the courtship of myles standish
The Courtship of Myles Standish
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 - March 24, 1882) was born in Maine, but he spent most of his adult life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From an early age, Longfellow seemed destined to become one of the great American poets. By the age of six, he was already able to read and write. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1825. He spent the following years, until 1829, touring Europe. He then returned to Bowdoin and became the first professor of the modern languages, as well as a part-time librarian. During these same years, he wrote textbooks in Italian, French, and Spanish, as well as a travel book. In 1831, he married Mary Storer Potter. In 1834, Longfellow was offered Professorship at Smith. However, there was a stipulation that he first had to spend some time in Europe, perfecting his German. Sadly, his wife died during the trip, after suffering a miscarriage in 1835. After returning to America, Longfellow moved to Boston where he married Frances Appleton. He took a job at Harvard until 1854, when he retired and devoted himself to writing. In 1859, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard. Sadly, in 1861, Frances also died after a freak accident in which her dress caught on fire while she was sealing her daughter's recently cut locks in an envelope. Longfellow was also badly burned. Another 22 years passed before Longfellow died. He was buried with both of his wives at Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Longfellow's poetry is easy to understand. The themes are familiar, and he uses simple language that can be clearly understood by audiences worldwide. One of his most recognized poems, "The Courtship of Myles Standish," is an epic American myth which may have had some personal connection to Longfellow. The Longfellow family originally came from Yorkshire, England to America in 1676. It is said that Longfellow is the descendant of Priscilla and John Alden on his father's side. Though the poem is entitled "The Courtship of Myles Standish," Standish does not do any of the courting. It is no wonder then that he does not end up with Priscilla. The poem tells the story of a Puritan love triangle between Standish, Priscilla, and John Alden. Longfellow's family history proclaims how the story ends, with the marriage of Alden and Priscilla. However, Myles Standish was an important individual during the time when Alden and Priscilla would have met, so with a little creative tweaking, "The Courtship of Myles Standish" was born.
While not factually correct, "The Courtship of Myles Standish" still portrays some truth. The love story detailed through the poem could have easily been set in a current, modern setting. It is a tale that shows that, through the centuries, people haven't changed that much, emotionally.
Myles Standish (1584 - October 3, 1656) was born in England. Since he was a professional soldier, Standish was hired by the Pilgrims as a military advisor for the Plymouth colony. After his voyage on the "Mayflower," he was part of the group who signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620. Sadly, Standish was struck by misfortune that winter. Illness hit the Pilgrims during the cold months; many people did not survive to see the spring. Among those who died was Rose Standish, Myles' wife. However, Standish was able to survive and bounce back. On February 17, 1621, he was appointed the first commander of the Plymouth colony. While much of "The Courtship of Myles Standish" is pure imagination, Standish was centrally involved in fighting with the neighboring Indians.
"During the second year in Plymouth, Standish led a force to Wessagusett, ostensibly to save the settlement from Indian attack. There is evidence, however that the attack on the Indians was without provocation and a personal vendetta of Standish against the Massachusetts Sachem. The attack was actually executed by luring several hungry Indians into a tent with the promise of food, whereupon they were stabbed by Standish and several of his attending men" (Nathaniel Philbrick, "Mayflower," www.wikipedia.org).
Although Standish never joined the separatist church, the settlers respected him enough to allow him to also serve as an assistant to the governor and as the colony's treasurer. In 1623, a ship by the name of "Anne" arrived at Plymouth. On board was Barbara, Standish's next wife. They married that same year, and the couple had seven children together. One of those children, Alexander, eventually married Sarah Alden, daughter of John Alden.
