When the European and Spanish Empire came to America to seek land, they brought more than just diseases, people, and conflicts. Their hunger for wealth and power forced them to set sail in search of new land that they can call their own. Although they believed to have discovered a ‘New World’, they discovered a land that was already dominated by the Native Americans. Colonialism brought great trauma which heavily impacted the foundation of the culture and events that took place during this time.
Some claim that trauma began when the Europeans came to America. Though they may have been the cause of this, the Europeans also faced great hardships. In the perspective of a colonist, Mrs. Mary Rowlandson wrote about her time in captivity and the
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This demonstrates how she became savage-like, exceedingly desperate for food due to malnutrition. Mrs. Rowlandson stealing is something that contradicts with her religious faith. Though she goes against her religious beliefs, she thanks the Lord for the meal. The act of stealing reveals how trauma can slip into their lives in such a subtle way. In addition, she begins to eat food that would have been unpalatable to her prior to being taken captive. Throughout her time in captivity and the disturbing events that took place, her life had immensely changed.
The Black Legend was a myth created by the Europeans which depicted how the Spanish Empire treated the natives. They were viewed as savages, extremely brutal to the Native Americans, bringing great trauma to the Natives by killing thousands of their people. One traumatic event that took place was when a native group, the Tlaxcaltecas, decided to side with the Spaniards. Clearly, their fear of being killed by the Spaniards resulted in their submission to Cortes. In addition to their fear of the Spaniards, they also feared another native group, the Cholulas. Consequently, the Tlaxcaltecas formed rumors so that Cortes and his men would wipe them out. This resulted in the massacre at Cholula where they didn’t expect a fight. “They died blindly, without knowing why, because of the lies of the Tlaxcaltecas” (León-Portilla, 41). Unfortunately, trauma slips into the lives of the natives.
Logan, Lisa. “Mary Rowlandson’s Captivity and the ‘Place’ of the Woman Subject.” Early American Literature. 28 (1993) 255-277.
The spirits of the westerners were battered and they were given very little to keep themselves alive. Rowlandson refers to the Indian celebration as, “ a lively resemblance of hell(page 345).” She also says that “it seemed a present worse than death(page 345).” This is in reference to living in general. She asserts that the life she is currently living is worse that death itself. Yet she then realizes that she has not honored her God on the Sabbath or appreciated her gifts as she should which then pulls the reader back to the center of her life and the life of many colonists which is God and religion. Even though she has been captured and unfairly treated, she still partially blames herself for not honoring
Mary Rowlandson lived in Lancaster, Massachusetts. That’s where the Indians went to get food, and clothes. She was the wife of the minister of the town. While all this took place her husband was away and she had to go through this alone. But it’s a good thing he wasn’t there because he would have died or have seriously been wounded, but he’s still alive. Rowlandson went as the Indians captive so she can live. But the author stated, “If the Indians should come, I should choose rather to be killed by them than taken alive…” (Rowlandson 259). Basically what this means is that she went back on her word and went with them instead of being killed. Throughout her journey with the
Rowlandson, Mary “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 257-88. Print.
As part of the Algonquin Tribe, who attacked Lancaster and captured Mary Rowlandson, reading her narrative, made me quite upset for the lack of gratitude she gave us. Yes, it was us who did the kidnapping, but in times of war, much happens in order to succeed. In her narrative though, she portrays us as demons and savages, while not looking at or appreciating the care/freedom we gave her, but the blessings god has given her. Mary Rowlandson was not treated with the same brutality that her fellow captures received. Though she faces cruelty from her mistress, she is given kindness by her master who promises to sell her back to her husband, other squaws feed her, and many other of my fellow natives pay her with food and other goods she can trade for with her sewing. We did not rape her, beat her, or even torture her. So ask yourself, is that the treatment a savage would give?
