Similarities & Differences Between The Experiences of Colonial America in Literacies "The Infortunate" & "Will Poole Island"

The colonial period brought many opportunities for many in which created the “American Dream” to reach treacherous goals to accomplish individual freedom and the innate desire for happiness and success. Colonial America, other known as “The New Land” come to many people’s mind when thinking of new territory to gain financial and religious prosperity to escape the brutal ruling in New England.

The "The Infortunate" is an autobiography, initially published in 1743, provides a rare view into William Moraley's life of indentured servitude showing the correlation between lower classes and middle classes in England and the American during the early eighteenth century. "Will Poole Island" is a historical fiction book, including elements of magic, a journey across the sea to find the pursuit of happiness. While both Will Poole and William Moraley are young men who embark on a journey of discovery, however, there are many differences between the two which makes each one unique each the dangerous societies in colonial North America to live the lives they morally deserved.

The exploration of freedom, challenges, and voyages of both in literacies show many similarities, yet many differences as well. First, there numerous similarities and differences between the experiences of Colonial America in both literacies. These characters have to explore the notion of “freedom" in the societies where they exist. In “Will Poole” he explores the creek side with many journeys to explore his religion and independence. Furthermore, the development and characterization of Will Poole show the advantage and intelligence of the indigenous people have, morally knowing their native land. Weed stated that unlikely friendship marked by a " magical feats" (Will Poole’s Island, p. 27) other known as Manitou, which shows the definite advantages of befriending the Indians instead of the dehumanization tactics shown from the English. The life of Will Poole who has a deep love for hunting and exploration. He meets an Indian named Squamiset. Through this friendship, he learns to make his assumptions and comes to reality that dehumanization a group of people is morally incorrect. He ultimately comes in terms with the Indian religion Manitou and explores the ideas of personified spirit-beings that interacted with him.

However, in “Infortunate” Moraley the indentured servant must work for his freedom and can't explore the land around him freely. Klepp states “But adverse fortune is become familiar to me, by series of misfortunate; so, had rather leave a place where I have no prospect of advancing myself than to continue here where I have no friends to relieve me.” (Moraley, p.15) in which shows the constant determination despite his struggles to make his life better he then goes on to sail home unfortunate having an “Infortunate” life.

In addition to exploring freedom, the young men shown in colonial America share many things in common, but each still retains their unique differences as well. Each main character leaves his home and encounters challenges. Historically, the tension between colonial inhabitants and those deemed and uncivilized have similarities in both literacies. However, in “Will Poole’s Island” the relations are much better between him and the Indian named Squash. As a result of their unique friendship, both Will Poole and Squash have mysterious cultures and religions that they practice together called Manitou. The challenges set in when he decides to leave home. Weed states the journey marked desperation to move on to make new futures for himself "despite the aches in his legs and feet, he desired nothing more than to keep moving " (Will Poole’s Island).

The pursuit of a new land shows that colonial America was not a place for a young man to explore himself but instead was a place to exploit greed and power. Despite the similarities, they are some prominent differences. In “The Infortunate” many challenges arose when he was captured and sold into bondage seen as an uncivilized. Colonial America’s population equally split between Africans and indentured servants, which mostly consists of Indians and Englishmen shows the imbalance of power. Moraley had a hard life and had to leave home from England to America to find opportunities and pursue the desire for happiness but unfortunately never found a “decent competency.” Just as Klepp summons the reader to experiences these oppositions by stating, “I have had at this employment, but necessity enabled me to surmount all difficulties” (Moraley), this shows the constant desire to make a new fortune. Furthermore, realizing that America is no place for absolute freedom and shows that only the superior will advance in the corrupted society.

Finally, the exploration of voyages to another land in both literacies are quite similar in many ways, yet they each remain distinct from each other both by questioning their purpose for inquiry. In Will Poole’s Island, the curiosity of exploring new religious freedom seen as treason. Colonial America strongly influenced by the colonial legislature and based on the written agreement between the colony and the king of England. Due to the strict colonial past, the exploration to the Atlantic Ocean created a voyage the right to self-govern themselves. Weed is quick to point out that Will Poole believes in the autonomy of the self-visions, for one to “find one's old path to gain true mastery, it is necessary to enlist the aid of the Manitou” (Will Poole’s Island).

This self-discovery is what prompts his voyage outward to arrives in Sowwaniu, the home of Cautantowwit to continue the pursuit of a new promising future. Nevertheless, in “The Infortunate” William Moraley has a strong desire to make settling in colonial American rather than voyaging outward, which has a less European influence. After his great voyages into indentured servitude Moraley arrived in Ireland and boards another vessel in hopes to find prosperity, Klepp describes Moraley’s journey “I set my foot upon English Ground after three years and eight Months Absence.” (The Infortunate).

The exploration to Newcastle, his home, reveals he lived with his mother until her death three years later. Due to the colonial proximity to explore further into the Americas, the availability of land and power is most likely obtainable. However, this is no place to secure a stable lifestyle for a young man. Given these points, despite the many similarities between the literacies, each of those voyages in colonial America describes unseen aspects as well. The exploration of freedom, challenges, and voyages, the differences between making each of these strong perspectives in this term. The eighteenth-century mid-Atlantic seems like a more promising place for a young white man to make his destiny. The ability for self-religion and governance seems a more promising possibility to make new futures for this period. The societies built in colonial North America caused havoc and demise and was never the America Dream people deemed it to be.