LTEN 25: The Colonial Period

Mary Rowlandson’s Captivity Narrative

Women in Puritanism

“[Anne Hopkins] has fallen into a sad infirmity, the loss of her understanding and reason, which had been growing upon her diverse years, by occasion of her giving herself wholly to reading and writing, and had written many books.” (John Winthrop)

difficulty of living exemplary lifewhen men are “saints”

significance of in early US culturea. 1st challenge to Puritanism: Anne Hutchinsonb. 1st book of colonial poetry: Anne Bradstreetc. most popular book of 17th c.: Mary Rowlandson

Captivity Narratives A. central to Puritan cultureB. popularity of1. 750 written between 1670-1750C. as "test" of religious belief1. as justification for treatment of IndiansD. gender of captivity narratives1. usually written by women2. women useful as "ransom", property, exchange3. later written by mena. but narrated by women

“A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

"She saw what she did not see, said what she did not say (Susan Howe, 128)

A. circumstances of writing & publication1. written 1677, appeared 16822. most popular book of 17th c. (4 editions)3. framed by mena. preface by Increase Matherb. afterword: husband's sermon4. the Removes as chapter divisionsa. spiritual & spatial displacementsb. gradual movement away from rationality5. publication of Narrativea. to justify removal of Indiansb. removal of MR leads to removal of others

King Philip’s War (1675-8)

1. Metacomet (Philip) a. wife & son sold into slavery, 16762. Wampanoag Indians (Algonquian group)3. English encroachment on tribal lands4. results : decimation of Algonquins, consolidation of English power

King Philip’s War

Typological interpretation

V Allegorical reading of eventsA. Puritan "errand" as flight from captivity1. captivity literalized experience2. defamiliarized "ordinary" life3. "tested" scriptural lifeB. all events exemplary1. experience must be transformed2. unreal must become "type“3. Rowlandson’s “asides”a. to establish biblical precedent

StructureA. form of Rowlandson’s narrative

1. begins prior to attacka. complacency of lifeb. desire to be "tested"2. the attacka. figured as descent into hellb. Indians as satanic visitors3. the releasea. back to Christianityb. but w/opened eyes4. time marked by removesa. 20 in allb. symbolic detachment from Christian center

B. constant reflection on larger life1. "When we are in prosperity, how little we think...4692. decides against suicide a. “the better to declare what happened” 469

IndiansA. MR regards as heathens, savages1. "Satanic bacchanal 4692. lack of empathy over squaw's loss of babya. "more room" created 480B. MR's conflict over feelings1. poverty noted (foodstuffs meager)2. their charitya. offer horse for travelb. comfort in distress, c. Philip offers her tobacco, allows MR to wash (482)C. they never offer her “least abuse of unchastity” 4881. significance of this?

D. God's protection of 474, 4871. strengthens them to be a "scourge to his people"a. e.g. Indians part of God's design2. challenges providential views

Gender Narrative

A. story of women, mothers & daughters1. value as barter a. sold & resold by Indiansb. parallel to slave narrativesB. role of family, children & nurture1. absent from male narratives 2. sewing skills buys food, clothingC. death of Sarah 471:

MourningA. Puritans reject mourning

a. must sublimate experienceb. must divert onto providential narrativec. hence mourning incomplete

B. change wrought by captivity1. Susan Howe: "she saw what she did not see, said what she did not say" 2. captivity "removes" MR from normalcy3. experience alters perceptiona. constant ref. to change of viewb. "Now is the dreadful hour come" c. "When we are in prosperity" 4. concluding para. 492a. "I have seen the extreme vanity of the world" b. sleeplessness while others sleep