Of Plymouth Plantation Themes

The central theme of Governor William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation is Christianity—in particular, the English Separatist interpretation of Christianity that, in recent times, is usually referred to as Puritanism (although Bradford considers this term insulting.) Following the rise of a distinctly English (i.e., Anglican) church during the reign of Henry VIII, England began to move away from Catholic ritual and organization, toward a more overtly Protestant set of values, emphasizing simplicity, humility, and hard…

Even today, William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation is regarded by historians as one of the most valuable records of early New England history. Bradford penned the journal between 1630 and 1651, meaning that it contains an extraordinary amount of detail about the quality of life in Plymouth Plantation. But Bradford’s journal isn’t just an important document because of what it says about Plymouth—it’s also fascinating because of what it doesn’t say. To understand Of…

One of the most remarkable things about Of Plymouth Plantation is the way that William Bradford writes about the Native Americans that the Pilgrims encounter in New England. At times, Bradford voices his admiration for certain specific Native Americans, such as Squanto, who helps the Pilgrims communicate with Native American tribes and guides them through the wilderness. But even so, Bradford repeatedly characterizes the Native Americans as “bloodthirsty,” arguing that they’re “savages” because of…

A surprising amount of the “action” in Of Plymouth Plantation revolves around the Pilgrims’ finances. In the late 1610s the Pilgrims form a plan to migrate to the New World, and to fund the trip they make inroads with the Virginia Company of Plymouth (which Bradford often refers to simply as ‘the Virginia Company,” though nowadays it’s usually called the Plymouth Company). The Pilgrims then travel to Plymouth, significantly in debt to the English investors…