Plymouth Rock is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Everyone (or, at least until I moved to Texas, I thought it was everyone) knows the story of Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims disembarked from their boat and stepped gently down onto Plymouth Rock. I've heard a variety of stories on how it happened, including the first man to step on the rock falling off the rock and to the ground because he still had his sea legs and wasn't used to land. The question remains, is that how it really happened? Where's the truth in this story.
In Jean Fritz's book Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?
that issue is very much brought to light. As it turns out the story of Plymouth Rock was first mentioned by a 95 year old man by the name of Thomas Faunce. His father knew some of the First Comers, and when the townsfolk asked if it was a landmark, he verified that it was. Of course, we're now left to trust the word of a 95 year old man that didn't even know the First Comers personally. For all we know his father was a tiny babe when he met the First Comers himself. The story could have been made up for a good children's tale. It's entirely possible that the story of that first step on Plymouth Rock never happened at all, especially considering no one seems to know who that first person was to step off the boat and onto the rock. Was it John Alden, as his family said it was? Was it Mary Winslow, as her family insisted? From the sounds of it, neither of them were on the first boat to shore, and from much of my research, the women stayed on the boat at first while the men cleared the land and prepared homes for their families to live in. Doesn't that leave a lot of questions? Isn't it strange that neither of the families that insisted their relative was the first knew of the story to begin with before Elder Faunce told of it?
In all fairness, to say that there's a lot of reason to doubt the story of Plymouth Rock, there also has to be acceptance that it could, in deed, be true! It's entirely possible that the First Comers stepped onto the rock when they first arrived, though it doesn't seem the most logical thing to do. A rock as large as Plymouth Rock is described to be would be difficult to climb up onto when arriving in shore in the small boats they would take out to drop everyone to land. There were surely more logical places to put to shore. Then there's the curiosity that there seems to be no written record verifying the story. Still, even with all of this, it can't be doubted that the story is entirely possible. There's no evidence to out and out disprove it. It's all based on the fact that it wouldn't be the most logical decision to land at Plymouth Rock.
Of course, to small children it sounds completely reasonable. The Mayflower just sailed up to the shore and the tall boat was just the right height for everyone to step right off onto the rock. I remember when I was small that's how I thought it all must have happened. I'd never thought of the reality of running the boat ashore. I never thought that they wouldn't do that, but would instead send a smaller boat to make land. Given my childish ignorance, I had no reason to doubt this story. It sounded so wonderful and fantastical.
At some point I'd known a lot about Plymouth Rock. I know my family went out to Plymouth Plantation at one point. Supposedly I've seen the rock myself, but I don't remember it. I'd heard the rock was moved around and broken. I'd heard a whole bunch of stories, most of which I don't even remember anymore. It seems like, for a rock, Plymouth Rock has a lot of history.
So, what about this book? I'd say it's a fantastic read for anyone who wants their children to stop and think about history. I mean, what if this whole fuss was made over a rock that was really nothing more than just that, a rock? What if no one stepped off onto the rock at all? Is history real if there's no evidence, record, or verifiable account of what happened?
More importantly, does it even matter whether the Pilgrims stepped off onto the rock or not? Does the history mean as much as the symbol itself? It may never have been touched by the Pilgrims (though, there is every chance that they sat on it, touched it, leaned on it, or something) but today it stands for something more. It's a monument of it's own right, a landmark. That giant rock, through all of it's trials, stands for something. It's a mark representing those who came before us and a reminder of the sacrifices they made to arrive in this "new world". It's a reminder of all of their struggles. It's a reminder of freedom, in so many ways, as that's what they traveled to America to attain. Isn't that almost more important than knowing whether the Pilgrims ever set foot on it at all?
This is what I love about history books like this. It makes you think. It opens things up for discussion, which I think is far more important than memorizing facts and knowing quirky bits of history. It gives a family something to talk about (especially if they share the book together) and a chance to reflect on how history is created. It's a chance to discuss whether a symbol people can take pride in and be inspired by is more valuable than knowing the truth of a matter. Isn't that almost what religion is about? Having something to have faith in rather than looking for the hard facts that support the story? Is there really anything wrong with something that fills people with so much hope (in the case of religion), national pride (in the case of Plymouth Rock), and love? Is there really any harm in something that brings families together? Is there any harm in something that encourages thoughtful discussions and educating their minds?
Maybe I'm looking into this more deeply than most people would care to think. Maybe I'm looking for lessons that go far deeper than the author ever intended. Perhaps she was just trying to record some interesting facts about a point in history that so many children (at least in New England) learn about. Even so, I think it's wonderful to look at it as so much more. Why not use everything as an excuse, as a reason to expand your mind?
In the end, what are my personal thoughts on Plymouth Rock? Personally I think the Pilgrims never set foot on it. It's too unlikely that they would choose that spot when better ones could be found. Given only one man had ever heard the story, it's hard to back it up with any degree of truth, so I have to wonder if he just made it up, or perhaps his father did. Maybe, just like with playing telephone, the story got mixed up somewhere along the way. We can never know the truth. However, Plymouth Rock now stands as a symbol more than a historic landmark. That giant rock was undoubtedly a fixture in the landscape when the Pilgrims landed. It's something they would have seen every day as they worked and lived. It's lasted the test of time, a little worse for wear because of the meddling of others. It's broken, cracked, and cemented back together, and yet there it still stands. Doesn't that kind of match our national history? We've been broken and fractured through civil war and political divides, yet in the end, we're still together as one nation. In a way, it's like each and every one of us. People make up their minds about us, and as a result we end up a little battered and broken, but in the end we're still there, bearing the scars of our past, looking on to the future. Hopefully, like the rock, we'll all be looking forward to a peaceful future where we can spend time with our good friends (in the rock's case, a few seagulls) and ride out the rest of our days in happiness.
