2. One of the key differences between William Bradford's and Thomas Morton's view is their purpose for coming to the new land in the first place. Bradford came with his people to escape religious persecution and to found a religious colony. He sees the events that occurred on the ship over and in the establishing of the colony as proof of divine's hand in these plans pressing him on, such as when God smote the man who mocked them for their faith. On the other hand, Morton and his people came for economic and personal reason reasons such as the “hope to have wives brought over to them” (108). They are there to make better lives for themselves, so they choose to live a merry life. Another difference in their views is in how they see the land
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne's “The Maypole of Merry Mount,” he opens by personifying nature in a Transcendentalist way. Nature is shown as a beautiful, young woman with a hedonistic wildness. Nature is coordinated with the feelings of the people. For instance, when the reality of life came to the lovers, “down came a little shower of withered rose leaves from the Maypole” (1126). This image differs from the traditional Transcendentalist view of nature reflecting emotion, which only shows the best and happy sides of nature. This shows where Hawthorne's attitude towards nature diverges from the Transcendentalists. Meanwhile, Hawthorne's portrayal of the Puritans is harsh and intolerant on the surface. The Puritans spy on the men of Merry Mount from the melancholy forest, which reflects their own view of the “black wilderness” (1125). Hawthorne's description of the Puritans and their grim moves to dismantle the people of Merry Mount and their Maypole suggests that he does not fully agree with the Puritan's actions or their bleak view of nature. In the end, the Puritans are the victors. Hawthorne uses this to show that while he sees the temptation of living a life centered around joy, it is ultimately an ignorant and childish way to live. Giving over to the gloom and seriousness of the Puritans is like growing
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's “The Maypole of Merry Mount,” he opens by personifying nature in a Transcendentalist way. Nature is shown as a beautiful, young woman with a hedonistic wildness. Nature is coordinated with the feelings of the people. For instance, when the reality of life came to the lovers, “down came a little shower of withered rose leaves from the Maypole” (1126). This image differs from the traditional Transcendentalist view of nature reflecting emotion, which only shows the best and happy sides of nature. This shows where Hawthorne's attitude towards nature diverges from the Transcendentalists. Meanwhile, Hawthorne's portrayal of the Puritans is harsh and intolerant on the surface. The Puritans spy on the men of Merry Mount from the melancholy forest, which reflects their own view of the “black wilderness” (1125). Hawthorne's description of the Puritans and their grim moves to dismantle the people of Merry Mount and their Maypole suggests that he does not fully agree with the Puritan's actions or their bleak view of nature. In the end, the Puritans are the victors. Hawthorne uses this to show that while he sees the temptation of living a life centered around joy, it is ultimately an ignorant and childish way to live. Giving over to the gloom and seriousness of the Puritans is like growing