Puritans are indeed among us in society. They are in our drug stores, our laundromats, and yes, our kitchens. They are purists. Puritans want to make society a dull place where everyone works hard and no one has too much fun. Although they think they know what is good for everybody, their way of life not only disagrees with modern society; it contradicts itself.

The Puritan movement began in England in the 1500's (Puritanism World Book). The word Puritan first appeared in 1564. It began as a taunt or insult applied to those who criticized or wished to "purify" the Church of England (Puritanism England). The Puritans sought through church reform to make their lifestyle the pattern for the whole nation. (Puritanism Britannica).

The Puritans are very serious people and oppose most things that are fun for themselves or others (Gambling). Vices such as drunkenness, smoking, gambling, swearing and Sabbath breaking were strongly forbidden in their culture. Even ostentatious dress was prohibited by the Puritans (Heyrman). Puritanism is also defined as strict denial of pleasure (Puritanism Philosophy). Over time the term broadened to mean strictness in moral

In this passage, when Malvolio was accused of being a Puritan, Sir Andrew's immediate instinct was to inflict harm to him. It shows that Shakespeare had ill feelings towards Puritans. Shakespeare had every reason to think this way. The Puritans denounced his plays and theatre all together as breeding grounds of sin and vice and an encouragement to unproductiveness. It was the Puritans' intentions to close down all theatres if they could (Asimov 579-80)

In the Shakespearian play "Twelfth Night" there is dialogue pertaining to the topic of Puritans:

Because of the instability and lack of support for the Puritan movement in England, the Puritans broke away and founded colonies in America. These colonies were based upon the Puritan ideals and way of life (Puritanism Britannica). In America, the Puritans sought to cleanse the culture of what they regarded as corrupt, sinful practices (Heyrman).

Lotteries and other gambling devices flourished in the 18th century. But outbursts of morality and scandal against it in the 1820's rid the country of gambling. The second wave of gambling started after the Civil War. This newfound interest in gambling eventually led to more scandals and more morality than the last time. This occurred in the early 20th Century. In the 1930's America started to recover from the Puritanism when Nevada re-legalized casinos, bingo, and racetracks. State lotteries came back in 1964. State lotteries are now run by 33 states. These lotteries are making this third wave the strongest so far (Gambling).

At the time of the beginning of Puritanism in England, Queen Elizabeth I was in her reign. She opposed and blocked the reformation, as well as many other nobles of the time period (Hulse). The efforts of the Puritans eventually led to a civil war in England! A civil war broke out in England because of the Puritan movement!

Sir Andrew- "O, if I thought that, I'ld beat him like a dog."

s or religious matters (Puritanism World Book).

The world's greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, despised Puritans. It is a proven fact that Puritanism contradicts itself. How can people believe in an ideology that does not make any sense? Just like the kitchen.

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Approximate Word count = 1754
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)