John Alden (1599 - September 12, 1687) was also aboard the "Mayflower" with Myles Standish. In 1623, three years after the settlers landed, Alden married Priscilla Mullins. From 1633 to 1675 he, too, was an assistant to the governor of the colony. Sometimes he was able to step up to serve as acting governor. Alden also sat on many juries, including one of the two witch trials in the Plymouth Colony. Serving in such a high position occasionally had its drawbacks. In 1634, Alden was jailed in Boston. It was a simple matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A fight broke out, in Maine, between the members of the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Alden did not participate in the fight, but he was the highest-ranking member of the Plymouth Colony that the Massachusetts Bay Colony could get their hands on. William Bradford had to intercede to get Alden released. In later years, Alden harbored a deep hatred for the Quakers and Baptists who were trying to settle on Cape Cod. Alden outlived the majority of the Plymouth settlers. When he died, Alden was the last male survivor of the signers of the Mayflower Compact, and with the exception of Mary Allerton, he was the last survivor of the Mayflower's company. Alden and his wife, Priscilla, lie buried at the Myles Standish Burial Ground in Duxbury, MA (a town that Standish founded). Their childrens' descendants would include Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Marilyn Monroe, and Orson Welles (www.wikipedia.org).
Priscilla Alden also bears some consideration. After all, she was supposedly the one both these prominent men were fighting over. However, there is very little to say about her, as she was a woman in a time when women were simply wives and mothers. Priscilla lost her entire family during the first winter at Plymouth. Alone, with no one to care for and no one to answer to, she spent her time spinning wool and flax for the colony. She taught the children and helped with the cooking. In 1623, she married John Alden and they had ten children. Records do not show when she passed away, but it is said that she died only a few years before her husband.
When the poem starts, John Alden and Myles Standish are very good friends. Standish has already lost his wife, Rose, and Alden is currently single, so the two of them live together. This further strengthens their friendship. However, this friendship is tested when Standish declares, quite out of nowhere, that he would like to take Priscilla as his wife. Unfortunately, Standish is not confident in his ability to woo a woman. He would rather concentrate on his weapons and military experience.
"'Look at these arms,' he said, 'the war-like weapons that hang here
Burnished and bright and clean, as if for parade or inspection!
This sword of Damascus I fought with in Flanders; this breastplate,
Well I remember the day! once saved my life in a skirmish'" (Part I).
The three books that Standish prizes the most are full of battles and wars. And while the Bible is one of the three, it is not the first book that Standish turns to for comfort. When faced with a difficult decision, he would rather turn to "The Commentaries of Caesar." Alden, on the other hand, is more literary and sensitive. He secretly spends his time writing letters "Full of the name and fame of the maiden Priscilla!" (Part I), so he is surprised and dismayed when Standish demands that Alden go off to court Priscilla in his stead. Alden tries to back out of the mission by quoting one of Standish's favorite lines back at him. "If you would have it well done, -- I am only repeating your maxim, -- / You must do it yourself, you must not leave it to others!" (Part II). But Standish will not relent, claiming that Alden should want to do this task "in the name of friendship!" (Part II). Alden cannot argue against friendship, considering it a sacred union between two people. Powerless, Alden sets forth to lay claim to Priscilla, for Standish.
In Part III, "The Lover's Errand," Alden is caught in a fierce inner turmoil over his feelings for Standish and Priscilla. He does not want to fail Standish, but at the same time, he does not know how he will be able to push away his own feelings of love for Priscilla. In the end, his Puritan upbringing seems to make the choice clear to him.
"I feel it, I see it distinctly!
This is the hand of the Lord; it is laid upon me in anger,
For I have followed too much the heart's desire and devices,
Worshipping Astaroth blindly, and impious idols of Baal.
This is the cross I must bear; the sin and the swift retribution."
His convictions do not last long as he is confronted with the angelic voice of Priscilla, "singing the hundredth Psalm, the grand old Puritan anthem, / Music that Luther sang to the sacred words of the Psalmist, / Full of the breath of the Lord" (Part III). Priscilla seems the complete opposite of Standish. Readers can instantly understand why any man would fall in love with her, but at the same time, cannot help but notice how completely ill suited Standish is for her. She is a good Puritan woman who keeps positive by turning to the words of the Lord for comfort.
Priscilla is happy to see John, and readers are given the sense that there is the undercurrent of something more than friendship stirring between the pair. Priscilla claims, "I knew it was you, when I heard your step in the passage; / For I was thinking of you, as I sat there singing and spinning" (Part III). Priscilla must have observed Alden many times if she can recognize his step. She could have been thinking of anyone in the world, but she was thinking of Alden. These lines suggest that she has paid a lot of attention to this man, that thoughts of him bring her happiness. Of course, Alden is "Awkward and dumb with delight, that a thought of him had been mingled / Thus in the sacred psalm, that came from the heart of the maiden" (Part III). However, this is not the kind of encouragement that Alden needs during his mission of friendship for Standish.
