Assertion #9 John Winthrop

Puritans were English Christians who did not agree with the practices of the Church of England. They wanted to purify and filter Catholic beliefs. They not only lived a certain lifestyle but also avoided all activities that consisted with pleasure, anything that involved pleasure was the exertion of the devil. John Winthrop, English Puritan lawyer establishes some of the fundamental ideas of Puritanism in his statement, City Upon a Hill.

In his statement, Winthrop interprets how Puritans are perceived. He advocates their sense of a perfect religion.  By the looks of everyone, they must be pristine and free from any flaw. They must follow their flawless religion and beliefs to be the best of them all. If they don’t, they will be sentenced into damnation. Puritanism was the epitome of displeasure and melancholy. On account of them being in a high pedestal, they are forbidden of ever committing an error.

Winthrop circulates his utterance in variety forms for example, he uses a biblical allusion with the name of his statement, “City Upon a Hill”. With that being said, he manages his claim to those who are aware and believe in the word and work of God. Apart from using a biblical allusion, Winthrop also uses syntax because his entire statement is made up in one sentence. This gives off the lack of pauses, not giving others the opportunity to respond but to react. This imposes and inflicts fear upon the audience, putting Withorp in power and having others follow him and what he’s indicating.

To gain power, one must fear others to gain respect and attention. This will have people follow them to security. This results to being a form of control in which most people use.