God's instruments? Native Indians in Rowlandson’s "Captivity Narrative"

Mary Rowlandson's Captivity narrative

Essai , 2013 , 6 Pages , Note: 1,0

Philologie Américaine - Littérature

When Mary Rowlandson is held captive by the Indians in the late 17th century, she has to deal with the situation in order to survive. But when we look at "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson," it is important to understand the point of view of a Puritan woman. As such, Mary Rowlandson connects all events, good and bad ones, to God. For this reason, even the Indians' actions are initiated by Him. But why did Rowlandson decide to make them God´s instrument in her story? Aren´t the Native Americans supposed to be the wild, the savage, the opposite of the Puritans? Was it her strong beliefs, was it some sort of self-protection-mechanism, or was it her way to deal with a strange, foreign situation?

Table of Contents

• God's instruments? Native Indians in Rowlandson's Captivity Narrative
• God's Instruments of Punishment
• God's Instruments of Kindness
• God's Instruments of Conversion
• The Role of Sin and Divine Judgment
• God's Instruments in the Eyes of the Puritans
• Conclusion: God's Instruments and Their Significance

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay examines Mary Rowlandson's "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson" through the lens of her Puritan beliefs and how she interprets the actions of Native Americans as divinely ordained. It explores the reasons behind Rowlandson's portrayal of the Indians as God's instruments and analyzes the implications of her interpretation.

• The role of Native Americans as God's instruments in Rowlandson's narrative
• The interpretation of Native American actions as divine punishment and divine kindness
• The connection between sin and the Puritans' suffering
• The significance of Rowlandson's narrative as a text intended for a Puritan audience
• The impact of Rowlandson's portrayal of Native Americans on her readers' understanding of the relationship between God and humanity

Chapter Summaries

• The essay begins by establishing the context of Rowlandson's captivity and her Puritan worldview. It introduces the idea of God's role in shaping events, both good and bad.
• The essay then analyzes instances where Rowlandson portrays Native Americans as God's instruments of punishment, highlighting her belief that their actions reflect divine retribution for the Puritans' sins.
• The essay explores how Rowlandson also uses Native Americans as instruments of kindness, attributing acts of compassion to God's intervention.
• The essay examines how Rowlandson's interpretation of the Indians' actions reflects her Puritan understanding of God's will, emphasizing her belief in divine providence and God's guiding hand.
• The essay discusses the broader implications of Rowlandson's portrayal of Native Americans, highlighting how her narrative contributed to the development of Puritan beliefs and perspectives on God and humanity.

Keywords

This essay focuses on the themes of religious interpretation, divine providence, Puritanism, captivity narrative, Native American representation, and the role of sin and judgment in shaping human experience. The text examines Mary Rowlandson's "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson" as a source of insight into Puritan beliefs and how they were used to interpret the events of their time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Mary Rowlandson interpret her captivity through her Puritan faith?

Rowlandson viewed every event, whether good or bad, as being initiated by God. She interpreted the actions of Native Americans as divinely ordained instruments used by God for her punishment or testing.

Why did Rowlandson portray Native Americans as "God's instruments"?

This portrayal allowed her to make sense of a traumatic and foreign situation within her religious framework. It reinforced the Puritan belief in divine providence and the idea that God controls all human interactions.

What is the concept of "divine punishment" in the narrative?

Rowlandson believed that the suffering of the Puritans during the war and her own captivity were consequences of their sins, with the Native Americans acting as the agents of God's retribution.

Did Rowlandson also see kindness in the actions of her captors?

Yes, she occasionally attributed acts of compassion from the Native Americans to God's intervention, viewing them as "instruments of kindness" sent by the divine to sustain her.

What was the intended audience for Rowlandson's narrative?

The narrative was primarily intended for a Puritan audience. It served as a spiritual testament intended to encourage conversion and reinforce the community's dependence on God.

• Université: Northern Arizona University (Literature studies)
• Cours: American Romanticism
• Note: 1,0
• Auteur: Annika Mödl (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2013
• Pages: 6
• N° de catalogue: V276755
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656698579
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656700234
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Captivity, Mary Rowlandson, American Studies, early American Literature, American Literature, Native American, Captivated, Puritans