Smith And Bradford

After reading two of the first works ever written in the New World, it is evident to see the vast differences and similarities amongst the two. John Smith and William Bradford were the authors of such works. One of the largest contrasting aspects of the works are the points of view and the author’s purposes for writing, where as, similarly, both works show breathless adoration of a person or being.

John Smith was a boldly pompous man, at least through analyzation of his writing, and he goes to write an autobiography but instead writes a biography of himself because he perpetuates it in the third person. This is example is pertinent of his turgid attitude of himself:

When this news came to Jamestown, much was their sorrow for his loss, few expecting what ensued. Six or seven weeks those barbarians kept him prisoner, many strange triumphs and conjurations they made of him, yet he so demeaned himself amongst them, as he not only diverted them form surprising the fort, but procured his own liberty, and got himself and his company such estimation amongst them, that those savages admired him. (Smith)

Smith is speaking of himself in this quote, which is the breathless adoration of a person that is shown in the Smith piece.

Where as in the Bradford piece there is much admiration of something but that is of God, not the author of the piece. Both works adore someone or something and thanks that figure for what they have or what was spared of them. As it says in the Bradford piece as a boy is thrown overboard in rough seas, “it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung overboard…till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water” (Bradford). Here God is the one being breathlessly adorned for saving a young boy.

In even more contrast to both author’s differing points of view is their purpose for writing these short accounts of the early beginnings of their lives in the new world. It is evident that Bradford writes to show people what is happening at Plymouth, and to explain to the world what life is like at a developing colony. Where as on the contrary Smith writes his own accounts to boast his ego and make himself look like a hero to the dazed reader who can not see that this is a third person autobiography.

The only true similarity found between the two works is that these were some of the first things ever written in American Literature. Because of their grave historically placement they will go on to shape the beginning writings in American Literature for many years to come.

After reading both works in entirety, it can be seen that both pieces were effective in displaying the message