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Part I The Literature of Colonial America
I．Historical Introducaylor
V．Puritan Thoughts
1. The origin of puritan
In the mediaeval Europe, there was widespread religious revolution. In the 16th Century, the English King Henry VIII (At that time, the Catholics were not allowed to divorce unless they have the Pope's permission. Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife because she couldn't bear him a son. But the Pope didn't allow him to divorce, so he) broke away from the Roman Catholic Church & established the Church of England. But there was no radical difference between the doctrines of the Church of England and the Catholic Church. A group of people thought the Church of England was too Catholic and wanted to purify the church. Then came the name Puritans.
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2. Puritanism -- based on Calvinism
(1) predestination: God's elect
Puritans believed they are predestined before they were born.
Nothing or no good work can change their fate.
They believed the success of one's business is the sign to show he is the God's elect. So the Puritans works very hard, spend very little and invest more for the future business. They lived a very frugal life. This is their ethics.
(2) Origianl sin and total depravity
Man is born sinful. This determines some puritans pessimistic attitude towards life.
(3) Limited atonement (the salvation of a selected few)
(4) theocracy
They bined state with religion. Their government is at least not a liberal one.
The Puritans established American tradition -- intolerant moralism. They strictly punished drunks, adultery & heretics.
Puritans changed gradually due to the severity of frontier environment
3. Influence on American Literature
(1) Its optimism
American literature was from the outset conditioned by the Puritan heritage. It can be said American literature is based on the Biblical myth of the Garden of Ede