that issue is very much brought to light. As it turns out the story of Plymouth Rock was first mentioned by a 95 year old man by the name of Thomas Faunce. His father knew some of the First Comers, and when the townsfolk asked if it was a landmark, he verified that it was. Of course, we're now left to trust the word of a 95 year old man that didn't even know the First Comers personally. For all we know his father was a tiny babe when he met the First Comers himself. The story could have been made up for a good children's tale. It's entirely possible that the story of that first step on Plymouth Rock never happened at all, especially considering no one seems to know who that first person was to step off the boat and onto the rock. Was it John Alden, as his family said it was? Was it Mary Winslow, as her family insisted? From the sounds of it, neither of them were on the first boat to shore, and from much of my research, the women stayed on the boat at first while the men cleared the land and prepared homes for their families to live in. Doesn't that leave a lot of questions? Isn't it strange that neither of the families that insisted their relative was the first knew of the story to begin with before Elder Faunce told of it?In all fairness, to say that there's a lot of reason to doubt the story of Plymouth Rock, there also has to be acceptance that it could, in deed, be true! It's entirely possible that the First Comers stepped onto the rock when they first arrived, though it doesn't seem the most logical thing to do. A rock as large as Plymouth Rock is described to be would be difficult to climb up onto when arriving in shore in the small boats they would take out to drop everyone to land. There were surely more logical places to put to shore. Then there's the curiosity that there seems to be no written record verifying the story. Still, even with all of this, it can't be doubted that the story is entirely possible. There's no evidence to out and out disprove it. It's all based on the fact that it wouldn't be the most logical decision to land at Plymouth Rock.
Of course, to small children it sounds completely reasonable. The Mayflower just sailed up to the shore and the tall boat was just the right height for everyone to step right off onto the rock. I remember when I was small that's how I thought it all must have happened. I'd never thought of the reality of running the boat ashore. I never thought that they wouldn't do that, but would instead send a smaller boat to make land. Given my childish ignorance, I had no reason to doubt this story. It sounded so wonderful and fantastical.
At some point I'd known a lot about Plymouth Rock. I know my family went out to Plymouth Plantation at one point. Supposedly I've seen the rock myself, but I don't remember it. I'd heard the rock was moved around and broken. I'd heard a whole bunch of stories, most of which I don't even remember anymore. It seems like, for a rock, Plymouth Rock has a lot of history.
So, what about this book? I'd say it's a fantastic read for anyone who wants their children to stop and think about history. I mean, what if this whole fuss was made over a rock that was really nothing more than just that, a rock? What if no one stepped off onto the rock at all? Is history real if there's no evidence, record, or verifiable account of what happened?
More importantly, does it even matter whether the Pilgrims stepped off onto the rock or not? Does the history mean as much as the symbol itself? It may never have been touched by the Pilgrims (though, there is every chance that they sat on it, touched it, leaned on it, or something) but today it stands for something more. It's a monument of it's own right, a landmark. That giant rock, through all of it's trials, stands for something. It's a mark representing those who came before us and a reminder of the sacrifices they made to arrive in this "new world". It's a reminder of all of their struggles. It's a reminder of freedom, in so many ways, as that's what they traveled to America to attain. Isn't that almost more important than knowing whether the Pilgrims ever set foot on it at all?
This is what I love about history books like this. It makes you think. It opens things up for discussion, which I think is far more important than memorizing facts and knowing quirky bits of history. It gives a family something to talk about (especially if they share the book together) and a chance to reflect on how history is created. It's a chance to discuss whether a symbol people can take pride in and be inspired by is more valuable than knowing the truth of a matter. Isn't that almost what religion is about? Having something to have faith in rather than looking for the hard facts that support the story? Is there really anything wrong with something that fills people with so much hope (in the case of religion), national pride (in the case of Plymouth Rock), and love? Is there really any harm in something that brings families together? Is there any harm in something that encourages thoughtful discussions and educating their minds?
Maybe I'm looking into this more deeply than most people would care to think. Maybe I'm looking for lessons that go far deeper than the author ever intended. Perhaps she was just trying to record some interesting facts about a point in history that so many children (at least in New England) learn about. Even so, I think it's wonderful to look at it as so much more. Why not use everything as an excuse, as a reason to expand your mind?
In the end, what are my personal thoughts on Plymouth Rock? Personally I think the Pilgrims never set foot on it. It's too unlikely that they would choose that spot when better ones could be found. Given only one man had ever heard the story, it's hard to back it up with any degree of truth, so I have to wonder if he just made it up, or perhaps his father did. Maybe, just like with playing telephone, the story got mixed up somewhere along the way. We can never know the truth. However, Plymouth Rock now stands as a symbol more than a historic landmark. That giant rock was undoubtedly a fixture in the landscape when the Pilgrims landed. It's something they would have seen every day as they worked and lived. It's lasted the test of time, a little worse for wear because of the meddling of others. It's broken, cracked, and cemented back together, and yet there it still stands. Doesn't that kind of match our national history? We've been broken and fractured through civil war and political divides, yet in the end, we're still together as one nation. In a way, it's like each and every one of us. People make up their minds about us, and as a result we end up a little battered and broken, but in the end we're still there, bearing the scars of our past, looking on to the future. Hopefully, like the rock, we'll all be looking forward to a peaceful future where we can spend time with our good friends (in the rock's case, a few seagulls) and ride out the rest of our days in happiness.
No comments:
Post a Comment