Alden gives Priscilla some flowers and cannot help but think back to a previous time when he had given her flowers. He wishes that he had had the courage before to tell Priscilla how he felt about her, but now feels that it is too late, as he cannot take her away from Standish. Priscilla must realize that Alden feels some form of affection for her, as a man does not repeatedly give a woman flowers unless he feels a sense of connection to her. It is because Priscilla holds this knowledge of Alden's feelings for her and because she has him in her heart that she makes Alden's task so difficult for him. Alden botches Standish's proposal, delivering it without any romantic phrasing at all. Essentially, Standish could have done just as well himself. Instead of just telling Alden to tell Standish that she declines his proposal, Priscilla gives Alden a hard time, asking why Standish did not come himself. She becomes annoyed when Alden tells her that Standish is too busy for such things. Fearing that he has not lived up to Standish's expectations, Alden feels the need to expound on all of Standish's positive qualities, hoping to impress Priscilla on Standish's behalf. Even after Priscilla gives Alden her answer, he continues to sing Standish's praises. By then Priscilla has had enough and teasingly asks Alden, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" (Part III). This question pushes Alden over the edge, and he is forced to flee from Priscilla's house to calm his conflicting emotions.
As Alden wanders between Priscilla's house and his own, he speaks aloud to Heaven and the sea. He compares the burning love he feels for Priscilla to Hell and all that is bad within him. He calls on the cooling assistance of the heavens and the winds to help him to the right thing - or what he considers to be the right thing. "Close in thy garments of mist, to allay the fever within me!" (Part IV). It's obvious that Priscilla has picked Alden over Standish, but Alden feels that he has betrayed Standish. "Love triumphant and crowned, and friendship wounded and bleeding" (Part IV). Since he has turned to God and the sea for assistance, Alden considers the Mayflower as the answer to his prayers. "'Yes, it is plain to me now,' he murmured; 'the hand of the Lord is / Leading me out of the land of darkness, the bondage of error" (Part IV). Alden considers removing himself from the situation by returning to England. It is better to be dead than alive without his love, better to be dead than to have ruined his friendship with Standish. With his choice made, Alden returns home to relay Priscilla's rejection to Standish. Standish is, of course, furious and confirms Alden's worst fear, that Alden has betrayed him. Standish again compares himself to his hero, Caesar, claiming that his most trusted friend has wounded him, just as Brutus killed Caesar. Standish probably could have continued ranting for some time, but word comes that there may be problems with the local Indians, so Standish leaves.
Alone once more with only his thoughts, Alden prays for forgiveness and the strength to endure the situation. Even amidst the danger of an Indian attack, Alden is most concerned with matters of the heart. Meanwhile, Standish is again confronted with the choice between the Bible and battle. "While on the table before them was lying unopened a Bible, / Ponderous, bound in leather, brass-studded, printed in Holland, / A beside it outstretched the skin of a rattlesnake glittered, / Filled, like a quiver, with arrows; a signal and challenge of warfare" (Part IV). Again he chooses battle, putting himself at the opposite end of the spectrum of priorities from Alden and Priscilla.
Part V opens upon a new day in the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower is about to set sail back to England and Standish is preparing for battle with the Indians. In the early morning, Standish and a few of his men march off, believing that they are like the warriors of the Bible. "Giants they seemed in the mist, or the mighty men of King David; / Giants in heart they were, who believed in God and the Bible, -- / Ay, who believed in the smiting of Midianites and Philistines" (Part V). While the Bible does contain passages of fighting, most of it focuses on how to positively interact with mankind. Standish and his men mold the messages in the Bible to fit their own needs. They have not yet come to the conclusion that the Indians are men too. At this point, the settlers still view the Indians as savages, inferior in brainpower and understanding. When the Mayflower does finally set sail, none of the Pilgrims go with it. Even Alden decided to stay at the colony, after an intense moment of being caught up in Priscilla's gaze. She seems to know what Alden is considering and can communicate her desire that he stay with just her eyes. He believes that he needs to be around to protect her, even if he cannot be with her. Once the ship sets sail, Alden feels better now that he has made a choice, or now that there is no longer an easy way out. As he turns to make his way back home, Alden is immediately presented with the image of an Indian, close to their town. He must feel that he has made the correct decision in staying at Plymouth to protect Priscilla while Standish is away.
