Touching on the foundations of Puritan ideology, authors such as Winthrop, Rowlandson, and Bradstreet are founders of the diversity of voice. Moreover, their different approaches to a common ideology make it possible to view it from different perspectives, based on personal experience and intellectual exactions filtered through the prism of religiosity and mysticism. Thus, conducting analyses of the viewpoints of the three figures mentioned above will provide a better understanding of their classifications.
Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor, John Winthrop, led a group of entrepreneurs who departed Europe in quest of new trading prospects in the New World. Like the majority of the Colony’s residents, Winthrop was a Puritan. The Puritans’ near-unwavering quest for an ideal society founded on biblical precepts may be compared to the story of Moses. The myth of Moses’ descent from Mt. Sinai with the plates of the Holy Covenant was one of Winthrop’s favorite origin stories. He assumed Moses’ arduous task of guiding a persecuted people out of England’s “slavery” and into a new promised land was something he should aim for. It is how most American cities are called Canaan, Bethlehem, Goshen, or even Jerusalem — as well as why the thinker’s “model” concludes with Moses’ command to the Israelites entering Canaan to choose to live in the Covenant. His voice was particularly shrewd about the religious path he had chosen, and he proceeded from righteous ways of opposing the church in effect at the time. It would be reasonable to conclude that his evidence base predominantly created a particular challenge in this thinker’s voice.
Rowlandson, a Puritan, thinks that God’s kindness and providence affect the world’s events. She believes that the will of God is what takes place in the surrounding world, like most Puritans. Rowlandson argues throughout her story that people have no option but to accept God’s will and try to make sense of it. The Puritan worldview pervades Rowlandson’s story, notably her perception of God’s abilities and how he interacts with humanity. While her portrayal of God demonstrates his strength, she frequently seeks advice and consolation from religious references and aphorisms. She frequently informs readers that such biblical stories were brought to her by God’s will, suggesting God’s omnipotence and capacity to work effectively through scriptures. Consequently, Rowlandson’s voice can be described as the one glorifying God and his strength towards the world. Therefore, it is apparent that the second voice of Puritanism promotes kindness and forgiveness rather than opposition.
Puritan Anne Bradstreet tried to live her life in accordance with Calvinist principles while coping with the difficulties of her human psyche. When Bradstreet’s house burnt down, she was confronted with the truth of life’s difficulties and given a choice between two options. She could blame God and turn away from Him if she surrendered to her humanity and allowed herself to be overtaken by losing her worldly goods. Bradstreet might accept the Puritan concept that God is still good and that she had a better prize waiting for her in paradise if she allowed her soul to triumph over her humanity. After learning to let up on her material goods, she could get closer to God in this way. Bradstreet goes through some internal turmoil, but in the end, she can accept the loss of her earthly possessions and refocus her attention on what truly counts — her connection with God. The voice of this figure is a Puritan answer to loss, pain, and internal struggle. According to the presented information, it is logical to conclude that the manifestation of Bradstreet’s voice is hope.
In conclusion, in analyzing the three voices, they represent different aspects of the same ideology becomes apparent. While Winthrop represents opposition to the church and righteous anger, Rowlandson praises God and acknowledges his absolute authority. On the other hand, Bradstreet demonstrates a sense of hope found after suffering and trial, a motif known to Christianity and Puritan culture. Such viewpoints are utterly crucial in the study of ideologies, for them and their subsequent analyses allow for a complete understanding of the depth of human thought.