Bradford Vs. Morton Essay, Research Paper
Bradford and Morton
I have lived my entire life here in New Hampshire and upon my thinking about it, I am amazed that I live so close to history. I am but two hours away from a controversy that occurred four hundred years ago. And it is from this beginning that the “great” United States of America grew. I laugh out loud; is this not true. Our founding fathers were nothing more than a few ambitious sinners with their own dreams and desires, not much different than the generations today. The pilgrims came desiring religious freedom and with a noble vision of building such a community of Christians that they would be known as a “City upon a Hill,” a light to the lost. However they all did not come with a common dream as we see in these writing of Thomas Morton and William Bradford
Unlike the pilgrims who came for political reason, it seem that Morton may have been sent over because of his ill behavior. I can imagine that he may have got himself into trouble and the judge part pardons part punishes him by sending him to break in the new territory in America. I do not know if this is true, but it makes sense in light of the comment that was made that Morton had “left his country for his country’s good.” Morton also makes the comment that though Morton is a well educated man, he has “a tendency to get into fights and lawsuits.” (Of Plymouth Plantation, pp. 226) Morton’s plans for Merry-mount seem to consist of nothing more than the indulgence of the profane and self gratification. Morton himself writes:
“Then drink and be merry, merry, merry boys,
Let all you delight be in Hymen’s joys;” (New English Canaan, pp.277-81)
Bradford talks about Morton and his men as leading a “dissolute life, pouring out themselves into all profaneness.” (Of Plymouth Plantation, pp. 226) The actions of those at Merry-mount are detestable to the surrounding settlements. Morton’s live easy attitude bothers the other settlements because they know that such behavior can not last as pleasure for ever.
Of course everything that Bradford claims to be true of Morton, Morton denies. He claims that Bradford is just against him. How ever, what Morton claims he is unable to prove.
Bradford’s testimony in backed by the other settlements and by his reputation.
Both sides of the argument between Thomas Morton and William Bradford are very subjective like many personal views on popular issues today. Technically we can not know what exactly happened, because we hear the story after it has been filtered through ones subjectiveness and excuse
Aren’t we all a bit like these two sides that we seen brought out in Morton and Bradford? We sacrifice relationships and possibilities of happiness all to the god of our selfish interests? I think of when I near destroyed my relationship with my parents all because I was lying about what I was doing. They would question and I would lie in response and this became a vicious circle where the truth and all trust between us was almost lost.