Introduction
The Pilgrims and the Puritans are two prominent groups of English settlers. They arrived in the New World at the beginning of the 17th century, and their common desire was religious freedom and a new beginning. However, they embodied this desire with the help of various unique approaches. Historical writings evidence that they differed in various aspects of their religious beliefs and practices.
Comparison of the Pilgrims and the Puritans Through American Literature
Similarities
The main similarity between these two groups is believed to be their motivation to escape religious persecution in England. This is mainly followed in John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” because while reading it, the reader can notice the common devotion to the religious faith of the Pilgrims and the Puritans. According to Winthrop, “city upon a hill” served as an example of a community of believers and a place where they could practice. It united people with a common goal and served as a shining example.
Anne Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear Loving Husband” traces similar Christian devotion motifs and reflections. According to Bradstreet, the poem emphasizes a woman’s commitment to a man, interspersing it with an emphasis on a deep personal relationship with faith. This reflects the Puritans’ view that their relationships, including family members, had religious significance. Like the pilgrims, they had values reflected in the intensity of feelings and devotion that manifested in love for God and others.
Differences
However, these groups diverged in their religious practices and attitudes. Anne Bradstreet’s poem “Upon the Burning of Our House” emphasizes the influence of the Puritans on personal piety and belief in divine providence. According to Bradstreet, the writer turns to her faith for consolation, which emphasizes the focus of Puritan spirituality on individuality. Pilgrims, on the contrary, wanted to create a separate religious community and emphasized a shared obligation to follow beliefs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite their shared goal of seeking religious freedom in the New World, the Pilgrims and the Puritans had different approaches to religious practices. Their notions of governance and relations between the church and the state also differed, as the Puritans focused on individual values, while the Pilgrims sought to create a community. In the readings examined, this was reflected in human beliefs and specific details that provide valuable information about American religious history.
Works Cited
Bradstreet, Anne. “To My Dear Loving Husband.” The Complete Works of Anne Bradstreet, 1981.
Bradstreet, Anne. “Upon the Burning of Our House.” The Columbia Anthology of American Poetry (Columbia University Press), 1995.
Winthrop, John. “A Model of Christian Charity.” Harvard University Press, 1985.
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