The Diary of Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather is a widowed man, who becomes a minister after his late wife’s death. An unnamed “young gentlewoman” offers a marriage proposal to Mather, however he denies her but agrees to help her relationship with God, “if I could not make her my own, I should be glad of being anyway instrumental, to make her the Lord’s” (page 309). This young gentlewoman has a troubled past and Mather worried about whether or not God will forgive her sins, “I think, how would my Lord Jesus Christ treat a returning sinner” (pg 309). Mather may have rejected the gentle womans marriage proposal but within his diary he expresses his feelings of adoration toward her. This is evident when he considers her a “of rare wit and sense” and “a young woman of incomparable accomplishments” (page 308). So, why did he reject such an admirable woman? Well Cotton Mather rejected her because she would tarnish his reputation and he was considered a noble, wise, and respected man and he simply could not taint his reputation with a woman who is considered lustful.The temptation is too much for Mather and eventually he gives in to her. After his first few encounters he has with this gentlewoman burdens him with an immense amount of guilt, I am a man greatly assaulted by Satan. Is it because I have done much against that enemy? or, are rge judgements of God incessantly pursuing me, for my miscarriages! My spirit is excessively broken.” (311). Cotton Mather is beating himself up for what he has done at first but then his guilt turns into anger towards the young gentlewoman and blaming her for it, “The rage of that gentlewoman, whom out of obedience of God I rejected…. and she will be thorn in my side and contrive all possible ways to vex me, affront me, and disgrace me” (314). He blames her for what they have done together and acts as her victim. The Diary of Cotton Mather shows the values of a Puritan society, their religion is similar to modern christianity today. Also, throughout the diary Cotton Mather’s feelings and emotions change rapidly from guilt to sorrow to adoration to rage.
Cotton Mather is a widowed man, who becomes a minister after his late wife’s death. An unnamed “young gentlewoman” offers a marriage proposal to Mather, however he denies her but agrees to help her relationship with God, “if I could not make her my own, I should be glad of being anyway instrumental, to make her the Lord’s” (page 309). This young gentlewoman has a troubled past and Mather worried about whether or not God will forgive her sins, “I think, how would my Lord Jesus Christ treat a returning sinner” (pg 309). Mather may have rejected the gentle womans marriage proposal but within his diary he expresses his feelings of adoration toward her. This is evident when he considers her a “of rare wit and sense” and “a young woman of incomparable accomplishments” (page 308). So, why did he reject such an admirable woman? Well Cotton Mather rejected her because she would tarnish his reputation and he was considered a noble, wise, and respected man and he simply could not taint his reputation with a woman who is considered lustful.The temptation is too much for Mather and eventually he gives in to her. After his first few encounters he has with this gentlewoman burdens him with an immense amount of guilt, I am a man greatly assaulted by Satan. Is it because I have done much against that enemy? or, are rge judgements of God incessantly pursuing me, for my miscarriages! My spirit is excessively broken.” (311). Cotton Mather is beating himself up for what he has done at first but then his guilt turns into anger towards the young gentlewoman and blaming her for it, “The rage of that gentlewoman, whom out of obedience of God I rejected…. and she will be thorn in my side and contrive all possible ways to vex me, affront me, and disgrace me” (314). He blames her for what they have done together and acts as her victim. The Diary of Cotton Mather shows the values of a Puritan society, their religion is similar to modern christianity today. Also, throughout the diary Cotton Mather’s feelings and emotions change rapidly from guilt to sorrow to adoration to rage.