LTEN 25: The Colonial Period

1. LTEN 25: The Colonial Period Mary Rowlandson’s Captivity Narrative

3. 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 life when men are “saints” significance of in early US culture a. 1st challenge to Puritanism: Anne Hutchinson b. 1st book of colonial poetry: Anne Bradstreet c. most popular book of 17th c.: Mary Rowlandson

4. Captivity Narratives A. central to Puritan culture B. popularity of 1. 750 written between 1670-1750 C. as "test" of religious belief 1. as justification for treatment of Indians D. gender of captivity narratives 1. usually written by women 2. women useful as "ransom", property, exchange 3. later written by men a. but narrated by women

5. “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 & publication 1. written 1677, appeared 1682 2. most popular book of 17th c. (4 editions) 3. framed by men a. preface by Increase Mather b. afterword: husband's sermon 4. the Removes as chapter divisions a. spiritual & spatial displacements b. gradual movement away from rationality 5. publication of Narrative a. to justify removal of Indians b. removal of MR leads to removal of others

6. King Philip’s War (1675-8) 1. Metacomet (Philip) a. wife & son sold into slavery, 1676 2. Wampanoag Indians (Algonquian group) 3. English encroachment on tribal lands 4. results : decimation of Algonquins, consolidation of English power

7. King Philip’s War

8. Typological interpretation V Allegorical reading of events A. Puritan "errand" as flight from captivity 1. captivity literalized experience 2. defamiliarized "ordinary" life 3. "tested" scriptural life B. all events exemplary 1. experience must be transformed 2. unreal must become "type“ 3. Rowlandson’s “asides” a. to establish biblical precedent

9. Structure A. form of Rowlandson’s narrative 1. begins prior to attack a. complacency of life b. desire to be "tested" 2. the attack a. figured as descent into hell b. Indians as satanic visitors 3. the release a. back to Christianity b. but w/opened eyes 4. time marked by removes a. 20 in all b. symbolic detachment from Christian center B. constant reflection on larger life 1. "When we are in prosperity, how little we think...469 2. decides against suicide a. “the better to declare what happened” 469

10. Indians A. MR regards as heathens, savages 1. "Satanic bacchanal 469 2. lack of empathy over squaw's loss of baby a. "more room" created 480 B. MR's conflict over feelings 1. poverty noted (foodstuffs meager) 2. their charity a. offer horse for travel b. comfort in distress, c. Philip offers her tobacco, allows MR to wash (482) C. they never offerher “least abuse of unchastity” 488 1. significance of this? D. God's protection of 474, 487 1. strengthens them to be a "scourge to his people" a. e.g. Indians part of God's design 2. challenges providential views

11. Gender Narrative A. story of women, mothers & daughters 1. value as barter a. sold & resold by Indians b. parallel to slave narratives B. role of family, children & nurture 1. absent from male narratives 2. sewing skills buys food, clothing C. death of Sarah 471:

12. Mourning A. Puritansreject mourning a. must sublimate experience b. must divert onto providential narrative c. hence mourning incomplete B. change wrought by captivity 1. Susan Howe: "she saw what she did not see, said what she did not say" 2. captivity "removes" MR from normalcy 3. experience alters perception a. constant ref. to change of view b. "Now is the dreadful hour come" c. "When we are in prosperity" 4. concluding para. 492 a. "I have seen the extreme vanity of the world" b. sleeplessness while others sleep