The mood of Of Plymouth Plantation is, despite the hardships Bradford relates, hopeful. The people he describes truly seem to believe that their god will take care of them, a belief that gives them hope even in the midst of dark and difficult circumstances. Even Bradford himself speaks in hopeful terms, falling back on God for guidance and support when times get tough. An instance of this hopeful outlook occurs in Book 1, Chapter 2, whilst Bradford relates the circumstances of the Leyden congregation in Holland:
Further, [the Puritans] were unacquainted with trade, which was the chief industry of their adopted country, having been used only to a plain country life and the innocent pursuit of farming. But these things did not dismay them, though they sometimes troubled them; for their desires were set on the ways of God, to enjoy His ordinances; they rested on His providence, and knew Whom they had believed.
Much of Bradford's writing continues in this vein, with him describing the various difficulties the Puritans faced, both in Europe and in the Plymouth colony. He'll begin with a dismal description of events—in the above passage, he speaks about the cultural and financial barriers the Leyden congregation encountered in Holland—before transitioning to a statement of gratitude for God's provision. The mood of the text remains hopeful, not because the events recounted engender hope in the reader, but because Bradford's religious beliefs naturally incline him towards maintaining a positive attitude in the face of hardship.
