1. Arriving on the American continent, pilgrims trying to escape religious intolerance and establish a good and peaceful life on the new continent had a great challenge ahead. In addition to facing possible hostility by the natives, the pilgrims were subjected to harsh winters, where they had no homes to protect them. The harsh winter limited the establishment of agricultural crops, which resulted in poor and inefficient harvests that caused hunger, misery and the proliferation of diseases, which led to the death of many of the hopeful individuals.
Amid the difficulties the pilgrims saw the situation as a trial from heaven and a price paid for the miracle of God in creating those lands. That thought gave them perseverance and hope for better days.
2. When writing his experiences and the difficulties that his fellow citizens went through, Bradford used a cultured and formal language, yet simple and direct that would allow individuals of the next generations to be able to read and understand. In this way, the history of his ancestors would be recorded forever and with the narration in first person, Bradford knew that he would put a more personal and realistic content in the narration. He wanted everything to look true, so that no one would doubt the ability they had to survive in the midst of so many difficulties.