The work of Mary Rowlandson addresses the distinct differences between the Puritans and the Indians. Some of the differences she pointed out are barbarism amongst the Indians, ungodliness, the exertion of fear, and numerous accounts of dishonesty and lying. Christians, on the other hand, displayed virtues such as love, justice, belief in a higher God, and honesty. In fact, due to its rich literal context of captivity narratives, learners still apply it when dealing with the contemporary issues reigning in society today. On the other hand, Give me Liberty is a clear, integrated, and updated narrative where Eric Foner cohesively pulls together the pieces of the past into one big picture.
Notably, the writer uses the theme of freedom with a very strong coverage of both the American religion and pedagogical programs that are aimed at captivating the reader during the effective reading sessions. In essence, Foner’s narrative will assist the reader to effectively understand and differentiate the historical reality and Rowlandson’s point of view in a more logical perspective. Therefore, the rationale for this essay is to provide a persuasive argument which shows that Foner’s narrative provides an alternative way of finding meaning in things that Rowlandson’s story presents as disdainful and baffling.
Mary Rowlandson in her narrative has clearly outlined that Indians were barbaric, thus distinguishing them from the calm and loving Puritans. Indians were heathens who triumphed because of the destruction they did. However, they mourned whenever they faced defeat and experienced a failed mission. She clearly states that “They mourned (with their black faces) for their losses, yet triumphed and rejoiced in their inhumane, and many times devilish cruelty to the English” (Kephart, 2012). Barbarity was also seen when she and her sick baby fell off the horse and instead of the Indians assisting her, they laughed their hearts out of this incident.
Besides, the Indian took her and the children into the harsh wilderness without considering that she had a sick child. Evidently, Christians were a source of comfort and assisted each other as she stated that “I must sit all this cold winter night upon the cold, snowy ground, with my sick child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last of its life; and having no Christian friend near me, either to comfort or help me” (Kephart, 2012). In fact, Mary would constantly wonder whether this animosity and inhumanity that the Indians unleashed towards the Christians were justifiable or whether God meant it to be. However, the verses from the Bible kept her strength afloat and believed that it was God’s will, and those who would survive would live long to tell about the misfortunes they had to prevail during their tribulations.
During captivity, Rowlandson noted that Indians were ruled by ungodliness whereas the Christian Puritans believed in God whom they respected and followed. Some of the ungodly acts she witnessed, include mass murders, the pain, and wounds they afflicted to those they massacred. More so, they did not only murder them, but also stripped them naked regardless of the presence of the children. Besides, they also ensured that they burned down all the Puritan homes, an act that was regarded as a victory for them. Her statement clarified this ungodliness
“No sooner were we out of the house, but my brother-in-law (being before wounded, in defending the home, in or near the throat) fell dead, whereat the Indians scornfully shouted, and hallowed, and were presently upon him, stripping off his clothes, the bullets flying thick, one went through my side, and the same (as would seem) through the bowels and hand of my dear child in my arms” (Kephart, 2012). Christians, on the other hand, observed values and beliefs, which included compassion, love, kindness, and preservation of a human life. However, this “murderous wretches” did not care about any of the values because their goals were to accomplish their missions and emerge victorious by inflicting pain on their enemies regardless of the gender or age.
Mary’s narrative primarily outlined that Indians reigned by exerting fear into their enemies, unlike their Christians counterparts who believed in justice both from leaders and from those they were serving. The wild Indians were used to using pressure and threats to acquire what they needed. These are noted when Mary refused to an apron to her mistresses and instead of requesting for it; she used a stick to drive her point home. As stated, “With that, my mistress rises up, and take up a stick big enough to have killed me, and struck me with it” (Kephart, 2012).
Moreover, whenever they took anybody into captivity, they ensured that they harassed them as one way of extracting information. In fact, fear was one way of exercising their power and supremacy. Besides fear, the Indians also threatened their victims on several accounts. By threatening their captives, they were sure that their rules would be followed, and no one would escape. However, Christians believed that a disturbed person deserved mercy and comfort. Moreover, kindness and compassion are the key factors that earn a person’s respect and authority.
The Indian captors were characterized by lies, unlike Christians who believed that lying only propagates disaster and dishonesty. Lying is so much into them that Mary narrated it as a horrible addictiveness that they could not let go. Some of the lies that Mary faced was when she inquired about her son, and she was told that they had roasted and eaten him alive. From her narrative, she states, “He answered me that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a piece of him, as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat” (Kephart, 2012).
Rowland’s felt discouraged and dispirited by this rude behavior considering that she had already lost one of her children and could not determine the safety of other children. Besides, their lies, they had no boundaries even to the marriage institution. In another instance, they had lied about her husband and even told her to forget about him. As stated in her story “Some of them told me he was dead, and they had killed him; some said he was married again, and that the Governor wished him to marry; and told him he should have his choice, and that all persuaded I was dead” (Kephart, 2012). Christians, on the other hand, were governed by honesty, and they believed that morality removes doubt and helps people live peacefully and evade ill feelings amongst each other.
Foner’s narrative on attaining liberty tends to make a realistic approach to the issues that Mary termed as animosity, barbaric, dishonest, threatening, ungodly, and fearful. Liberty for a long time has had to be acquired through struggle. For them to be considered and to correct the animosity that had grown between the two cultures, the Indians had to fight for their freedom. During a war, everyone is affected regardless the culture, age, religion, or social classes. For people to feel part of a country they have to act like real citizens. In this case, a real American citizen cannot just go about their business quietly, while their freedom is being plundered. This means that they have to agree to hand over power to people who do not care or worry about neither their interests nor their voice. Moreover, people need to understand that by agreeing to the fact that they are lucky, it can only be termed as a fake patriotism.
Moreover, Foner justifies the Indian struggle for liberty as God-given, and every human being has the right to enjoy the same. As he states in his book “the right to liberty is universal, God-given and part of a natural cosmic order or natural law” (Foner, 2014). Therefore, the thinking that fighting for liberty is inhumane and ungodly as embraced by Rowlandson is a mistaken perception because God is happy when everyone is enjoying his or her freedom. Besides, for a person to enjoy the happiness that comes from liberty, they have to apply the aspect of individualism.
Therefore, identity means that one has to forget about other people’s happiness and instead pursue their contentment, satisfaction, and independence. Therefore, despite Mary’s wrong perception that the Indians are lesser than the Christians is fully uninformed. Freedom is universal, and each group should find a way of acquiring the same once they feel that their personal happiness is being disregarded.
ReferencesFoner, E. (2014). Give me liberty!: An American history. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. Kephart, H. (2012). Account of Mary Rowlandson and other Indian captivity narratives. New York: Dover Publications
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