ESSAY CEMETERY

New England used to be the Devil's land, and when the people of God settled in it, the Devil became upset and tried to sabotage them. These attempts, with the help of God, have thus far been thwarted. But now the Devil is making an attempt that is fiercer than ever. He has sent legions. Forty years ago a man executed for witchcraft declared that the devil has a plot against the country of witchcraft- that is, he will send an army of devils. And now evidence of this has been spotted! People are being mysteriously tortured and killed. Some witches have been killed but there are witches left. After victims are tortured, they are able to perceive the image of their torturer. Sometimes it is the actual witch but sometimes the witch causes the victim to see images of innocent people. Several people have been convicted of witchcraft and several have confessed to consorting with the Devil. This threatens a ruining of the world. Cotton Mather

THEMES God's providence Hunger Violence against the Indians Idolatry of the Indians Indians as savages Indians marvel at the white man Indians feed the white men Misinterpreting Indian actions Indian woman saves white man Indians defy their own (Pocahontas) STYLE Smith refers to himself in the third person PEOPLE AND PLACES Chickahominy Smith President Captain Archer Wingfield Kendall England Warraskoyack Okee Quiyoughkasouck King of Pamunkey Robinson Emry Jamestown John Smith

From The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol I, Ed. 5 After the sailors depart for England, the settlers are left completely hungry. They have very little food and many die. When they run out, God makes it so the Indians bring the settlers food and save them. He realizes that they had come to the New World too late to plant food. Smith directs the building of the settlement's lodgings. Then he tries to trade with the Indians and that failing tries to use force, shooting them and capturing their idol god. He got food enough for a year but the settlers ate it much more quickly. Smith prevents several settlers from absconding to England. When winter approaches hunting is good and they have as much food as they like. Smith gets two men killed on an expedition and he is taken prisoner for 1.5 months. He comes to be admired by the Indians. Smith gives their leader a compass and explains astronomy to them, so the leader orders him to be spared. The savages stare at h...