External Conflict In William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation

“Of Plymouth Plantation” by William Bradford is history about the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the lives of the Puritan colonists. He was a Puritan who sailed to Plymouth. He began to attend meetings of small group of Nonconformists and later, he joined them. The Nonconformists sailed to find land where they can be free to worship and live according to their own beliefs. After several years, William Bradford became governor of Plymouth Colony, and he was elected as a governor at least thirty times. During the sailing, and after arrived at Plymouth, there were several conflicts shown as internal and external. The literary mean of external conflict is a struggle between the protagonist and another character, character against nature or some outside force. During the sailing to a new land, Plymouth, people who were in the ship were faced many times with nature problems, such as winds, and fierce storms which made ship to shake. As writer William Bradford was mentioned in the passage, “They were encountered many times with crosswinds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was shroudly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the midships was
bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the hip could not be able to perform the voyage”. They started to think about whether or not continue the voyage. The ship was about half-way on its journey, and in the great danger The people who were in ship finally decided to bear up for the Cape Cod. After they landed at Plymouth, in two or three months, half of their company died, particularly in January and February, which is winter time. Fifty people died and fifty people remained. It was the first winter; they were not ready to go through it. They did not have houses, clothes, enough food and other comforts. “ But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months’ time, half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which this voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them”. These shortages lead them to be scary at death and also put them in external conflict with hard time. Internal conflict means in literature and drama, a struggle which takes place in the protagonist’s mind and through which the character reaches a new understanding or dynamic change. In Plymouth, there was struggle in few people who had health which most people did not have. There were six or seven people had their own health with no pain. They thought they really have to help the sick people who might infect them. The Puritans helped the patients but not the sailor. “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. In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered”. For their recompense, they did not want that you can see, but they were getting recompense every time in everywhere by being with the Lord. “And what I have said of these I may way of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living; that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them”.
After the depth of winter, they met Indians who speaks different language that they have never been heard in England. “But about the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand but marveled at it”.
Both Pilgrims and Indians, they were hard to approach each other because Indians did not know those people are dangerous or helpful, and also, Indians wondered about that those people and whether or not they were going hurt them, what kind of weapons they had and why they were here.
One of the Indians could speak English had been in England. So, they could approach each other easily without doubt with internal conflict. “Being, after some time of entertainment and gifts dismissed, a while after he came again, and five more with him, and they brought again all the tools that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoit”. By helping of Squanto, Native Americans and Puritans had given gifts and made peace
together. Thus, after first depth of winter, Pilgrims began to prepare for the following winter with health, strength houses and all things. Also, they learned how to fish. They had turkeys, venison, and other foods. Even though, outside of their houses was the depth of winter, but inside they were making festive meals such as the first Thanksgiving. “Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterward write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports”. Plymouth colonists’ first Thanksgiving was not known until fall of 1612. Massasoit and his men joined the Pilgrims with playing games together.