The Contrast of Bradford and Franklin - Essay Example

May 26, Compare and Contrast Bradford and Franklin were active political players in their communities. Franklin, however,also became successful in the field of science and believed in the triumph of reason over traditions, while Bradford was more of a man of faith than a man of science. Franklin is a key figure in the colonial postal system. In 1737, the British appointed him postmaster of Philadelphia. In 1753, he became the joint postmaster general for all the American colonies. During this time, he believed in the power and responsibility of the people in shaping their government (York 366). In “Speech in the [Constitutional] Convention, at the Conclusion of Its Deliberations,” Franklin says: Much of the strength and efficiency of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of that government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors. (Perkins 128). He emphasizes the virtues of democracy in creating a government that works for the people. Furthermore, he underlines the responsibility of the people in influencing their government. Franklin also became a famous scientist and inventor, with his experiments in electricity and the invention of the glass armonica, unlike Bradford who focused on politics and commerce. Bradford is one of the pioneers in America, where he also actively participated in political affairs. During the treacherous journey in the sea toward Plymouth, he exhibits strong faith in God amidst challenges, which can be read from Of Plymouth Plantation. He believes in “God’s providence” (Perkins 42) that helped them endure sicknesses and deaths throughout their journey. On November 11, 1620, after the Mayflower reached Cape Cod, he signed the Mayflower Compact (Perkins 41). As a colonial governor for several terms, he did not take advantage of his position by using the “opportunity to become sole proprietor” and preserved the democratic principles that the Mayflower Compact proposed (Perkins 41). Thomas Paine and Anne Bradstreet both embarked to the American colonies and were well-known writers. They were also active in the socio-political affairs of their communities. At Lewes, Paine was involved in the local affairs, where he served on the town council and formed a debating club at a local tavern. On January 10, 1776, he wrote the famous pamphlet Common Sense. It daringly promoted a “Declaration for Independence” and launched the separatist demonstration to a crisis (Perkins 133). He does not believe that it is in the interest of America to remain a colony of Great Britain forever: “We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment; and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account, but from her enemies on her own account…” (Perkins 137). Hence, he advocates that America will prosper more as an autonomous nation than as a colony, because it will attain peace and focus on economic development. Paine and Bradstreet are different because Paine supported American independence in his writings, while Bradstreet focused on themes of religion and nature in her poetry. In Contemplations, Bradstreet highlights the magnificent powers of God that rules Heaven and Earth: “If so much excellence abide below,/ How excellent is He that dwells on high, / Whose power and beauty by His works we know?” (9-11 in Perkins 63). In addition, she vividly describes nature and its charms bring her to spiritual reflections: “Birds, insects, animals, with vegetive,/ Thy heart from death and dullness doth revive:/ And in the darksome womb of fruitful nature dive” (4-6 in Perkins 63). For her, nature has a simple life that evokes the kind of simplicity that God also desires. Thomas Jefferson and Mary Rowlandson had different experiences and goals in life, although they both hold strong spiritual beliefs. Thomas Jefferson had been a robust and vital political actor in American politics. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. He also became the third president of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia. For him, a good government “must provide freedom of speech, thought, association, press, worship, education, and enterprise” (Perkins 152). He believed in the equality of all people as part of their natural rights from God. Mary Rowlandson, on the contrary, was captured by Native Indians, and upon her release, she wrote A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. During this time of captivity, she kept her faith in God. In The Third Remove, she says: “Yet the Lord still shewed [sic] mercy to me, and upheld me; and as he wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with the other” (Perkins 76). Her life showed a glimpse of the hardships of the Native Americans. She did not, however, voice out views, where she treated Native Americans as her equal and rightful owners of America. Phyllis Wheatley and Cotton Mather both had deeply-held religious beliefs that played a large role in their existence. Wheatley, however, is a black slave, while Mather is a primary actor in the Salem Trials. Mather has actively pursued the persecution of numerous slaves. He charges Indians for practicing witchcraft too. In Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), he says: That the powaws by the infernal spirits often killed persons, caused lameness and impotency, as well as showed their art in performing things beyond human, by diabolic skill—such who have conversed much among them have had no reason to question. (Perkins 106). Mather believes that Native Americans used their powers to kill white people. He influences judges during the Salem trials, so that even those who do not practice witchcraft are sentenced to death. Phyllis’s experience as a black slave, although she received education from her master, exhibits her belief in racial equality. Like Mather, she is also deeply religious. In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” she says: “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,/ Their colour is a diabolic die.”/ Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train” (lines 5-8 in Perkins 174). She stresses that God does not look at skin color in determining His children. Instead, He accepts them all in Heaven. In another poem, “To His Excellency General Washington,” Phyllis praises the virtues of Washington, who is a beacon of freedom and liberty, which included even slaves like her. She says: “While freedom’s cause her anxious breast alarms” (3 in Perkins 175). She extols people who believe in and fight for liberty, which is sadly, something that has been taken from her when she was sold as a slave. Neoclassical to Romantic Literature As the eighteenth century came to its conclusion, the rational and neoclassical thinking of American life and literature gave way to romanticism (Perkins 121). In England, Thomas Gray, Oliver Goldsmith, and William Blake eroded the popularity of Alexander Pope’s neoclassicism. At the same time, the American and the French revolutions promoted rational instruments of government that advocated romantic ideals of freedom and individualism (Perkins 121). Romantic literature promotes emotions, freedom, and imagination, all of which were lacking in neoclassical writings (Perkins 121). American writers such as Jefferson and Freneau demonstrated works that mixed romanticism with neoclassicism (Perkins 121). Frenau’s poetry, for instance, had a “moralizing illustration” (Arner 53). The revolutionary times then contained already the “embryo” of Romanticism (Perkins 121). Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, and Philip Freneau became famous for their contributions to American literature (Perkins 121). Anne Bradstreet’s early poems, made of rhymed discourses and chronicles, satisfied the tastes of her audience (Perkins 121). She used “Quaternions,” or groups of four to explore “The Four Elements,” “The Four Humours,” “The Four Ages of Man,” “The Four Seasons,” and the “Four Monarchies” (Perkins 121). Her poems of spiritual experience and domestic intimacy are authentic, delicate, and appealing (Perkins 121). She finds sentimental purity in nature, for instance, that for her, man cannot easily emulate: “I heard the merry grasshopper then sing,…/Shall creatures abject thus their voices raise,/And in their kind resound their Maker’s praise,/Whilst I, as mute, can warble forth no higher lays?” (57-63 in Perkins 64). At the verge of the Revolution, Phillis Wheatley differentiates herself as the first African-American poet, and during Washington’s first term the former slave Olaudah Equiano published in London one of the first and best slave narratives (Perkins 61). In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Wheatley says: “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,/ Their colour is a diabolic die.”/ Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train” (lines 5-8 in Perkins 174). This poem intends to dispel racial prejudice, because in God’s eyes, all human beings are equally His children. Transition Figures Jefferson and Freneau are considered transition figures because they blended the neoclassical characteristic of logic with the romantic notions of freedom, emotions, and imagination. Eberwein calls Freneau a “strident champion of freedom” (198). In “To the Memory of the Brave Americans,” Freneau describes the poignancy of the battle: “They saw their injured country’s woe;/The flaming town, the wasted field;/Then rushed to meet the insulting foe;/They took the spear—but left the shield” (17-20 Perkins 189). He emphasizes the bravery of these soldiers who took arms for altruistic and liberty ideals. Freneau indicates that soldiers respond to emerging needs of the nation. They may not have the military abilities to wage effective battles, but they continue the war anyway, because they believe in what they are fighting for. Jefferson believes in the logic of the social contract, because it enables people with different interests to peacefully live with one another. In the Declaration of Independence, it says: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (Perkins 154). Jefferson provides the logic of the power of the government that comes only from the consent of their constituents to be ruled upon. The social contract, in particular, also responds to fundamental needs of humanity. The Declaration of Independence asserts: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Perkins 154). These are romantic ideals that ensure the promotion of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” because they are part of “certain unalienable Rights” that God Himself gave to all His children. The non-discriminatory nature of these wordings indicates logic, where human beings are treated equally. Furthermore, they contain the seeds of romanticism, since such beliefs for liberty and equality are not acceptable yet in colonial times. Instead, slavery advocates the subjugation of blacks, because of prejudice against their physical and cultural differences. Illumination of the Concerns of their Times Jefferson and Paine best illuminate the concerns of America during the time period covered, because they each responded to the most important and controversial issues. Jefferson tackled the issue of slavery and racial equality, while Paine advocated the independence of America from Britain. Their writing boldly advocates beliefs and practices that many powerful writers and individuals in their time did not strongly voice out. The Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Perkins 154). These are romantic ideals that ensure the promotion