The Iroquois Creation Story and The Book of Genesis differ in many ways, including their cultural contexts, belief systems, and narrative structures. The Iroquois Creation story comes from the oral tradition of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people, who are Indigenous to North America (Murphy, 2019). The story reflects their spiritual beliefs, values, and relationship with the natural world. In contrast, The Book of Genesis is part of the Judeo-Christian tradition, which emerged in the Middle East and Europe.
Christopher Columbus
In his 1493 letter, Columbus is full of enthusiasm and optimism about the possibilities of the New World. He describes the beauty and richness of the lands he has encountered and expresses his belief that he has found a new route to the wealth and spices of the East (Kadir et al., 2022). He emphasizes his desire to spread Christianity to the indigenous peoples he has encountered and to establish Spanish dominance over the region.
William Bradford
The passage reflects the prejudices and stereotypes that were common in European views of Native Americans during the colonial period. The Pilgrims saw the Native Americans as savage, barbarous, and treacherous people and believed that they delighted in torturing and killing their enemies (Paul, 2022). These views were based on a Eurocentric worldview that saw European culture and civilization as superior to that of the Native Americans.
Anne Bradstreet
“The Prologue” by Anne Bradstreet reveals her struggle to locate literary authority within herself, as she grapples with the cultural and social limitations placed on women’s writing in the 17th century. At the beginning of the poem, Bradstreet expresses her anxiety about her own worthiness as a writer, suggesting that her work is unworthy of attention and criticism. She acknowledges the prejudices against women’s writing, noting that she is “a woman, inexpert and unskilled.”
However, as the poem progresses, Bradstreet begins to assert her own achievement and skill as a writer, despite the cultural and social constraints she faces. She argues that her gender should not preclude her from engaging in literary pursuits, declaring that “I am obnoxious to each carping tongue / Who says my hand a needle better fits “(Brodzki & Schenck, 2019). Bradstreet asserts her own poetic voice and style, challenging the established literary conventions of her time. She suggests that her work is not simply imitative of other poets but reflects her own unique perspective and experiences.
Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton’s ideal community is one of free-spirited revelry, where people can enjoy themselves without the constraints of Puritan religious morality. In his text, “New English Canaan,” he describes the people of Merrymount as “frolic spirits” who “drank good liquor in abundance” and celebrated with dancing and feasting (Davidson, 2019). Morton views this community as a contrast to the strict, joyless lifestyle of the Puritans, which he criticizes as being focused solely on work and piety.
Thomas Paine
In this passage, Paine is attempting to convince his readers that the idea of forming a government of their own is not only a natural right but also a rational and sensible choice. He makes several arguments that are designed to appeal to readers who wish to think of themselves as “cool and deliberate” rather than impulsive and rash. Paine emphasizes the “precariousness of human affairs,” suggesting that the current situation is too uncertain and unpredictable to leave to chance (Shoikhedbrod, 2021). This argument appeals to readers who want to make sure that they are taking a reasoned and thoughtful approach to the issue.
Reference
Brodzki, B., & Schenck, C. (2019). Life/lines: Theorizing women’s autobiography. Cornell University Press.
Davidson, M. B. (2019). The Writers’ America. New Word City.
Kadir, D., Braz, A., & Izzo, D. (2022). The Americas. Literature: A World History, 3, 977-1015.
Murphy, T. W. (2019). Other Scriptures: Restoring Voices of Gantowisas to an Open Canon. Essays on American Indian and Mormon History (Salt Lake City, U. of Utah Press, 2019), 23-40.
Paul, D. N. (2022). We Were Not the Savages, First Nations History: Collision Between European and Native American Civilizations. Fernwood publishing.
Shoikhedbrod, I. (2021). Revolution or legality? Confronting the spectre of Marx in Habermas’s legal philosophy. Contemporary Political Theory, 20, 72-95.