The ideology of Puritanism reflected in American Literature

 

Puritan history in America refers to the early colonial period (17th century) when Puritans, a religious group, played a significant role in shaping the culture and society of the United States. Puritans were characterized by their strict religious beliefs. The Bible was central to their lives, and they adhered to a strict moral code.

Puritans were English Protestants or Roman Catholics, in the early 17th century, many Puritans left England to escape religious strictness including persecution. They were largely agrarian and engaged in farming. They were not always tolerant of other religious groups that resulted several conflicts with Native Americans and other settlers.

Puritans in America sought to create a society based on their religious principles. They established churches, schools, and a legal system rooted in Puritan ethics.Puritanism is in fact a religious and cultural movement that significantly influenced early American society and literature.

Following are the impact of Puritanism in American literature:

It encouraged strict moral codes and conservative values. Writers especially Nathaniel Hawthorne reacted against such aspects and the nature of hypocrisies in his much celebrated novel The Scarlet Letter.  Puritan literature predominantly focused on religious themes, often neglecting the exploration of broader human experiences and perspectives.

Many Puritan works such as  Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, The Day of Doom by Michael Wigglesworth, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and the poetries of Anne Bradstreet emphasize the pure Puritan  themes of morality, religious and political  idealism, idea of reformation,  fear and guilt.

Puritans had a significant impact on American literature and thought. Their writings included sermons, diaries, and religious tracts. Prominent figures like Anne Bradstreet, Jonathan Edwards, and Cotton Mather contributed to the early American literary canon.

Over time, The Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s saw a religious revival that challenged some aspects of traditional Puritan theology. As the 18th century progressed, Enlightenment ideas began to influence American thought, leading to a shift away from the religious rigidity of the Puritan era.