Priscilla meets up with Alden as he continues on his way home. She thinks that Alden is angry with her for speaking her mind, and wants to clear up the matter so they can go back to being friends. But as she explains herself, she does not think that Alden understands the point that she is trying to make - that she is stronger and more intelligent than he gives her credit for. Eventually, she tells Alden that she would rather be his friend than Standish's wife. But the reader knows that ultimately she would rather be Alden's wife. A marriage built on friendship is much more agreeable than one where there is very little connection. Priscilla knows that Standish would not be happy as a husband. "Now that our terrible Captain has gone in pursuit of Indians, / Where he is happier far than he would be commanding a household" (Part VI). After having been married at least once, Standish should know this fact about himself. It seems that he wants a wife more as a fulfillment of social obligation, rather than a marriage built on love.
Meanwhile, Myles Standish is trying to convince himself that he does not need Priscilla or Alden. "What I thought was a flower, is only a weed, and is worthless; / Out of my heart will I pluck it, and throw it away, and henceforward / Be but a fighter of battles, a lover and wooer of danger!" (Part VII). Standish then comes upon an Indian village. At first, the Indians seem mildly interested in trade, but when Standish offers them the Bible they become hostile. Standish ends up killing the chief. He brings the Indian's head home with him as a trophy. Upon his arrival in Plymouth, Priscilla is repulsed and glad that she refused Standish's proposal. But she also fears that he may claim her as his prize, and as hero of the colony the settlers will agree to anything that he demands. However, Standish makes no such claim and almost immediately goes off on another offensive mission.
While Standish is gone the village is at peace. Alden builds a house for himself, as he can no longer share a house with Standish. His pride would not even allow him to embrace or forgive his friend as Standish left on his life-threatening mission. Therefore, there would be too much tension if the two of them were living under one roof. All the while, Alden thinks of Priscilla. "Ever of her he thought, when he fashioned the walls of his dwelling; / Ever of her he thought, when he delved the soil of his garden; / Ever of her he thought, when he read in his Bible on Sunday" (Part VIII). Alden is still caught up in Limbo, wondering whether he or Standish will gain Priscilla's hand in marriage. The couple spends a lot of time with each other, growing closer and flirting. Each shows the other how well equipped he/she is for matrimony. Priscilla insists, "Come, you must not be idle; if I am a pattern for housewives, / Show yourself equally worthy of being the model of husbands" (Part VIII). When word comes that Standish is dead, the couple does not know how to react. Their town may be in danger, and they have lost a supposedly dear friend, but now there is no obstacle between them. Alden instantly proposed to Priscilla.
The couple is soon married, but on the heels of exchanging their vows a ghost appears at the ceremony. It turns out that Standish is not dead at all. He has also worked through his issues with Alden and Priscilla's love and has decided that their friendship means more to him than winning the girl. "Forgive me! / I have been angry and hurt, -- too long have I cherished the feeling; / I have been cruel and hard, but now, thank God! it is ended" (Part IX). With everything settled between the trio, the world seems a virtual Eden. And they all, apparently, lived happily ever after.
While "The Courtship of Myles Standish" is not a historically accurate, it still provides entertainment. It's an American fairytale that puts a romantic glow on the creation of our New World. It brings the Puritan world to life, showing that the emotional lives of people haven't really changed all that much throughout the years.