of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” because they are part of “certain unalienable Rights” that God Himself gave to all His children. These wordings equally apply to all without any sense of discrimination, which categorically ends slavery and shuns racial prejudice, and even all other forms of prejudice. By saying that all people have rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” Jefferson asserts that minorities and women have the same rights. They are then escalated as equals of white men in society. Paine also explores critical themes and issues that emerged in his time. Larkin describes Paine’s goal as making Americans see that independence is a “larger, irresistible movement” (56). Paine argues that America is better off without Britain, since the latter looks after its own interests. As a result, Britain’s wars will be hers alone, and no longer would America be forced to participate and support these wars. He writes: “Let Britain waive her pretensions to the continent, or the continent throw off the dependence, and we should be at peace with France and Spain were they at war with Britain” (Perkins 138). He also argues that America is not indebted to Britain but to his fellow Americans: “A man born in any town in England divided into parishes, will naturally associate most with his fellow parishioners…” (Perkins 139). He stresses that Americans should be loyal to Americans, not the British, because only Americans can support American interests. Furthermore, Paine considers the advantage of a free America to Europe in general: “Our plan is commerce, and that, well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe; because it is the interest of all Europe to have America a free port” (Perkins 139). He argues that America will be a neutral nation and no longer an enemy. Paine also calls the supporters of Britain to consider the futility of genuine reconciliation: “Your future connection with Britain, whom you can neither love nor honor, will be forced and unnatural, and being formed only on the plan of present convenience, will in a little time fall into a relapse more wretched than the first” (Perkins 140). Through this text, he seeks to awaken feelings of patriotism, not to Britain, but to America. Importance of Nature, Emotions, the Individual, and the Supernatural to Romantic Authors Romanticism extols the virtues of nature, emotions, the individual, and the supernatural in expressing subjective experiences. The individual should not lose his/her identity because of social restraints and must pursue his/her rights to happiness and freedom. Wheatley commends and supports Washington for his ideals in “To His Excellency General Washington,” and says: “A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine,/With gold unfading, WASHINGTON! be thine” (41-42 in Perkins 176). She believes that Washington symbolizes freedom for all people. In addition, romantic authors assert that people should not be afraid to express their emotions without fear of judgment from others. Nature should also not be denigrated, since it evokes strong human emotions. Pennell stresses that nature influences moods and emotions, because it beholds “natural wonder and vastness” (3). In Contemplations, Bradstreet vividly describes nature and its charms bring her to spiritual reflections: “Birds, insects, animals, with vegetive,/ Thy heart from death and dullness doth revive:/ And in the darksome womb of fruitful nature dive” (4-6 in Perkins 63). Nature receives spiritual qualities that express romantic emotions about God. Moreover, romantic authors honor the role of the supernatural in expressing experiences and beliefs that are different from the majority. William Wood may not respect the supernatural, but he does describe its eerie powers: “They report of one Pissacannawa that he can make the water burn, the rocks move, the trees dance, metamorphize himself into a flaming man. But, it may be objected, this is but deceptio visus” (Perkins 104). Romanticism compels the individual to resist social limitations and to embrace his/her individual emotions and experiences as valid and vibrant expressions of their humanity. In the poem “On Mr. Paine’s Rights of Man,” Freneau agrees with Paine’s belief in natural rights of man. “Without a king, we till the smiling plain;/ Without a king, we trace the unbounded sea,/And traffic round the globe, through each degree” (35-37 in Perkins 190). For him, the individual enjoys boundless freedom in a democratic state. To be free is an individual and natural human right. Democracy and autonomy are critical to humanity. In “To the Memory of the Brave Americans,” the last lines of he writes: “Now rest in peace, our patriot band;/ Though far from nature’s limits thrown,/ We trust they find a happier land,/A brighter sunshine of their own” (29-32 in Perkins 189). He compares death to a sense of freedom, because no one will exert their power on them anymore. Paine, like other romantic authors, magnifies the role and power of the individual in achieving freedom and happiness. Works Cited Arner, Robert D. “Neoclassicism and Romanticism: A Reading of Freneau's ‘The Wild Honey Suckle'.’” Early American Literature 9.1 (1974): 53-61. Print. Eberwein, Jane Donahue. Early American Poetry: Selections from Bradstreet, Taylor, Dwight, Freneau, & Bryant. Wisconsin: U of Wisconsin P, 1978. Print. Larkin, Edward. Thomas Paine and the Literature of Revolution. New York: Cambridge U P, 2005. Print. Perkins. American Literature before the Civil War. 2011. Pennell, Melissa McFarland. Masterpieces of American Romantic Literature. Connecticut: Greenwood, 2006. Print. York, Neil. “When Words Fail: William Pitt, Benjamin Franklin and the Imperial Crisis of 1766.” Parliamentary History 28.3 (2009): 341-374. Print. Read More