FROM "DIARY OF A PURITAN GIRL" #1 Puritan Orthodoxy
If you've nothing to add re: Miller, how about: Offer a solid example from the diary of Puritan orthodoxy still in evidence in Massachusetts in the later 1600's.
Even though "Diary of a Puritan Girl" mostly indicates the decline of Puritan Orthodoxy in Massachusetts in the late 17th century, there are still some remaining Puritan ideals evident in her entries. Hetty Shephard proves to have a profound sense of guilt in most of her diary entries, such as the one on January 1, 1676, where she states "Yesterday was a day indeed. The preaching began at ten in the morning, and held until twelve, when a strong prayer was made and I was, I hope, much built up. But when the sermon was preached in the afternoon I fell asleep and lost much I fear of the discourse, and this weighed heavily on my conscience."
This quote not only shows the Puritans' profound sense of guilt, but also shows the importance of religion and Church-going in their society.
While Puritan orthodoxy does seem to be flickering in an out of existence during the late 17th century, certain remnants of it appear to have been thriving nevertheless. These leftover aspects of the orthodoxy are largely apparent in Hetty Shepard's "Diary of a Puritan Girl." Though many examples are evident, I find that the most important revolves around the stressed importance of parents and the idea that children must adopt the Puritan values of their elders to succeed in life. On page 71, Hetty describes the fear that she has in going to hell to pay for her corrupt doings. Her aunt comforts her by reminding her that God will have mercy on her because of her "good mother." Hetty's thoughts begin to wander and she questions those outside the confines of her own religion: " Oh, what becomes of those girls who have not good mothers?" This statement highlights the Puritan view that success in life is reliant exclusively on younger generations embracing the exact same ideals of the elders and furthermore implementing the same process as they get older. This insular concept opposes the idea of the younger generation adapting to the times and having experiences outside of their religious culture.
Hetty recalls on March 10, 1676, "I saw Samuel Checkly and smiled; this was not a time to trifle, and I repented.... he whispered to me that he would rather serve me than the elders, which was a wicked thing to say, and I felt myself to blame." Her thoughts reflect the Puritan idea of profound guilt. Even though smiling is a perfectly natural and healthy thing for a teenager to do, she feels that it is a sin against God and it makes her doubt herself and feel guilty. Clearly, the Puritan teachings have led her to feel as if emotion and happiness is evil and against the will of God. As well, she blames herself for the rebellious comment of Samuel Checkly, which indicates her belief in communal sin and also the place of young women in society. She feels guilty for expressing her feelings for Samuel by smiling at him, even though his comment to her was far more racy by Puritan standards. Hetty is unable to see that she isn't to blame for her feelings because Puritan orthodoxy is so prevalent in Massachusetts. She can't see beyond the Puritan guilt to realize that what she feels isn't sinful.
On April 5, 1676, Hetty wrote about an Indian attack at Plymouth, in which ten people died. Hetty's parents decided after this attack to send her to Boston, but Hetty says that her "faith in God sustains her," and also that she feels safe because her uncle "is a mighty warrior before the Lord." Hetty is worried about the Indian threat, but she feels that God will protect her (perhaps in the guise of her uncle). Though other comments in the diary indicate the decline of Puritanism, this particular section emphasizes that it still exists.
On June 19, 1676 Shepard wrote about begging her brother to "unite with God's people" however he responds by saying, "the great Miles Standish was not a member and cared not to go to meeting on the Lord's Day, and yet he subdued our enemies, laid out our roads, and everybody had respect for him." Shepard then wrote "It is surely hard to understand these things." This passage represents the existance of Puritanism in this time because it represents communal sin by Hetty Shepard's attempts to correct her brother's sins. She is terribly bothered by his comment and does not understand how one could be respected if they did not devote themselves to their religion. Although the comment itself may represent a decline in Puritanism, Shepard's response shows evidence that Puritanism was still alive.
Like some others have discussed, I feel like the guilt one feels for their sins as a Puritan is prominent in The Diary of A Puritan Girl. In addition to Ezgi's example, on October 6th, 1676, Hetty Shepard writes, "There is much talk about Phillip's son, a boy of nine years old, who was taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." Again, she feels guilty or that it is a sin to feel a sense of remorse for a nine year old boy in a very difficult position. This, I feel, is part of what brings about the downfall of Puritan society, as it creates a clear unhappiness among its people.
Although the decline of Puritanism is very apparent in her diary, the idea of having an intense fear for hell and the Devil is very prevalent. On January 2, 1676, she writes that she fears that she'll, "go to hell for all my corrupt doings" and on June 6, 1677 she claims that, "the devil goes around like a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour". She reveals the extreme fear of hell and satan that still exists in a 17th century puritan society. This paranoia will later be seen in the Salem witch trials in the 1690's, and will much later be a catalyst for John Edward's role in the Great Awakening.
Hetty's June 19, 1676 entry shows Hetty's concern for Samuel's salvation. Hetty says, however, that Samuel refuses to join the church. Because Hetty has been raised to believe that the Puritan orthodoxy is the proper way to lead a good life. Therefore she is confused about Samuel's refusal.