References
"Henry Wadsworth Longfellow." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org./wiki/Henry_Longfellow
"John Alden." Wikimedia. October 1, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alden
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "The Courtship of Myles Standish." Mayflower Pages. Johnson, Caleb. 1997. http://members.aol.com/calebj/courtship1.html
"Myles Standish." Wikipedia. October 11, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myles_Standish
"Priscilla Alden." Wikipedia. October 14, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Alden
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 - March 24, 1882) was born in Maine, but he spent most of his adult life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From an early age, Longfellow seemed destined to become one of the great American poets. By the age of six, he was already able to read and write. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1825. He spent the following years, until 1829, touring Europe. He then returned to Bowdoin and became the first professor of the modern languages, as well as a part-time librarian. During these same years, he wrote textbooks in Italian, French, and Spanish, as well as a travel book. In 1831, he married Mary Storer Potter. In 1834, Longfellow was offered Professorship at Smith. However, there was a stipulation that he first had to spend some time in Europe, perfecting his German. Sadly, his wife died during the trip, after suffering a miscarriage in 1835. After returning to America, Longfellow moved to Boston where he married Frances Appleton. He took a job at Harvard until 1854, when he retired and devoted himself to writing. In 1859, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard. Sadly, in 1861, Frances also died after a freak accident in which her dress caught on fire while she was sealing her daughter's recently cut locks in an envelope. Longfellow was also badly burned. Another 22 years passed before Longfellow died. He was buried with both of his wives at Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Longfellow's poetry is easy to understand. The themes are familiar, and he uses simple language that can be clearly understood by audiences worldwide. One of his most recognized poems, "The Courtship of Myles Standish," is an epic American myth which may have had some personal connection to Longfellow. The Longfellow family originally came from Yorkshire, England to America in 1676. It is said that Longfellow is the descendant of Priscilla and John Alden on his father's side. Though the poem is entitled "The Courtship of Myles Standish," Standish does not do any of the courting. It is no wonder then that he does not end up with Priscilla. The poem tells the story of a Puritan love triangle between Standish, Priscilla, and John Alden. Longfellow's family history proclaims how the story ends, with the marriage of Alden and Priscilla. However, Myles Standish was an important individual during the time when Alden and Priscilla would have met, so with a little creative tweaking, "The Courtship of Myles Standish" was born.
While not factually correct, "The Courtship of Myles Standish" still portrays some truth. The love story detailed through the poem could have easily been set in a current, modern setting. It is a tale that shows that, through the centuries, people haven't changed that much, emotionally.
Myles Standish (1584 - October 3, 1656) was born in England. Since he was a professional soldier, Standish was hired by the Pilgrims as a military advisor for the Plymouth colony. After his voyage on the "Mayflower," he was part of the group who signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620. Sadly, Standish was struck by misfortune that winter. Illness hit the Pilgrims during the cold months; many people did not survive to see the spring. Among those who died was Rose Standish, Myles' wife. However, Standish was able to survive and bounce back. On February 17, 1621, he was appointed the first commander of the Plymouth colony. While much of "The Courtship of Myles Standish" is pure imagination, Standish was centrally involved in fighting with the neighboring Indians.
"During the second year in Plymouth, Standish led a force to Wessagusett, ostensibly to save the settlement from Indian attack. There is evidence, however that the attack on the Indians was without provocation and a personal vendetta of Standish against the Massachusetts Sachem. The attack was actually executed by luring several hungry Indians into a tent with the promise of food, whereupon they were stabbed by Standish and several of his attending men" (Nathaniel Philbrick, "Mayflower," www.wikipedia.org).
Although Standish never joined the separatist church, the settlers respected him enough to allow him to also serve as an assistant to the governor and as the colony's treasurer. In 1623, a ship by the name of "Anne" arrived at Plymouth. On board was Barbara, Standish's next wife. They married that same year, and the couple had seven children together. One of those children, Alexander, eventually married Sarah Alden, daughter of John Alden.
