A Narrative Of The Captivity Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
A Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is an extreme example of strict Puritan faith. This narrative is written by a woman who witnessed her community become destroyed by Indians. As to Marys’ knowledge “thirty seven persons who were in this one house, none escaped either present death, or a bitter captivity, save only one.” Throughout the community there were twenty-four people taken captive by the Indians.
Mary Rowlandson was separated from her family during the raid while her husband remained near Boston. For nine days Mary and a small child traveled with t he Indians. Being treated horribly she was in a “miserable condition without any refreshing of one nature or other, except a little cold water.” Even though her life had taken a horrible turn, and she didn’t know whether she might live or die she kept her Puritan faith and thanked god: “I have thought of the wonderful goodness of God to me in preserving me in the use of my reasons and sen
It is almost impossible for me to believe that her faith was as strong as she noted within her narrative. I question her faith as being expected by her readers, she may of thought that she would become well respected for keeping her strict ideas of Puritan faith under the most extreme circumstances.
Throughout Marys’ journey she was ordered to carry some of the Indians’ belongings such as food and knitting work. Although she carried these items for miles her hunger was not to be satisfied by as little as a taste of the parched meal. Obviously Mary was out numbered by the large group of Indians, but she remained persistent on her religious faith. During Sabbath Day the Indians ordered her to work, while she insisted that on the Sabbath she must rest and will do twice of her work on the following day.
As they packed their things once again Mary was given a heavy load, she complained that the load was too heavy, in response to this Mary received a slap in the face.
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