Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

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This essay summarizes the key aspects of Rowlandson’s captivity story; the reasons behind her captivity; how she juxtaposes the bible and her experiences; the trials and tribulations that she had to confront in the hands of her captors; the type of succor that she received during her moments of crisis; her attitude towards her Native Americans captors; the culture, traditions and attitude of the her captors namely the Algokian Indians; the hardships the Indians had to endure at the hands the colonists; my thoughts on her narrative
Rowlandson’s vivid and graphic description of her eleven week captivity by Algokian Indians has given rise to one of the finest literary genres of all times. The author has also used her traumatic experience to dictate a narrative that asserts her faith in puritan theology.
The placidity between the colonists and the Native Americans was declining. The colonists were on a rampage of encroachment into lands owned by Native Americans. This triggers a 3 year war between King Philip, a Wampanoag chief, (referred to as Metacom by the Native Americans) and the colonists. This war had a major impact on the author’s life, if not the Native Americans life as well. During the war the English colonists run out of food. In order to obtain food they drive Algonkians out of their own country and accumulate all their provisions and supplies. This shows the inhumane treatment meted out to the Native Americans at that time. The Narrhagansets, a Native American tribe, who had formed allies with King Philip, were one such group who came under this tyranny of the colonists. Narrhagansets having run out of food, try to seek retribution by killing some of the colonists and holding some colonists captive as servants.
In one of these battles, at Lancaster, Massachusetts, the author along with her children also gets captured in one such raid. Her brother-in-law and her sister die in the attack. The authors child Sarah gets wounded, and eventually dies a few days later. Her children get separated. This portrays the revengeful attitude and nature of the Native Americans.
This also indicates the fact that despite going hungry and homeless for days, the native Americans resist the domineering rule of the colonists.

The author is held capt...

... middle of paper ...

...t a piece of him ” (pg 220 para2)
They were very audacious and did not fear resisting the colonists even if it meant death to them. They rejoiced and hoped to signal that the enemies were killed and captured in the battle but mourned for their own kith and kin. They considered begging a disgrace. They were not loyal to their wives; often slept with many women. However, inspite of their demoralizing values, they did not abuse the author through word or through action.
They respected the talents that the author had. I think this indicates a contradiction towards her attitude towards the Indians and her factual experience with them.
In conclusion, this essay highlighted some of the key aspects of the narrative.
In my opinion, the author has targeted this narrative to Puritans and to drive home the point that the native Americans had to be killed because it was in the national interest.
I think that the author is prejudiced and biased towards the Puritans. In spite of the authors attempts to garner support against the native Americans, I am not persuaded. My heart goes out to the Native Americans. This narrative could be compared to the war that president bush is waging against Iraq.

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