Another example of Puritan orhodoxy is in Hetty's January 1, 1676 entry. It is here that she admits to falling asleep during church, which causes her to feel extremely guilty.
"October 6, 1676: There is much talk about Philip's son, a boy of nine years old, who has taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." I actually also used this quote as evidence of waning puritanism however, i find it to also be an example of how puritan orthodoxy is still going. This is shown by the fact that they are still enforcing punishments on communal sin.
On December 5, 1675, Hetty Shepard wrote, “ My mother has bid me this day put on fresh kirtle and wimple, though it not be the Lord’s day, and my Aunt Alice coming in did chide me and say that to pay attention to a birthday was putting myself with the world’s people.” In this quote, Hetty’s aunt scolded Hetty for dressing up on her birthday. Puritan ideas would say that you should not dress up unless it is on God’s day. After Aunt Alice points out Hetty’s selfishness, Hetty feels guilty and she decides to never wear her special clothes for her birthday again. This passage shows the guilt and devotion to God that existed within the depths of Puritan ideals.
Throughout the diary she demonstrates her "profound guilt" at quite an extreme, thus indicating that Puritanism is still "alive".
"I saw Samuel Cheekly and smiled; this was not the time to trifle, and I repented, especailly as he looked at me so many times after that I found my mind wandering from the psalm. And afterwards when the biscuits, beer, cider, and wine were distributed he whispered to me that he would rather serve me than the elders, which was a wicked thing to say, and I felt myself to blame."
October 6, 1676 "There is much talk about Philip's son, a boy of nine years old, who was taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." Several times throught the diary, Betty Shepard mentions the guilt she feels. She feels quilty for simply feeling sorry for a child who may be sold into slavery. People are very nervous about sinning because of communal sin. They fear that their actions may harm the entire community.
There is a common struggle throughout the play between secularism and selfish thinking versus dedication to religion. ON December 5, 1675, Hetty describes herself putting on a fresh kirtle and wimple for her birthday, but as her Aunt Alice comments, "...to pay attention to a birthday was putting myself with the world's people." This common feeling of guilt in Puritan society is evident from Hetty's own perspective. We can also see later on March 12, 1676, Hetty "could not help laughing at the periwig of Elder Jones...The periwig has been greatly censured as encouraging worldly fashions...Many think he is not severe enough in the matter, but rather finds excuse for it on account of health..." Interestingly, Jones is quite selfish as well for his desire to cover his head over 'health concerns'. Selfish concerns are still being looked down upon in the face of much healthier decisions to devote self to god.
Even though "Diary of a Puritan Girl" mostly indicates the decline of Puritan Orthodoxy in Massachusetts in the late 17th century, there are still some remaining Puritan ideals evident in her entries. Hetty Shephard proves to have a profound sense of guilt in most of her diary entries, such as the one on January 1, 1676, where she states "Yesterday was a day indeed. The preaching began at ten in the morning, and held until twelve, when a strong prayer was made and I was, I hope, much built up. But when the sermon was preached in the afternoon I fell asleep and lost much I fear of the discourse, and this weighed heavily on my conscience."
ReplyDeleteThis quote not only shows the Puritans' profound sense of guilt, but also shows the importance of religion and Church-going in their society.
While Puritan orthodoxy does seem to be flickering in an out of existence during the late 17th century, certain remnants of it appear to have been thriving nevertheless. These leftover aspects of the orthodoxy are largely apparent in Hetty Shepard's "Diary of a Puritan Girl." Though many examples are evident, I find that the most important revolves around the stressed importance of parents and the idea that children must adopt the Puritan values of their elders to succeed in life. On page 71, Hetty describes the fear that she has in going to hell to pay for her corrupt doings. Her aunt comforts her by reminding her that God will have mercy on her because of her "good mother." Hetty's thoughts begin to wander and she questions those outside the confines of her own religion: " Oh, what becomes of those girls who have not good mothers?" This statement highlights the Puritan view that success in life is reliant exclusively on younger generations embracing the exact same ideals of the elders and furthermore implementing the same process as they get older. This insular concept opposes the idea of the younger generation adapting to the times and having experiences outside of their religious culture.
ReplyDeleteHetty recalls on March 10, 1676, "I saw Samuel Checkly and smiled; this was not a time to trifle, and I repented.... he whispered to me that he would rather serve me than the elders, which was a wicked thing to say, and I felt myself to blame." Her thoughts reflect the Puritan idea of profound guilt. Even though smiling is a perfectly natural and healthy thing for a teenager to do, she feels that it is a sin against God and it makes her doubt herself and feel guilty. Clearly, the Puritan teachings have led her to feel as if emotion and happiness is evil and against the will of God. As well, she blames herself for the rebellious comment of Samuel Checkly, which indicates her belief in communal sin and also the place of young women in society. She feels guilty for expressing her feelings for Samuel by smiling at him, even though his comment to her was far more racy by Puritan standards. Hetty is unable to see that she isn't to blame for her feelings because Puritan orthodoxy is so prevalent in Massachusetts. She can't see beyond the Puritan guilt to realize that what she feels isn't sinful.