Captivity narratives capture the trepidation, deprivation, and anguish that occurred within the lives of those torn from their homes and separated from their family and friends. These stories shed light on the horrendous situations that occurred in the past, as well as situations that occur today. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano are two strong individuals who shed light on the captivity they endured throughout their lives. Through their treatment while in captivity, travel conditions, and religion, Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano can be compared and contrasted.
Many people misconstrue the harmful and beneficial arrival of the Europeans in the New World. The Spanish black legend is an idea that criticizes the Spanish for their harsh treatment and exploitation towards the Native Americans. The Spanish are known for killing, stealing, and infecting the Native Americans which is all true, however the Spanish also brought culture, religion, plants, animals, and ideas. People and ideas contributed to the notion of the Black Legend.
Mary Rowlandson’s The Sovereignty and Goodness of God tells the story of her captivity by Native Americans in 17th century. In this story, she shows a typical Puritan view of Native Americans. When the Native Americans captured the Puritans, they did not have a positive view of the Native Americans at all, and not surprisingly, Rowlandson was not much different from them. Rowlandson starts the story with the Native Americans’ brutal attack on her village. She describes those gruesome experiences very vividly, and it seems certain that she has no reason to think highly of the Native Americans. On top of that, her words describing the Native Americans, such as infidels, liars and heathens, indicate that she did not see them as normal people.
This is very much befitting Rowlandson’s attitude when confronted by the maid to give a piece of her apron. Although, her grief is most evident when considering how many times in the narrative she mentions her weariness. Great supporting evidence that I have found is in the eighth remove of Rowlandson’s narrative, after having crossed the Connecticut River and while sitting on the opposite shore waiting for the rest of her captors to cross the text reads as
From the fifteenth to the seventeenth century, conquistadors and European settlers went on an exploration across the Atlantic Ocean. With dreams of finding enormous riches, these explorers “discovered” many lands, which were already inhabited by the indigenous people. Through the use of their technology, weaponry, and cavalry these trained soldier were able to uses their power for colonization and imperial expansion, which ultimately left the natives economically, politically, and culturally broken.
When Columbus landed in the “New World”, or the America’s, this marked the beginning of World growth and prosperity; at least for the most of Europe. However, for the America’s, it was the beginning of disaster for the country. By discovering the America’s, Columbus ruined not on the lives of many indigenous people, but also the land which they lived.
Rowlandson, Mary. A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.In Women’s Indian Captivity Narratives. Ed. Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola. New York: Penguin Books, 1998.
Religion played a big part in early American literature, mostly due to the fact that religion was a big aspect in early American settlement. The more people who decide to emigrate from England to America, along with them came the ideas of which religions was the religion that all others should follow. Early American literature written is a key for more insights on the knowledge of what and how exactly religion influenced the English writer’s life. Mary Rowlandson, the writer of A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, writes how her life was influenced during her captivity of the Native Americans. June 20, 1675 began the first of many attacks on colonial settlements that lasted until August 12, 1676. These series
Within three Puritan works, Rowlandson and Edwards displayed their religious beliefs through their thoughts on God and mankind. One of the many Puritan beliefs was that the bible is the basis of all teaching. Such examples of this are evident in Mary Rowlandson’s work “Captivity”. Even though she was a captive, she still took note of “the wonderful mercy of God” for the simple fact that He “[sent her] a bible” (Rowlandson 67). Feeling lost, the bible brought her back to her faith in a time of need, and enlightened her on the hope that “there was mercy promised again”(67). From then on she looked to the Bible for guidance in times of despair. Throughout her imprisonment, she often pondered about “the wonderful goodness of God” when she felt anguish (66).
During the introduction of Colonialist into regions of early America it is without a doubt known that early settlers brought with them many things other than new technology. Among the list of what was brought were disease, such as smallpox and measles, which alone decimated millions of previously unexposed Natives. Wars that were fought to control regions already settled by Natives that colonialist were eager to obtain. Hard ships endured such as being driven from their homeland that came in one example as the Trail of Tears. Colonialism decimated Native Americans on most fronts, one to include is the how colonialism also caused a degradation of Native American culture that would last into future generations.