Colonial Authors Compared To Modern Essay, Research Paper
The colonial period was A time of much change, as is the
modern period. Many people viewed things differently in the
colonial period than they do today. The people of the colonial
period had much more traditional values than the people of today.
The people of the colonial period thought of religion much
more sternly than I do. John Winthrop believed in a very stern
God. John Winthrop writes, “Now if the Lord shall please to hear
us, and bring us in peace to the place we desire, then hath he
ratified this Covenant and sealed our Commission, [and] will
expect a strict performance of the Articles contained in it”
(43). He believes that God acts completely as he wishes, without
any thought for man. Samuel Sewall used religion to help him
when he needed help. In his diary, Samuell Sewall writes, “…My
Son, the minister, came to me p.m. by appointment and we pray one
for another in the Old Chamber; more especially respecting my
Courtship”(63). Sewall only acted religious when it was
convenient for him. I personally believe in a God much more
caring than that Winthrop believed in. I also believe that God
is always around, not just when I need him. Different people
have many different religious beliefs.
Throughout history, views of love have changed. Anne
Bradstreet valued love as a strong romantic bond. In
Bradstreet’s poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband” she writes, “I
prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the ritches
that Earth doth hold”(51). In this excerpt, Bradstreet is
speaking to her Husband. John Winthrop viewed love as a
religious bond between all men. He writes, “Love is the bond of
perfection” (39). Winthrop gives few references to romantic
love. I personally think of love as something that people feel
for each other just because they are both people. I believe
there is an element of love between all people. Love is viewed
differently by different people, but these beliefs have little to
do with what time period these people lived in.
It appears that as time goes by, people view marriage more
romantically, and less economically. Samuell Sewell viewed
marriage as a way to advance monetarily. In his diary he writes,
“I said ‘twould cost L100. per annum: she said twould cost but
L40″(63). This is just one example of him carefully calculating
the costs of marriage. Anne Bradstreet viewed marriage more of a
way of expressing love. In her poem, “To My Dear and Loving
Husband” Bradstreet writes, “If ever man were loved by wife, then
thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me ye women
if you can”(51). Bradstreet obviously married for romantic
reasons. I believe marriage is something that should be done for
romantic reasons. This is a popular belief in modern America.
Throughout time, marriage has changed greatly, and so have the
reasons people marry.
I personally saw myself relating to Bradstreet in many ways,
but rarely agreeing with Winthrop or Sewell. In conclusion,
overall, the people of the colonial period had more traditional
values than people of today.