John Alden (1599 - September 12, 1687) was also aboard the "Mayflower" with Myles Standish. In 1623, three years after the settlers landed, Alden married Priscilla Mullins. From 1633 to 1675 he, too, was an assistant to the governor of the colony. Sometimes he was able to step up to serve as acting governor. Alden also sat on many juries, including one of the two witch trials in the Plymouth Colony. Serving in such a high position occasionally had its drawbacks. In 1634, Alden was jailed in Boston. It was a simple matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A fight broke out, in Maine, between the members of the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Alden did not participate in the fight, but he was the highest-ranking member of the Plymouth Colony that the Massachusetts Bay Colony could get their hands on. William Bradford had to intercede to get Alden released. In later years, Alden harbored a deep hatred for the Quakers and Baptists who were trying to settle on Cape Cod. Alden outlived the majority of the Plymouth settlers. When he died, Alden was the last male survivor of the signers of the Mayflower Compact, and with the exception of Mary Allerton, he was the last survivor of the Mayflower's company. Alden and his wife, Priscilla, lie buried at the Myles Standish Burial Ground in Duxbury, MA (a town that Standish founded). Their childrens' descendants would include Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Marilyn Monroe, and Orson Welles (www.wikipedia.org).
Priscilla Alden also bears some consideration. After all, she was supposedly the one both these prominent men were fighting over. However, there is very little to say about her, as she was a woman in a time when women were simply wives and mothers. Priscilla lost her entire family during the first winter at Plymouth. Alone, with no one to care for and no one to answer to, she spent her time spinning wool and flax for the colony. She taught the children and helped with the cooking. In 1623, she married John Alden and they had ten children. Records do not show when she passed away, but it is said that she died only a few years before her husband.
When the poem starts, John Alden and Myles Standish are very good friends. Standish has already lost his wife, Rose, and Alden is currently single, so the two of them live together. This further strengthens their friendship. However, this friendship is tested when Standish declares, quite out of nowhere, that he would like to take Priscilla as his wife. Unfortunately, Standish is not confident in his ability to woo a woman. He would rather concentrate on his weapons and military experience.
"'Look at these arms,' he said, 'the war-like weapons that hang here
Burnished and bright and clean, as if for parade or inspection!
This sword of Damascus I fought with in Flanders; this breastplate,
Well I remember the day! once saved my life in a skirmish'" (Part I).
The three books that Standish prizes the most are full of battles and wars. And while the Bible is one of the three, it is not the first book that Standish turns to for comfort. When faced with a difficult decision, he would rather turn to "The Commentaries of Caesar." Alden, on the other hand, is more literary and sensitive. He secretly spends his time writing letters "Full of the name and fame of the maiden Priscilla!" (Part I), so he is surprised and dismayed when Standish demands that Alden go off to court Priscilla in his stead. Alden tries to back out of the mission by quoting one of Standish's favorite lines back at him. "If you would have it well done, -- I am only repeating your maxim, -- / You must do it yourself, you must not leave it to others!" (Part II). But Standish will not relent, claiming that Alden should want to do this task "in the name of friendship!" (Part II). Alden cannot argue against friendship, considering it a sacred union between two people. Powerless, Alden sets forth to lay claim to Priscilla, for Standish.
In Part III, "The Lover's Errand," Alden is caught in a fierce inner turmoil over his feelings for Standish and Priscilla. He does not want to fail Standish, but at the same time, he does not know how he will be able to push away his own feelings of love for Priscilla. In the end, his Puritan upbringing seems to make the choice clear to him.
"I feel it, I see it distinctly!
This is the hand of the Lord; it is laid upon me in anger,
For I have followed too much the heart's desire and devices,
Worshipping Astaroth blindly, and impious idols of Baal.
This is the cross I must bear; the sin and the swift retribution."
His convictions do not last long as he is confronted with the angelic voice of Priscilla, "singing the hundredth Psalm, the grand old Puritan anthem, / Music that Luther sang to the sacred words of the Psalmist, / Full of the breath of the Lord" (Part III). Priscilla seems the complete opposite of Standish. Readers can instantly understand why any man would fall in love with her, but at the same time, cannot help but notice how completely ill suited Standish is for her. She is a good Puritan woman who keeps positive by turning to the words of the Lord for comfort.
Priscilla is happy to see John, and readers are given the sense that there is the undercurrent of something more than friendship stirring between the pair. Priscilla claims, "I knew it was you, when I heard your step in the passage; / For I was thinking of you, as I sat there singing and spinning" (Part III). Priscilla must have observed Alden many times if she can recognize his step. She could have been thinking of anyone in the world, but she was thinking of Alden. These lines suggest that she has paid a lot of attention to this man, that thoughts of him bring her happiness. Of course, Alden is "Awkward and dumb with delight, that a thought of him had been mingled / Thus in the sacred psalm, that came from the heart of the maiden" (Part III). However, this is not the kind of encouragement that Alden needs during his mission of friendship for Standish.
