Text Analysis – Preface to the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, William Penn, 1682
William Penn has written a very heartfelt document giving an opinion of what he sees as the correct way for man to govern Pennsylvania and is showing hope in the power god has given man. Penn states in the preface that he believes god has given man the intelligence and capability to govern well and make good laws. It seems that Penn is pressing the idea that men that govern are to be of the utmost obedient to God and if they are then will be given the guidance to govern well and protect the people from those that are evil. Penn also speaks of no government being perfect that he has seen and one is to do his best to provide a stable government making sound choices for the people with constructive arguments amongst each other. Penn speaks about it is up to men to either govern good or bad that it is in their hands and can go either way. There is text in several places noting the need for people to have liberty and freedom but to adhere to the laws created by the government.
The historical significance of this document is that it shows the feelings of a man who lived in this time and place and foreseen with hope a great prosperous free state of Pennsylvania. Penn wished to see the people of his region be lawful, work hard, and obey god.
Penn was a very intuitive to what lawmakers will be accomplishing with their choices, good and bad, and the effects those can have on people. Penn was logical and seemed to have a very strong sense of how people are all different and we should respect everyone in their choices but do our best to see the good in everyone. Penn seems like a righteous person who speaks with compassion and dignity. He writes as if to send a message to future lawmakers and people of Pennsylvania land hope and an idea of the goodness they should bring to the table when making laws to govern the people. He writes an idea of how lawmakers should consider those in their care and protect them.
I found William Penn’s writing to be very convincing that he thought deeply of his religion, of his fellow man, and he wanted a descent government created for future generations.
I just want to start by saying that I think you did a very good job on this T.A.. I agree with you when you say that this document was very heartfelt, but also it is passionate. I find it very interesting that Penn states that these laws were made for the disobedient man, that righteous men had no need for the laws. This I don't think is true at all, I wonder if Penn believed that because of God, I would assume so. I do think it's a mistake to divide people into good and bad, I think that there are too many variables to label them as Penn did. Penn also states that "There is no power but of God." Like you said Penn wanted to see his region be just people. I think it's interesting because he says when talking about the laws that "In another place" I think that Penn is making an assumption that no one in his audience is anything but lawful and god fearing. With that assumption this is where I think Penn is being a bit political, when saying this is not for any of you because I know you are all good, but for others who we do not know of. I may be wrong but that's just the way I see it. Once again, very good job!
ReplyDeleteLogical is the word that came to my mind also when reading the preface. The feeling I received from this excerpt was something like "we all need to be good and there are laws that say you have to be good. So just be good."
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sam, I don't think Penn was being too political. It reminded me of when a team leader is trained to lead workers, he or she does not want to say, "you need to do this", and "you need to do that." Instead, he uses words like "we will" and "we can." It felt like Penn wanted to remind the people they are all good followers of God and if they just keep up with what they know to do, there won't be any problems. As far as the "another place", I interpreted it as Penn possibly referring to when laws and consequences first began, according to the Bible, in the Garden of Eden. I don't think he was necessarily speaking about people other than his colonists. Penn goes on to say "let every soul be subject to the higher power" sort of puts everyone on the same plane, sinners. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this, Sam. It gave me another perspective to consider.
I especially liked the part of the preface about the lawmakers considering who they are making the laws for. This shows a true compassion for his people and has the potential to get Pennsylvania off to a good start.
Very informative analysis! :)
ReplyDeletePenn had so much faith in the government and its laws. He says "there is hardly one frame of government in the world so ill designed by its first founders, that, in good hands, would not do well enough". It shocks me that he is open to all types of gov'ts, since most we have read about believe that one type of gov't is right.
@ Anna
I also thought 'Logical' after reading this. He states "Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But, if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn." Which is basically what Anna said, if we want our gov't to work, we have to be good. He definitely says things in a way thats more supportive, rather than saying you HAVE to do it this way.
@Sam, I also agree that laws are not only for the disobedient. No one is all good, or all bad, so it doesn't make sense! everyone is both good and bad. But Penn also says after "for sinners, for unholy and prophane, for murderers, for wlloremongers", which clarifies his idea of 'bad' people.
I also think you gave a really good explanation of this. I would have to disagree with Sam because I got the impression that Penn was talking about the free agency of the people of Pennsylvania. Yes, he said that the laws are made for disobedient men and not for obedient men, but I think he was referring to the fact that if people are being obedient and making right decisions that benefit everyone then they don't need to be governed as closely with laws as those who are making the wrong decisions and being disobedient. My favorite line from the passage was "for liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery." This hit home to me because it makes so much sense. Those who have the chance to be free and have liberty should be obedient because they are so lucky, and if they are disobedient, there is confusion for the laws aren't upheld and there is confusion on what is right and what is wrong. Having obedience and following the laws without liberty is equivalent to slavery because people are forced to live laws without having a personal say. I appreciated the fact that Penn was so open about the differences between people as well. He incorporates God as a higher being that has a big influence in the lives of the people who are under Him. I enjoyed reading this and actually relating it to what's going on in the world today and how our government does things. It's interesting to see the differences of what people thought back then and what people think now.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you explained what Penn was feeling when he wrote this document. It helped portray what the mind set was at the time when the colony was getting established. The only part I think he was off on was that all men need laws, not just the so called bad, but the good also. I belive it helps keep everyone accountable for the well being of each other. Because even "good" men can become "bad" given the right circumstances. The laws help protect everyone's integrity. I think it was a very good post. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love how you said that Penn was speaking to the leaders of our future. I think that people running our government, leading our country, need to take a few minutes out of their day and analyze this text as we are. I enjoy history because I learn how knowlegable the people of our history were and how they basically forsaw what was going to happen with our country. As Penn said got chose us to be intelligent so that we could lead ourselves and others, I just wonder how everything would be had we done it his way and not gone off and done things for our own personal gains (as the government is doing now with being run by the wants of oil company owners and such). If everyone were less selfish and thought more about the well being of everyone as Penn did then can you imagine how the world would be now? But of course the perfect world does not exist as what perfect is depends on your personal perspective, but you know what I mean. You did a great job with your summary and I enjoyed reading it :)
ReplyDeleteCheers to this TA! Thorough summary and a great analysis of the text. I think it is especially important that you touched on one of the main ideas found throughout William Penn's Preface, which is to point out the flawed nature of "man". Penn discusses the potential effectiveness of man being able to govern itself, while at the same time acknowledging that to err is human, and the power to govern in the wrong hands could lead to the downfall of the governed. It is clear the Penn was familiar with the unpredictability of human nature, and was especially aware that power and greed could bring evil influence over anyone who is vulnerable enough. He discusses this in terms of being "obedient to God" and protecting the people from influence of evil. The idea that this could be the job of one man, to protect the future of the state, must have come with some uncertainty, which can be sensed while reading the Preface. Your analysis gives some insight into how Penn may have been feeling as he wrote the Preface, and struggled with the question of how his state should be governed. An example passage of your TA is the one in which you describe the historical significance of the document: "The historical significance of this document is that it shows the feelings of a man who lived in this time and place. . .Penn wished to see the people of his region be lawful, work hard, and obey god." (Malynda O'Neal). Thanks again for this insightful TA :D
ReplyDeleteI like the way you explained it! It was very insightful, I feel like I understand what really went on during this time period better. I especially like the way you explained Penn's thoughts on men being flawed and even though men are flawed they can still governthem selves. But it is important that power doesnt fall into the hands of "evil" because it can lead to the downfall of a government.
ReplyDeleteGreat conversation, guys!
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