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Austin Hopper
Ms. Albrecht
Advanced Composition
9/26/14


Life In Early America


For some early settlers, life in early America was not as easy as people would think.
William Bradford and William Byrd were two writers who composed works of literature about
life in early America, however they differ in description, credibility, and style. In the settling of
early America, Bradford was actually there, but Byrd was not.
From Bradfords point of view, the early settlers were hardworking & efficient. They
were problem solvers, good Christians, they cared for the sick and cared about other people.
They did this even while they were starving, and freezing in the cold winter. Many of the settlers
died off one by one, this period was called the starving time. Bradford explains, And of these, in
the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great
commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and
hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their
beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them (Bradford 124). Bradford is
saying that even though they are starving or sick, they are still working hard. Bradford also states
When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both
hungry and thirst, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His
lovingkindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men (Bradford 123). Bradford is
using his religion, being Puritan, to describe whats going on in his life. He is saying that
everyone is hardworking and strong. Byrd describes the early settlers as lazy morons. He says
the have unnecessary conflicts with the Indians, and that they expected to have everything
handed to them. Byrd describes Those wretches were set not far from Roanoke Inlet, but by
some fatal disagreement or laziness were either starved or cut to pieces by the Indians (Byrd
132). Byrd believes they could have easily died by one little disagreement. Byrd thinks they are
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ignorant, and valued drinking more than religion. Byrd states From Kecoughtan they extended
themselves as far as Jamestown, where, like true Englishman, they built a church that cost no
more than fifty pounds and a tavern that cost five hundred (Byrd 133). Byrd explains how they
valued drinking more than religion by making a tavern cost more than a church. Byrd may have
been educated on this topic, however he didnt have a first-hand account.
Even though Byrd was educated on this subject, he wasnt there like Bradford was.
Bradfords text is very reliable because he was actually there when this happened, he had a first-
hand account of early America. Bradford often says the word they in his writing because of the
fact that he is being objective. He also refers to himself as one. An example of this is from
Bradfords text As this calamity fell among the passengers that were to be left here to plant, and
were hasted ashore and made to drink water that the seamen might have the more beer, and one
in his sickness desiring but a small can of beer, it was answered that if he were their own father
he should have none (Bradford 124). This is Bradford being objective by referring to himself as
one. On the other hand, Byrd is being subjective, he just says the word they because he isnt
one of them and he is making fun of them. Byrds credibility can be questioned since he is
making fun of them and wasnt actually there like Bradford was. Byrd was a wealthy scholar,
and was actually born in America. He was born years after the first settlers were in America, so
he could not possibly say the word we in his writing. Byrd states This made it easy for the
Company to procure as many volunteers as they wanted for their new colony, but, like most
other undertakers who have no assistance from the public, they starved the design by too much
frugality; for, unwilling to launch out at first into too much expense, they shipped off but few
people at a time, and those but scantily provided (Byrd 131). This means that many of the
people that wanted to go to America to start a new colony were a waste to society and were no
use to any of the British people. Another piece of text where he is being subjective is The
French, for their parts, have not been so squeamish in Canada, who upon trial find abundance of
attraction in the Indians. Their late grand monarch thought it not below even the dignity of a
Frenchman to become one flesh with this people and therefore ordered 100 livres for any of his
subjects, man or woman, that would intermarry with a native (Byrd 133-134). The writing
styles of the two writers may be different but they portray the same general idea.
These two writers styles are completely different. For example, Bradfords style is
simple and plain. Bradford uses longer sentences to get the point across, such as this long and
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boring opening sentence. These troubles being blown over, and how all being compact together
in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together,
which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were
afflicted with seasickness. (Bradford 121). Bradford states, in another long boring sentence,
There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which
made him the more haughty; he would always be condemning the poor people in their sickness
and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to
help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journeys end, and to make merry
with what they had; and if he were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most
bitterly (Bradford 121). He shows that he was a remotely plain and declarative writer. On the
other hand, Byrd was being a satirical writer, which means he was making fun of the early
settlers. He used complex words and used short; choppy sentences. Byrd states As it happened
some ages before to be the fashion to saunter to the Holy Land and go upon other Quixote
adventures, so it was now grown the humor to take a trip to America (Byrd 131). Byrd shows
that he believes the early settlers expected everything to be handed to them. Byrd is making fun
of them and think that they had it easy but they were just complaining because they actually had
to work for something. Byrd describes They had now made peace with the Indians, but there
was one thing wanting to make that peace lasting. The natives could by no means persuade
themselves that the English were heartily their friends so long as they disdained to intermarry
with them. And, in earnest, had the English consulted their own security and the good of the
colony, had they intended either to civilize or convert these gentiles, they would have brought
their stomachs to embrace this prudent alliance. (Byrd 133). Byrd shows that he is making fun
of them because he obviously thinks that intermarrying with the Indians is a terrible idea and
theyre stupid for even thinking about doing this.
Bradford and Byrds works are different in almost every way. Their personal descriptions
of the early settlers were completely different. Bradford thinks that the early settlers were
hardworking, efficient, were good Christians and cared for other people; while Byrd believes
they were morons, they were lazy, that they valued drinking more than religion, were ignorant
and expected everything to be handed to them. The credibility of the two could be argued, but i
believe Bradfords text is more reliable since he was actually there and Byrd actually was not
there. Byrd was born many years after this happened, and was born in America. Even though he
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was a wealthy scholar, I dont think his writing is as reliable as Bradfords is. Bradford and
Byrds styles differ greatly, Bradfords being simple and plain, and Byrds being complex and
satirical. I think if you are trying to find out what actually happened in early America, Bradfords
writing would be more beneficial to you.