John Smith Compare And Contrast Essay

Bradford and Smith Compare and Contrast Essay
William Bradford and John Smith are very similar people with two very different perspectives. Bradford, originally from England, led his colonists to America where they landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He became the governor of the colony for 30 years. Smith, who is also from England, led colonist to Virginia where they founded Jamestown. He then became the president of the Virginia. Both of their narratives were written in the seventeenth century and paint a vivid picture about what their lifestyles were like. Although they have the same heritage and similar leadership, Bradford and Smith prove that they lived and had very different perspectives about the new world, which is expressed in their
different narrative writing styles. This is because of their different interactions with Native Americans, the conditions of the colony they were living in, and their overall tone.
When Bradford and his colonists landed in Plymouth, it was two months later than expected. Bradford and his colonists had no time to prepare for the harsh winter coming. As a result “in two or three months’ time half of their company died,” of disease and starvation, “especially in January and February,” (Bradford 73). When spring came, Bradford and his surviving colonists began to prepare the way they should have five months prior. However, they struggled because the land was foreign and Native Americans were stealing tools. Fortunately for Bradford, one specific Native American, Samoset, came to the rescue and helped the colonists. “He told them also of another Indian whose name is Squanto, a native of this place” (Bradford 75). Squanto made peace with them, became their translator, “He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish” (Bradford 75). He helped the colonist to get back on their feet and survive in the New World. Through all of struggles the colonists and Bradford had they always stayed calm, cheerful, and “without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love” (Bradford 73). Bradford respected the Natives and their land, he became friends with them, and became very grateful for their help.
Smith and his colonists landed in the colony of Virginia and established Jamestown.
Only after a few months of establishing the colony “fifty in this time we buried” (Smith 67). Many colonist were not immune to the many new diseases the new colony had. As a result many died from disease and starvation. The colonists and Native Americans did not get along. For “six or seven weeks those barbarians kept him prisoner” (Smith 68). They tied Smith to a tree and were ready to shoot at him, however King of Pamukee, Opechancanough, told them to stop after “he gave a round ivory double compass dial” (Smith 68) to him. However not long after Smith thought he had been saved they tried to kill him again. The Native Americans tried to beat him to death, but he was saved by Pocahontas. He was also almost burned to death by being trapped in a hut. Throughout the narrative Smith speaks ill of them. He very much despised the Native Americans because “every hour expected to be put to one death or other” (Smith 69).
Bradford and Smith had two very different experiences and perspectives of the New World. The conditions of the colony explains how different the parts of the New World was when they arrived. Along with the conditions, the location of the colony shows how the interaction with Native Americans differed. And lastly their overall tone about how they felt explains how much they liked and disliked the New World. So as similar as these two men were, their overall perspective with the New World
makes them look very different.