Analyzing Bradford & Columbus' Impact on American Literature

This essay explores the contributions of William Bradford and Christopher Columbus to American literature, highlighting their distinct perspectives and influences. Bradford, a writer from Colonial America and part of the Mayflower, is known for works like "Of Plymouth Plantation," which detailed the religious reasons for leaving England and the challenges faced by the Puritans. His writings, characterized by a strong emphasis on God and moral connections, contrast with Columbus's narratives of exploration and promises of wealth in the New World. Columbus's accounts, while exaggerated, inspired further expeditions and promoted a vision of America as a land of opportunity. The essay concludes that both authors, driven by religious and economic motives, shaped the early perceptions and literary representations of America.

Header and Finder
Comparing the contributions of William Bradford and Christopher Columbus to
American Literature
Introduction
On a traditional basis, USA is viewed as the melting pot for the people that comes
from numerous diversity of cultures and races particularly European People from the
different nations that decides to come to America for economic or social reasons1. When
speaking regarding their culture it is not possible to simplify due to each group has their own
identify and has formed their own culture with their language through the religion and
religious belief. The essay aims to understand the contributions made by the Williams
Bradford and Christopher Columbus to American literature.
Discussion:
William Bradford was a writer from the Colonial America. He was also the part of
Mayflower and his contributions included important works that included Mayflower compact
and “Of the Plymouth Plantation” during the year 19222. William Bradford is regarded as the
different writer from the other writers from the present time since he was not very
adventurous. He did not get captured by the Indians such as John Smith or went on the
voyage like Columbus. He was considered famous for being the governor of the
Massachusetts Colony. He was mainly famous for creating the first government. Prior to
William Bradford there were no forms of rules, laws and governments. When he arrived in
1 Levine, Robert S., et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Volume A and
B. Vol. 1. WW Norton & Company, 2016.
2 DiCuirci, Lindsay. Colonial Revivals: The Nineteenth-Century Lives of Early American
Books. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018.

1
Header and Finder
America, he began doing these things. Considering his literary work “Of Plymouth
Plantation”, William Bradford discussed the reasons why he left England. His work included
the reasons that were mainly related to religion reasoning since the English did not accepted
the Puritans.
The writings of Bradford also talked regarding the great things which was heard
regarding the New World along with the native People. His writings criticised the natives
despite the fact that he never met them. The narration of Bradford reflected the importance of
God for the puritan mind and because of this reason the entire narrative comprised of several
references particular when they successfully overcame the adversity3. The opinion of
Bradford included the viewpoint on Americans that they are not joyful and often carried the
feelings of sadness with proud. The literary works of William Bradford does not comprise of
the imaginations but contained emotions which made him totally opposite of Columbus. The
purpose of the writing was to morally create the connection of what he sacrificed for the
citizens that are living now among the readers and writer.
The Christopher Columbus and his expeditions disembarked in the American
continent during the year 1492. The autonomy relating to the native population began to
diminish as they were enslaved, murdered and were forced to leave their lands4. Several
written records of Christopher Columbus during those time presented the new continent as
the promised land which was ready for colonialization with full of treasures and
opportunities.
3 DeRosa, Robin. "The open anthology of earlier American literature." (2015).
4 Ruland, Richard, and Malcolm Bradbury. From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A history of
American literature. Routledge, 2016.

2
Header and Finder
The literary work of the Christopher Columbus also included the number of patriotic
poems and poems that attached the monarchism and expansionism of Europe. The literary
works of Columbus generally included the views which included the moral and political
nature. His writings were mainly dedicated to inspire and strengthen the rising generation as
the sense of noteworthy republican institutions as the greater platform of public and private
contentment5. The exaggerated tales of Columbus included the promises of gold which
resulted numerous investors to finance and participate in the upcoming expeditions in the
Indies.
Besides the narrative work of Christopher Columbus included the powerful
declaration regarding the faith in the universality of the principle of natural rights. His
literature mainly included the powerful statement relating to belief that such principles would
be put in practice. The work of Columbus proceeded with the series of visions for the future
of America that extended greater than the colonial and revolutionary times for the
establishment of the peace along with Arts in new America6. He also cited that the federal
system of America would extend to the entire world.
Conclusion:
Together with the high commercial interest supported by the Castilian and the English
Monarchs, one should denote that the political and spiritual reasons for the colonization of
America which Bradford and Columbus presented in their writings. Both the authors invoke
5 Williams, Mukesh. "In Ideology We Trust: Creating Landmarks in American Literature
(Part One)." (2016): 45-63.
6 Goyal, Yogita, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Transnational American Literature.
Cambridge University Press, 2017.

3
Header and Finder
the religious zeal as the immediate causes that promoted them to cross the ocean. The joint
reading of Columbus and Bradford explained that the language of religious liberation is
inseparably bounded with the language of economic promotions.

4
Header and Finder
References:
DeRosa, Robin. "The open anthology of earlier American literature." (2015).
DiCuirci, Lindsay. Colonial Revivals: The Nineteenth-Century Lives of Early American
Books. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018.
Goyal, Yogita, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Transnational American Literature.
Cambridge University Press, 2017.
Levine, Robert S., et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Volume A and B.
Vol. 1. WW Norton & Company, 2016.
Ruland, Richard, and Malcolm Bradbury. From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A history of
American literature. Routledge, 2016.
Williams, Mukesh. "In Ideology We Trust: Creating Landmarks in American Literature (Part
One)." (2016): 45-63.