Puritans: A Bible-Based Family & Society - Essay Sample

Introduction

Puritan's based their belief about family and society at large from the Biblical point of view; they believe marriage is for procreation, love, and above all for salvation. Husbands were the heads of the family while women were to be submissive and portray religious piety, obedience, and humility. The Puritans movement to England was triggered by consistent scripture interpretation, emigration, and some political differences (Brafford 74). These differences caused them to split into two teams with the fifth monarchy men agitated to the right while the rest pulled to the left. The phrase "civil body politic, "was used by William Bradford to express the idea of self-government for the first time in the world. This is evident by the immediate agreement to the mayflower compact, and the appointment of John Carver as their first governor who was later succeeded after his death.

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Apart from the Puritans, the Hawthorne's too in the scarlet letter believe on the existence of demons in nature and wilderness. Whitman says, "I loaf and invite my soul" loafing is a descriptive term for arrogantly buttoned-down contemplation on the stages of doing nothing. Loafing is an important spiritual stage for Whitman as it gives him time for self-evaluation and composing songs (Munves 368). Apart from Whitman Emerson was also a loafer, his loafing was similar to that of Whitman because for him to loafing developed him spiritually since he could read the scriptures and compose songs too. Lincoln's speeches termed Whitman as the sweetest and wisest soul in his days and land because of his strong beliefs on his soul. Lincolns sees Whitman as a self-promoter, and to him, that is a great value that has enabled Whitman to be a special poet.

Failure of the community or failure of an individual complicates conformity and individualism notions in that when one has failed as an individual; the impact is felt and shared by all members of the society. This is because in individualistic societies the ties between individuals are strong; this collectivism encourages conformity and well-being of all members of the society, not just their immediate circle. A failure of a community or an individual is, therefore, every member's responsibility (Bradford 74). Eliza Wharton would choose Whitman poems and specifically 'I loaf and invite by soul' this is because freedom has been a theme in her poetry; women freedom and the dangers associated with freedoms. Additionally, Whitman's soul-promoting attitude could attract Eliza Wharton into reading his poems.

Tom Walker best demonstrates the worst husband, according to early American fiction. This is evident by his ability to portray the quality of a materialistic husband who is self-centered and neglects the needs of his family (Gottesman et al. 75). Moreover, Tom is stingy and spiteful; he does not want to spend his money even on his family. He is spiteful to his family members' wife and children and also to other members of the community. This characters and behaviors qualify him to the worst husband according to early American fiction. The God Dickinson imagines on her poetry are so different from the puritan's God; for example, in her poetry, God Dickinson is very upset about God's injustices to Mosses. According to him, Mosses was a righteous man and deserved God's favor and mercies because of his historical loyalty to God.

Works Cited

Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. Simon and Schuster, 2013.

Gottesman, Ronald, et al. The Norton Anthology of American literature. WW Norton & Company, Inc., New York, 1980.

Munves, James. Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence: The Writing and Editing of the Document that Marked the Birth of the United States of America. Scribner, 1978.