How Do Primary Source Documents Mirror The Ideals Of A Society?

How do Primary Source Documents Mirror the Ideals of a Society?
The attitudes and beliefs of a particular time period are reflected in first hand
documents, purposely and inadvertently through the biases and ideals of the authors of the
pieces. The arrogant self-serving attitude of the first colony is reflected in Captain John
Smith’s, “The General History of Virginia.” The Puritans holier-than-thou ideals are
reflected in the essay by William Bradford, “Of Plymouth Plantation.” Finally the fear of
the unknown by the colonists is shown in Cotton Mather’s reflection on the Salem Witch
Trials, “The Wonders of the Invisible world.” In all of the documents, the biases and
believes of the authors show the attitudes of the people at the time.
Captain John Smith epitomizes the self-serving attitude of the first colony in his
essay, “The General History of Virginia.” Smith is not interested in what people in his
time think of his writing. His work is written so future generations will see Captain John
Smith (he refers to himself in third person) as a hero. According to Smith it was entirely
his doing that the colony was established. He says, “The New President and Martin, being
little beloved, of weak judgment in dangers, and less industry in peace, committed the
managing of all things abroad to Captain Smith...,” meaning that the President is weak and
inferior to himself, and goes on to say, “...who by his own example, good words, and fair
promises...himself always bearin...

How Do Primary Source Documents Mirror The Ideals Of A Society?

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