Wampanoags Vs Puritans Essay

The Wampanoags and the Puritans have 2 very different methods on raising children. Both have their own benefits and downsides. In a standard Puritan household the male gets the opportunity to receive formal education. The female is raised to believe that they should be good wives in the future and prepare by doing housework all day. When Bethia tries to learn some Latin her father says this, “Bethia, why do you strive so hard to quit the place in which God has set you?” His voice was gentle, not angry. “Your path is not your brother’s, it cannot be. Women are not made like men”(44). Puritans also raise their children to believe that any religion that is not theirs is either wrong or satanic. When Bethia encounters the people under the cliffs

This is because the adults have to do a lot of manual labor. This way the children can run free in their youths and once they become adults they will have the work a lot. They let their children enjoy the fruit of their childhoods as opposed to the Puritans. This is not extremely healthy either, because once the children become adults they won't have any experiences they need to work. Another thing that the Wampanoags do to teach their children is to make them go through a rite of passage. Caleb describes his journey to Bethia here, “There I will pass the long nights moon, the snow moon and the hunger moon alone.”(59). I believe this is a good rite of passage. Often times man, when left to his own devices can discover certain things about life and death. Caleb had a lot of alone time for reflection. Caleb and Bethia are not typical products of their societies. Caleb is different because he was open to new information unlike his ancestors. He learns the alphabet from Bethia and looks at the Puritan lifestyle with an open mind. Bethia is different because she breaks all the gender stereotypes of her time. She knows Latin and Wompatuck, to rival her older