Two different types of liberty are recognized in John Winthrop’s speech to the Massachusetts general court, natural liberties and civil liberties.
Winthrop also uses an analogy of women to explain his understanding of liberty. Winthrop considers natural liberties dangerous for many reasons, but he mainly argues nobody enforces natural liberty which makes them dangerous, while doing so he uses an analogy to the status of women to promote his idea and understanding of civil liberties.Our nature is corrupt according to Winthrop which is why our “natural” liberty is dangerous. Winthrop say’s “the exercise and maintaining of this liberty (natural) makes men grow more evil, and in time to be worse than brute beasts….
(VF 30)” Essentially Winthrop believed natural liberties were good, but lack of morals and general human nature would make natural liberty too dangerous because over time humans wouldn’t establish any morals or values, eventually turning into “brute beasts.”Winthrop even goes as far as to say natural liberty is “that great enemy of truth and peace (VF 30). ” He feels very strongly that natural liberty is dangerous because there’s no authority to regulate or enforce the ordinance of God. Although natural liberties are “incompatible and inconsistent with authority, and cannot endure the least restraint of the most just authority (VF 30)” according to Winthrop, civil liberties also referred to as federal liberties are much more favorable.
Civil liberties are found in the bond between God and man. Civil liberty motivate society to establish morals and act in a way that God would believe is “right. ” Winthrop believed “this liberty (civil) is the proper end and object of authority (VF 30). ” People need laws and rules to follow as well as a government to enforce these rules which is essentially what civil liberty demonstrates. Winthrop’s description of civil liberty focuses highly on religion, he stated “it is the same kind of liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free (VF 30).
”Despite Winthrop’s focus on religion and god, he used the analogy of marriage women to explain his understanding of liberty. Winthrop’s argues women were given the right to choose their husbands under marital liberty, but she must obey and view him as a godly figure. He says “such is the liberty of the church under the authority of Christ, her king and her husband (VF 31)” which illustrate the authority of Christ being implemented into civil liberties while showing the women’s role within his understanding of “liberty,” to view her husband as a king.Winthrop uses an analogy to the status of women that shows they have little freedom, lack individuality, live under men and overall have a low status in society.
Winthrop also used women as an example of how people should behave, not doing evil things, picking their husbands, having an admirable family’s and over all having a good life which is the opposite of what he originally stated making his statements an oxymoron.For example Winthrop’s said “she is to be subject to him, yet in a way of liberty, not bondage (VF 31)” he then follows that statement by saying she is “subject to her husband’s authority over her. (VF 31)” Winthrop clearly contradicts himself in his analogy, or it’s not clear what exactly he means. Although Winthrop believes natural liberty is dangerous, because human nature can’t be trusted without someone enforcing rules and the ordinance of god, he doesn’t state how life for woman would differ from natural liberties to civil liberties.Assuming women would have the same rights or similar rights to men under natural liberties, natural liberties would be much more favorable for women considering he makes them out to look like second class citizens in his analogy of women and his understanding of liberties.
Overall Winthrop makes a weak argument in explaining why “natural” liberty is dangerous because he doesn’t explain how women’s lives would differ and he essentially is saying natural liberty is dangerous because it doesn’t promote the words of God.Towards the end of Winthrop’s speech to the Massachusetts general court, he said “If you will be satisfied to enjoy such civil and lawful liberties, such as Christ allows you, then will you quietly and cheerfully submit unto that authority which is set over you, in all the administrations of it, for your good (VF 31)” His agenda was to force religion upon people by making natural liberties look evil and civil liberties look favorable. Winthrop’s contradictory analogy of women and his understanding of liberties is a way to take god given rights away from women without directly saying so.
