care of). Overall, Benjamin Church was the most admirable character in the Mayflower because he was able to see what was needed to be done despite what most others thought, and execute it perfectly.
Benjamin Church, I respect his actions because he is enlightened and conducts his military campaign very intelligently. Unlike most other Pilgrim military leaders, Church had Native Americans under his direct control. Church had an edge over other Puritan forces because the Native warriors knew the land just as well as King Philip, a prominent enemy at the time, thus making Church’s army to be more effective in terms of movement and tracking enemies. Church himself “was quickly learning how to use the Indians’ own tactics of concealment and surprise against them” (247), and the ambushes the Native Americans used would inflict the most damage out of any engagement. Also, his army selection could not have been better because he needed to seek and destroy King Philip who caused the King Philip's War. Other than military success, he also disliked racial bias and slavery of Native Americans. When some Native American prisoners were sold off to slavery, Church scorned the slave traders. Church is a respectable character in “The Mayflower” because he went to higher levels of performance to protect and serve his Pilgrim community and he had an enlightened mind for his time.
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