How Does Captain Smith Define Human Character?

Smith, Captain John. “From ‘A Description of New England.’“ The Norton

Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Seventh Edition. Gen. Ed. Nina

Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008. 54-57.

How does Captain Smith define human character?

Captain John Smith wrote the letter “ A Description of New England “ in 1616 to recruit people who are willing to work hard with an honest and courageous attitude. Most important is that they will have to share the vision of Captain Smith’s which is “discovering things unknown, erecting townes, peopling countries, informing the ignorant, reforming things unjust, teaching virtue” (54). Only those who qualify will make the continent civilized and fulfill Captain Smith’s vision for New England.

In the letter, Captain Smith also mentions that he wants to build a new world “got from the rude earth, by God’s blessing and his own industry, without prejudice to any” (54). He thinks that this new continent is God’s blessing, and the men who will be living there shall be God’s men. God’s words will make a man more honorable and share the same divine interest as Captain Smith’s. He presents his perspective of religion, which is to spread God’s words by being “more agreeable to God, than to seek to convert those poor savages to know Christ, and humanity, whose labors with discretion will triple requite thy charge and pains” (54). In other words, spreading the gospel is agreeable to God and the righteous.

Captain Smith also suggests that diligence is a virtue, “here nature and liberty afford us that freely, which in England we want, or it costs us dearly. What pleasure can be more, than (being tired with any occasion a-shore) in planting vines, fruits, or herbs, in contriving their own grounds… to recreate themselves before their own doors” (56). In his view, there will be more opportunities and fewer restrictions in the New World. Men have a greater freedom regarding the pursuit of career, happiness, and most...