One of the most interesting/significant parts of the reading for me was the attention and interest placed upon the Native Americans by Thomas Morton. When Morton first began his tale of the Native, I was afraid that the tone would be prematurely set in a naive rut. Yet Morton, was actually interested in the Natives and hardly passed judgment. Morton presented the Natives in a respected manner, giving examples of their dress and mannerisms, proves that Morton was interested and interested in details. I was somewhat disappointed in the reaction or lack there of, when Morton mentioned that some of the Natives were killed with there own knives by some men of Plymouth. I was expecting there to be a retaliation of some sort on Morton's part, but his tone is very unbiased and is not affected by his emotions.
Throughout this piece, Morton reflects a great deal on the workings of the Plymouth government along with the customs/traditions. His attention to detail and otherwise minute circumstances, grabs my attention, as he presents his findings in a rather calm way. Morton is humble in his research and continues with his interest with the Natives throughout this piece. In some parts of this piece, I get the tone that Morton is trying to lay all his findings out, so that the reader can see a more clear picture of what is going on in Plymouth and why he has no reactions to what is going on. Morton by the end, has an entirely different tone and is now using it in a more controlling and demeaning manner, as the Pilgrims were to the Natives. The Pilgrims were pleasant to the Natives until they needed something from them, and then just took what they wanted from the Natives.
Morton brings up a great deal of growth in his “New English Canaan,” but it seems as if Morton has some hard feelings against those that are in power. This power is not a natural power like that of the Natives, but power that is restricted to few people.
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I agree with this entirely but I feel that Morton really showed the differences between the Natives and those that followed strictly Puritanism to demonstrate their differences and to explain how whole hearted the Native people were and how they did not need lavish things to make them happy, and the Puritans only went to the Natives when they wanted something and they were only out for themselves and their personal needs. And I definitely agree with you that Morton is laying out all of his findings so that everyone can get a better picture of what is going on because especially in these past times, many things were covered up and meant to look differently compared to what was actually going on.
ReplyDeleteMorton
ReplyDeleteThomas Morton was a very interesting character to read about. He seemed like the drunk uncle that the Puritans didnt want to show up to thanksgiving dinner. In William Bradford's "of Plymouth Plantation", Bradford describes Morton as having erected a Maypole in the settlement of Merry-Mount. While to me this Merrypole seemed like just what the Puritan's needed, Bradford did not agree. Morton would have them dance around it and drink liquor and sing songs. I actually found a small part of one of the songs online - Make greene garlands, bring bottles out;And fill sweet Nectar, freely about,Uncover thy head, and feare no harm,For hers good liquor to keepe it warme.
The Puritans saw it as a false idol and wanted it removed. They also looked down on how Morton treated the Indians mostly because he sold them weapons. They even said he was having pagan orgies with Indian women. But Morton didnt seem like a bad guy to me. He saw the indians as people and treated them as such. To me, Morton is one of the first in a long line of people , to have his character attacked by the Puritans. This i think has gone on through our entire countries history and still goes on today. (Salem Witch Hunt, Revolutionary war, Any presidential debate, McCarthy Hearings...etc)