Caleb's Crossing Cultural Analysis

730 Words2 Pages

Sachin Meier
English II Honors
Mr. Shaw, Ms. Winter
9/16/15
Cultural Differences in Child Rearing

Throughout Part I of Caleb’s Crossing,by Geraldine Brooks, children are viewed, and treated, entirely different by Puritan society as opposed to that of the Wampanoag. This can be clearly seen because Bethia is the daughter of an important, and devout, Puritan figure while Caleb is the son of the leader of the Wampanoag. Caleb is raised in traditional Wampanoag fashion, allowed to run around and remain unchecked while adults labor at agriculture and other chores. The Wampanoag philosophy on children can be most accurately portrayed by the quote, “... they say that since adult life is full of hardship, childhood should be free of it" (44). This …show more content…

The Wampanoag have a different view on women, who partake in the labor as much as men. Bethia is likewise, required to perform chores around the house, such as caring for Solace, setting the table, and gathering water from the well. The difference is that women are not respected regardless of the work they perform. Another large gap between Puritan philosophy and that of the Wampanoag, is that girls should not interact with boys, even at the young age of 12. Puritan society places so much importance on “reputation” that it causes Bethia to believe she has killed her mother by sinning simply by enjoying Caleb’s presence. My personal beliefs left me thoroughly disgusted with everything about the Puritan way of raising children, and Puritan society as a whole. The degrading of females, the purity and harsh simplicity of life, as well as a complete assuredness in their own superiority, all led me to believe that growing up in such a society would not only be miserable, but produce people who always hold themselves as “holier- than-thou”. This is demonstrated when Bethia’s father explains Wampanoag child-rearing. “They are, as you say, remarkably indulgent. I have remonstrated with them on the matter, asking them why they do not

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