The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
William Bradford’s primary purpose in alluding to the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca is to create a powerful rhetorical contrast that ultimately glorifies the Pilgrims’ Christian faith and God’s providence. By referencing a respected classical figure, Bradford accomplishes several goals simultaneously.
First, the allusion elevates the Pilgrims’ suffering. By comparing their dire situation upon arriving at Cape Cod to a scenario described by a famous philosopher, Bradford frames their hardship not as a minor historical event but as a trial of epic, universal proportions. This lends a sense of timeless gravity and significance to their struggle, making it relatable to an educated audience familiar with classical literature. It also serves to establish Bradford’s own credibility as a learned author, capable of placing the Pilgrims’ story within the grand tradition of Western thought.
Most importantly, however, Bradford uses the pagan philosopher as a foil to highlight the superiority of Christian endurance. Seneca and the Stoics preached that one should endure hardship with rational self-control and inner fortitude, finding strength within the human will. Bradford presents the Pilgrims as facing a similar, if not worse, challenge. Yet, their source of comfort and perseverance is not their own strength, but their unwavering faith in a compassionate and interventionalist God. The allusion sets up a powerful comparison: while the noble pagans of antiquity could face adversity with grim determination, the Christian Pilgrims endured it with the profound hope and divine support that comes from faith. In this way, the reference to Seneca is not an endorsement of Stoicism but a strategic device to argue that the Pilgrims’ survival was a testament to the unique power of their religious conviction, proving that God, not human reason alone, saw them through their darkest hour.