ReplyDeleteOn April 5, 1676, Hetty wrote about an Indian attack at Plymouth, in which ten people died. Hetty's parents decided after this attack to send her to Boston, but Hetty says that her "faith in God sustains her," and also that she feels safe because her uncle "is a mighty warrior before the Lord." Hetty is worried about the Indian threat, but she feels that God will protect her (perhaps in the guise of her uncle). Though other comments in the diary indicate the decline of Puritanism, this particular section emphasizes that it still exists.
ReplyDeleteOn June 19, 1676 Shepard wrote about begging her brother to "unite with God's people" however he responds by saying, "the great Miles Standish was not a member and cared not to go to meeting on the Lord's Day, and yet he subdued our enemies, laid out our roads, and everybody had respect for him." Shepard then wrote "It is surely hard to understand these things." This passage represents the existance of Puritanism in this time because it represents communal sin by Hetty Shepard's attempts to correct her brother's sins. She is terribly bothered by his comment and does not understand how one could be respected if they did not devote themselves to their religion. Although the comment itself may represent a decline in Puritanism, Shepard's response shows evidence that Puritanism was still alive.
ReplyDeleteLike some others have discussed, I feel like the guilt one feels for their sins as a Puritan is prominent in The Diary of A Puritan Girl. In addition to Ezgi's example, on October 6th, 1676, Hetty Shepard writes, "There is much talk about Phillip's son, a boy of nine years old, who was taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." Again, she feels guilty or that it is a sin to feel a sense of remorse for a nine year old boy in a very difficult position. This, I feel, is part of what brings about the downfall of Puritan society, as it creates a clear unhappiness among its people.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the decline of Puritanism is very apparent in her diary, the idea of having an intense fear for hell and the Devil is very prevalent. On January 2, 1676, she writes that she fears that she'll, "go to hell for all my corrupt doings" and on June 6, 1677 she claims that, "the devil goes around like a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour". She reveals the extreme fear of hell and satan that still exists in a 17th century puritan society. This paranoia will later be seen in the Salem witch trials in the 1690's, and will much later be a catalyst for John Edward's role in the Great Awakening.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHetty's June 19, 1676 entry shows Hetty's concern for Samuel's salvation. Hetty says, however, that Samuel refuses to join the church. Because Hetty has been raised to believe that the Puritan orthodoxy is the proper way to lead a good life. Therefore she is confused about Samuel's refusal.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of Puritan orhodoxy is in Hetty's January 1, 1676 entry. It is here that she admits to falling asleep during church, which causes her to feel extremely guilty.
"October 6, 1676: There is much talk about Philip's son, a boy of nine years old, who has taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." I actually also used this quote as evidence of waning puritanism however, i find it to also be an example of how puritan orthodoxy is still going. This is shown by the fact that they are still enforcing punishments on communal sin.
ReplyDeleteOn December 5, 1675, Hetty Shepard wrote, “ My mother has bid me this day put on fresh kirtle and wimple, though it not be the Lord’s day, and my Aunt Alice coming in did chide me and say that to pay attention to a birthday was putting myself with the world’s people.” In this quote, Hetty’s aunt scolded Hetty for dressing up on her birthday. Puritan ideas would say that you should not dress up unless it is on God’s day. After Aunt Alice points out Hetty’s selfishness, Hetty feels guilty and she decides to never wear her special clothes for her birthday again. This passage shows the guilt and devotion to God that existed within the depths of Puritan ideals.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the diary she demonstrates her "profound guilt" at quite an extreme, thus indicating that Puritanism is still "alive".
ReplyDelete"I saw Samuel Cheekly and smiled; this was not the time to trifle, and I repented, especailly as he looked at me so many times after that I found my mind wandering from the psalm. And afterwards when the biscuits, beer, cider, and wine were distributed he whispered to me that he would rather serve me than the elders, which was a wicked thing to say, and I felt myself to blame."
October 6, 1676 "There is much talk about Philip's son, a boy of nine years old, who was taken prisoner with his mother. They do not know what to do with him. The ministers are bitter against him and would have him sold into slavery or even worse. How can so tender a child be accountable? But perhaps it is a sin to feel this." Several times throught the diary, Betty Shepard mentions the guilt she feels. She feels quilty for simply feeling sorry for a child who may be sold into slavery. People are very nervous about sinning because of communal sin. They fear that their actions may harm the entire community.
ReplyDeleteThere is a common struggle throughout the play between secularism and selfish thinking versus dedication to religion. ON December 5, 1675, Hetty describes herself putting on a fresh kirtle and wimple for her birthday, but as her Aunt Alice comments, "...to pay attention to a birthday was putting myself with the world's people." This common feeling of guilt in Puritan society is evident from Hetty's own perspective.
ReplyDeleteWe can also see later on March 12, 1676, Hetty "could not help laughing at the periwig of Elder Jones...The periwig has been greatly censured as encouraging worldly fashions...Many think he is not severe enough in the matter, but rather finds excuse for it on account of health..." Interestingly, Jones is quite selfish as well for his desire to cover his head over 'health concerns'. Selfish concerns are still being looked down upon in the face of much healthier decisions to devote self to god.