All About Morton
Humans' grubby little hands revel in nothing greater than reconfiguring the different into something they feel more comfortable with. Rarely do they stop to ask themselves whether or not their own way is better or worse than the one they are attempting to alter or why it is it was done differently in the first place. This is what was occurring with the colonization of the New World in the late 16th and 17th century. Explorers from a number of countries landed upon it's unsullied beaches and uncomfortable with what they saw proceeded to adorn it with all the sullied humdrum of home sweet home. English settlers, for instance, coming aground on the upper east coast didn't want to wait until it was obvious, so they went ahead and named the area “New England” because (as well as for other reasons) England was what they were used to. It was in New England that a conflict between a man and a morality arose out of their objectives of preservation verse change (respectively). The morality in this event was the Puritans, and the man, one Thomas Morton.
Thomas Morton came to the New World in 1622 and liked what he saw. Returning in 1626 with indentured servants he set up shop as a fur trader at a post he renamed “Mere-Mount” or Merrymount (his only change to the new land) and which was neighbored by a Puritan settlement. When his partner in the business attempted to sell the servants as slaves, Morton instead offered them a free life of trading and peaceful living hand in hand with the native Indians and they accepted. The Puritans, meanwhile, who considered the Native Americans as savages and any way of life other than their own abhorrent, took note of the new colony of men and considered them disdainfully.
It wasn't long before Morton and his men began upsetting the stoic lifestyle of the Puritans. In an attempt to attract women to "mingle" with his fellow men Morton erected a Maypole and threw a party, attracting Native American ladies who would perhaps marry and procreate with the colonials. The drinking, dancing, and cavorting was plentiful, and as it turned out so was the ire of the puritan religious leaders, William Bradford in particular, who promptly had Morton arrested. Then they had him deported for good measure so he could no longer disturb their persnickety way of life. A year later he was acquitted and returned, only to have Maremount seized and burned before again being sent back to England in 1630. After working to undermined the Puritan's Massachusetts Bay Colony from England to no avail, he returned in 1643, was arrested, and finally died.
Morton angered the Puritans in almost all that he did, as their beliefs in way of life were almost polar opposite to his own. Association with the Indians in not only business but also romantically, which was a horrible Puritan sin, threatened both Puritan hold on the fur trade and hold on the claim of dominance over the "native savages". Dancing and singing were abound in Meremount, while Puritans viewed such activities as sinful at best. Morton's quick wit ably mocked leaders of the church and slandered Puritan's harsh methods to the King of England, who's intent was to peacefully settle in America. Most of all, Morton saw the New World as a beautiful vibrant place with a kind, generous, intelligent people. The puritans saw it as something less than human that needed to be cleansed and reworked, full of angry beasts of backwards logic.
The Puritans envisioned a sterile, ordered, pious new land, but Morton disagreed with such change. Morton's American Dream was much like what the Native Americans had always made it, a peaceful land of cohabitation and care. One man helping another, free from the dangerous influence of emerging radical groups of religious zealots. Morton's feelings about keeping the New World untouched showed though most of all in his determination. He couldn't resist the call of the land, and like a homing pigeon always returned to America when he could. Being exiled twice, knowing his passionate words against Puritan beliefs would get him arrested, it didn't matter to him, he fought on. He refused to haggle with freedom.
Replies:
How often are we guilty of being against change? The Puritans rejection towards change resulted in the arrest and removal of Morton. You made a great observation in asking if we take the time to question of our way is better or not. The Puritans were guilty of this. By Morton refusing to keep his servants as slaves, proved his merit. It is scary to think that someone would wish us harm if we did not conform to their beliefs but it happens everyday, not just in the Puritan era.
I agree with your essay. The point that I feel was a good summary of your point, " Morton angered the Puritans in almost all that he did, as their beliefs in way of life were almost polar opposite to his own." I thought this was a great point because that is in fact the way it was. He disapproved of everything they did, as did they of the things he did. Good job.
I agree with your view on Morton's determination. He desired to keep the New World the way it was when he found it. He wanted to belong to it, not change it to suit the Old England.
Morton loved the land and could not be kept from it. He also loved the Native American's and was not threatened by their way of life. There are some American's today who could learn a lot from his example.
I agree and in this world today there are many people that see it one way and not the other. There is no way to justify these actions, and the only way to correct this is by do it the way that you feel best. Morton's views were the all American dream.