Alden gives Priscilla some flowers and cannot help but think back to a previous time when he had given her flowers. He wishes that he had had the courage before to tell Priscilla how he felt about her, but now feels that it is too late, as he cannot take her away from Standish. Priscilla must realize that Alden feels some form of affection for her, as a man does not repeatedly give a woman flowers unless he feels a sense of connection to her. It is because Priscilla holds this knowledge of Alden's feelings for her and because she has him in her heart that she makes Alden's task so difficult for him. Alden botches Standish's proposal, delivering it without any romantic phrasing at all. Essentially, Standish could have done just as well himself. Instead of just telling Alden to tell Standish that she declines his proposal, Priscilla gives Alden a hard time, asking why Standish did not come himself. She becomes annoyed when Alden tells her that Standish is too busy for such things. Fearing that he has not lived up to Standish's expectations, Alden feels the need to expound on all of Standish's positive qualities, hoping to impress Priscilla on Standish's behalf. Even after Priscilla gives Alden her answer, he continues to sing Standish's praises. By then Priscilla has had enough and teasingly asks Alden, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" (Part III). This question pushes Alden over the edge, and he is forced to flee from Priscilla's house to calm his conflicting emotions.
As Alden wanders between Priscilla's house and his own, he speaks aloud to Heaven and the sea. He compares the burning love he feels for Priscilla to Hell and all that is bad within him. He calls on the cooling assistance of the heavens and the winds to help him to the right thing - or what he considers to be the right thing. "Close in thy garments of mist, to allay the fever within me!" (Part IV). It's obvious that Priscilla has picked Alden over Standish, but Alden feels that he has betrayed Standish. "Love triumphant and crowned, and friendship wounded and bleeding" (Part IV). Since he has turned to God and the sea for assistance, Alden considers the Mayflower as the answer to his prayers. "'Yes, it is plain to me now,' he murmured; 'the hand of the Lord is / Leading me out of the land of darkness, the bondage of error" (Part IV). Alden considers removing himself from the situation by returning to England. It is better to be dead than alive without his love, better to be dead than to have ruined his friendship with Standish. With his choice made, Alden returns home to relay Priscilla's rejection to Standish. Standish is, of course, furious and confirms Alden's worst fear, that Alden has betrayed him. Standish again compares himself to his hero, Caesar, claiming that his most trusted friend has wounded him, just as Brutus killed Caesar. Standish probably could have continued ranting for some time, but word comes that there may be problems with the local Indians, so Standish leaves.
Alone once more with only his thoughts, Alden prays for forgiveness and the strength to endure the situation. Even amidst the danger of an Indian attack, Alden is most concerned with matters of the heart. Meanwhile, Standish is again confronted with the choice between the Bible and battle. "While on the table before them was lying unopened a Bible, / Ponderous, bound in leather, brass-studded, printed in Holland, / A beside it outstretched the skin of a rattlesnake glittered, / Filled, like a quiver, with arrows; a signal and challenge of warfare" (Part IV). Again he chooses battle, putting himself at the opposite end of the spectrum of priorities from Alden and Priscilla.
Part V opens upon a new day in the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower is about to set sail back to England and Standish is preparing for battle with the Indians. In the early morning, Standish and a few of his men march off, believing that they are like the warriors of the Bible. "Giants they seemed in the mist, or the mighty men of King David; / Giants in heart they were, who believed in God and the Bible, -- / Ay, who believed in the smiting of Midianites and Philistines" (Part V). While the Bible does contain passages of fighting, most of it focuses on how to positively interact with mankind. Standish and his men mold the messages in the Bible to fit their own needs. They have not yet come to the conclusion that the Indians are men too. At this point, the settlers still view the Indians as savages, inferior in brainpower and understanding. When the Mayflower does finally set sail, none of the Pilgrims go with it. Even Alden decided to stay at the colony, after an intense moment of being caught up in Priscilla's gaze. She seems to know what Alden is considering and can communicate her desire that he stay with just her eyes. He believes that he needs to be around to protect her, even if he cannot be with her. Once the ship sets sail, Alden feels better now that he has made a choice, or now that there is no longer an easy way out. As he turns to make his way back home, Alden is immediately presented with the image of an Indian, close to their town. He must feel that he has made the correct decision in staying at Plymouth to protect Priscilla while Standish is away.
