Sewall The Diary of Samuel Sewall

An autobiography is written so one can share life experiences and views of the world with the public. In other words, an autobiography is that person's words and can used in the scholarly context to validate hearsay. This paper will focus on the life and times of Samuel Sewall. This paper will be presented in two parts: first, an analysis of his work and second, an opinion of the work. What does Sewall want us to see as important about his life? What can be learned about the author's life and the society in which he lived? What can be learned from Sewall's life and is his story believable? This paper will explore these questions.

Samuel Sewall's diary was not written for wide public consumption but more as a recorded family history as it documented day-to-day events relevant to Puritanical life in early American history. There were two sides to Sewall's life. There was the professional side of businessman and government official on side of the coin. On the other side of coin, there was patriarch figure for the Sewall clan. He documented in detail everything he witnessed or experienced in his every day life. This type of observation serve historians well as they can better see into the mind of the colonial male and gather a better understanding of life in those days. Sewall wants the reader to see what is important to him are the roles of family, religion and beauty...

One can learn from his reflections about the culture and expectations of gender roles within the society. For instance Mel Yazawa comments of the division between male and female and Sewall having a complete understanding of this role with "Sewall who had been up since 3:00 or 4:00 A.M., sat praying in the kitchen with the Reverend Samuel Torrey of Weymouth. Eventually the two were joined by Hannah's mother" (p. 9) as his wife's ordeal was too much for her mother to bear. Sewall would later allow his wife, female relatives and friends, visit and celebrate the birth by dining on "rost Beef, minc' Pyes, good Cheese and Tarts" (p. 9). This type of interaction makes him more human to the reader because one can identify with such actions. It also begs to comment on how drastically male and female relationships have changed whereas no men are expected to share in the birthing experience by physically being at his wife's side. This only signifies more how important a role religion played in his life as it clearly defined it and his family.
Another example of his involvement with parenting comes in a religious context as he tries to comfort his daughter's confusion and emotional response to the concept of predestination. "Betty was nearly inconsolable in her despair. Sewall prayed with his daughter with many tears on with part and said what he could to help her taste the sweetness in reading the…