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How do Bradford's rhetorical features in the following passage from Of Plymouth Plantation reflect his intent and ideological perspective?
“But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people’s present condition; and so I think will the reader, too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation… they had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succour…. And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms…. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men—and what multitudes there might be of them they knew not.”
Quick answer:
Bradford's rhetorical features in this passage highlight the Pilgrims' hardships and resilience through vivid metaphors and alliteration, reflecting his intent to portray them as saintly figures. By describing their journey with phrases like "a sea of troubles," he emphasizes their trials, while alliteration and repetition, such as "poor people's present" and "wild beasts and wild men," add musicality and underscore their courage. This aligns with his ideological perspective of the Pilgrims as exemplary figures for future generations.
Bradford employs figurative language, including vivid metaphors, to convey the trials and triumphs of the Pilgrims, and he also uses alliteration to add beauty to their story. His intent is to convey the Pilgrims in the light of saintliness and to make them examples for future generations, much as John Winthrop wanted the Puritans to be "a city upon a hill."
After speaking of the Pilgrims crossing the literal ocean, Bradford writes that they faced "a sea of troubles." This is a particularly arresting metaphor because it follows the mention of the literal ocean and stands for the trials the Pilgrims would face in the New World. Bradford uses a series of alliterative phrases, including "poor people's present" and "seek for succor." These phrases add musicality and beauty to the Pilgrims' plight, making their journey seem epic in nature. He also uses repetition, such as "wild beasts and wild men," to emphasize the savagery the Puritans would face and their courage in doing so.
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