Priscilla meets up with Alden as he continues on his way home. She thinks that Alden is angry with her for speaking her mind, and wants to clear up the matter so they can go back to being friends. But as she explains herself, she does not think that Alden understands the point that she is trying to make - that she is stronger and more intelligent than he gives her credit for. Eventually, she tells Alden that she would rather be his friend than Standish's wife. But the reader knows that ultimately she would rather be Alden's wife. A marriage built on friendship is much more agreeable than one where there is very little connection. Priscilla knows that Standish would not be happy as a husband. "Now that our terrible Captain has gone in pursuit of Indians, / Where he is happier far than he would be commanding a household" (Part VI). After having been married at least once, Standish should know this fact about himself. It seems that he wants a wife more as a fulfillment of social obligation, rather than a marriage built on love.
Meanwhile, Myles Standish is trying to convince himself that he does not need Priscilla or Alden. "What I thought was a flower, is only a weed, and is worthless; / Out of my heart will I pluck it, and throw it away, and henceforward / Be but a fighter of battles, a lover and wooer of danger!" (Part VII). Standish then comes upon an Indian village. At first, the Indians seem mildly interested in trade, but when Standish offers them the Bible they become hostile. Standish ends up killing the chief. He brings the Indian's head home with him as a trophy. Upon his arrival in Plymouth, Priscilla is repulsed and glad that she refused Standish's proposal. But she also fears that he may claim her as his prize, and as hero of the colony the settlers will agree to anything that he demands. However, Standish makes no such claim and almost immediately goes off on another offensive mission.
While Standish is gone the village is at peace. Alden builds a house for himself, as he can no longer share a house with Standish. His pride would not even allow him to embrace or forgive his friend as Standish left on his life-threatening mission. Therefore, there would be too much tension if the two of them were living under one roof. All the while, Alden thinks of Priscilla. "Ever of her he thought, when he fashioned the walls of his dwelling; / Ever of her he thought, when he delved the soil of his garden; / Ever of her he thought, when he read in his Bible on Sunday" (Part VIII). Alden is still caught up in Limbo, wondering whether he or Standish will gain Priscilla's hand in marriage. The couple spends a lot of time with each other, growing closer and flirting. Each shows the other how well equipped he/she is for matrimony. Priscilla insists, "Come, you must not be idle; if I am a pattern for housewives, / Show yourself equally worthy of being the model of husbands" (Part VIII). When word comes that Standish is dead, the couple does not know how to react. Their town may be in danger, and they have lost a supposedly dear friend, but now there is no obstacle between them. Alden instantly proposed to Priscilla.
The couple is soon married, but on the heels of exchanging their vows a ghost appears at the ceremony. It turns out that Standish is not dead at all. He has also worked through his issues with Alden and Priscilla's love and has decided that their friendship means more to him than winning the girl. "Forgive me! / I have been angry and hurt, -- too long have I cherished the feeling; / I have been cruel and hard, but now, thank God! it is ended" (Part IX). With everything settled between the trio, the world seems a virtual Eden. And they all, apparently, lived happily ever after.
While "The Courtship of Myles Standish" is not a historically accurate, it still provides entertainment. It's an American fairytale that puts a romantic glow on the creation of our New World. It brings the Puritan world to life, showing that the emotional lives of people haven't really changed all that much throughout the years.
References
"Henry Wadsworth Longfellow." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org./wiki/Henry_Longfellow
"John Alden." Wikimedia. October 1, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alden
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "The Courtship of Myles Standish." Mayflower Pages. Johnson, Caleb. 1997. http://members.aol.com/calebj/courtship1.html
"Myles Standish." Wikipedia. October 11, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myles_Standish
"Priscilla Alden." Wikipedia. October 14, 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. October 26, 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Alden