1. An introduction with excerpts from Elements of Literature
“We shall be as a city upon a hill.”
Puritanism
An introduction with excerpts from
Elements of Literature

2. A Definition:
Puritanism: a composite of social, political, ethical, and theological ideals in middle class English and American Protestantism.

3. “The Puritans were single-minded visionaries convinced of the rightness of their beliefs, but they were also practical and businesslike. They felt that Christian worship and church organization should be simplified in order to more closely resemble Biblical models. Many Puritans were persecuted for their beliefs and fled England for Holland and, ultimately, for North America.”
Elements of Literature (9)

4. Origins of Puritanism:
Early Puritans in England (beginning about 1560) felt the Church of England was too political, and was too intertwined with government.
As a result, two groups of Puritans formed:
“separating” who believed the church of England was corrupt and the true Christians needed to separate
“non-separating” who just wished to reform the established church and not separate

5. Origins
In 1620 a small group of Puritans, led by William Bradford, set sail from Holland for North America.
By 1630 another 700 Puritans had settled in the New World.
By 1640 nearly 20,000 Puritans made the trek to the New World.

6. What Did the Puritans Believe?
They believed in Original Sin, meaning humans are naturally sinful beings (Adam & Eve)
They believed in Predestination. Only a handful of “elect” individuals were saved from a fate of Hell by God Himself
This would have been seen as generous and merciful, as men were considered sinners, innately evil.

7. Beliefs
Individuals would be elected for salvation before their lives began. God had a plan for each person, and he knew all along what was in store for them.
The “elect” would be blessed (or converted) at some point in their lives with a sense of inner assurance that they were among the saved.
If you were not one of the “elect” then you were “damned.”
It was not possible to know which you were.

8. Beliefs
They did not see leading a Godly life as the road to salvation, but as an effect of it. There was interest in being morally good for two reasons:
1. Others would be perceived that you had converted or saved, and therefore walked the clean path of God
2. Since there was no way to be certain of your fate, you were inspired to purify and better yourself just in case.

9. What/How did the Puritans Practice?
Hard work and discipline
Religious duty -attending church and reading the Bible (which they believed was the literal word of God)
Constant self-examination and self-discipline (highly moral)
Education (founded Harvard)
If you were uneducated then you would be unable to read the Bible, which was unacceptable. Therefore, high importance was placed on education for religious benefit.

11. Family Life Family was the fundamental unit of society
Parents had authority, children were obedient
A child’s behavior reflected his or her parents’ virtue, especially mothers, who were primary caregivers.
Families worked together to perfect values

12. Work Ethic Puritan work ethic – hard work is an honor to God
Success = God’s approval
There is a sacred significance to everyday activity and work
Honest, hard work leads to spiritual rewards

13. Education
“City Upon a Hill” – pure, exemplary community reached with education
Harvard established
By 1670’s literacy for children was mandated
Boys and girls learned reading, boys went on to higher education
Reading led to deeper understanding of Bible, stronger faith, and more respect in family and society

14. Puritans Condemned: Adultery Fornication (except to procreate)
Drunkenness
Theatrical Performances
Laziness
Blasphemy
Gambling

15. Possible Punishments:
The Stocks
The Pillory
Whipping
Wearing letters
A for adultery, P for pauper
Banishment
Jail
Death by Hanging

16. The Stocks

17. The Pillory

18. Wearing a Letter

19. Salem Witch Trials

23. 19 People hanged

24. 1692 Witch Hunts 1692-1693 Motivations
Over 150 people arrested and imprisoned
19 hanged – 15 women, 4 men
Motivations
Theocracy – religious beliefs rule all, those who stray should be punished
Suspicion
Judgment
Property greed – unmarried women

25. Puritan Government
“Puritans believed that people should enter freely into agreements concerning their government.”
Elements of Literature (11)
Civil government should strictly enforce public morality
Churches should be self-governing bodies

26. Why was a Puritan Government Successful?
Sweeping changes & uncertainties overtaking the lives of most western Europeans during
Modern capitalism made the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Although the Puritans saw wealth as a sign of God’s favor and so tried to attain it.
In England the protestant Reformation ruptured Catholics and Protestants causing bloody wars.

27. Success
Predestination comforted troubled citizens. Strife and suffering existed, but it was part of God’s great plan and ultimately, good would triumph over evil.
Puritans did not just sit back and assume their fate was sealed, but instead felt sure that their existence as individuals was somehow a part of this plan, whether or not they were immediately rewarded for it by salvation. They constantly tried to reshape the world the way they thought the Bible designed it.

28. Characteristics of Puritan Writing
“Uses the Bible as a model: conception of individual life as a journey to salvation.”
“Saw direct connections between the Bible and their own individual lives”
“They used writing to explore their inner and outer lives for signs of the workings of God.”
“Diaries and histories were the most common forms of expression.”
“Favored a plain style…they stressed clarity of expression and avoided complicated figures of speech.”
Elements of Literature (12)

30. Photo: Pilgrim Hall Museum William Bradford

31. The Puritan Influence on our Present
Modern social and economic life through their emphasis on industry, energy, frugality, and self reliance.
American work ethic
Education
Modern ideas of democracy and capitalism

32. The Crucible, Arthur Miller

33. The Crucible, Arthur Miller
Based on the 1692 Salem Witch Trials
Written in 1950s in response to McCarthysim, when the US gov blacklisted communists, has an allegorical relationship to what Miller considered a “witch hunt.”
“Modern Witch Hunts” According to American Heritage Dictionary, a witchhunt is a political campaign launched on the pretext of investigating activities subversive to the state.
This play became an American classic, even though the initial reviews were harsh