Sarah Haskins' Discussion Questions for Oct. 2-5
How does Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative compare with the excerpt of Mary Jemison's narrative we read earlier in Calloway? With the Axtell article on white Indians? What similarities and differences do you find and how can you account for those differences? Be sure to read each other's posts so that you do not replicate comments!
posted by shask at 7:34 PM
30 Comments:
The obvious and main difference between the narrative of Mary Jemison and that of Mary Rowlandson was the fact that Jemison was adopted and adapted to Native American (the Seneca tribe to be specific) life, while Rowlandson spent most of her time on the run from colonial armies with her captors. Jemison told a story of assimilation into Indian culture, while Rowlandson gave a powerful narrative of life on the run with the Nashaway Indians.
In Mary Jemison’s narrative (as read in the Callaway book), she describes her capture as being in response to the death of the brother of two Seneca Indians. It was tradition for Seneca to take a captive as “compensation”, so to speak, for the death of their brother on the battlefield. Instead of killing their captive, which happened in some cases, the Seneca decided to adopt Jemison into their tribe and bring her into their culture. Jemison adapted and spent the rest of her life as an Indian wife, having two husbands and a slew of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She thought about running away and being “set at liberty” and leaving the Seneca, but she said after about 4 years those thoughts had “almost subsided” (Calloway book, 76). Even though she considered leaving, she adapted and decided upon staying.
Mary Rowlandson’s capture was far less pleasant. She spent roughly 2 months on the run from colonial armies after her captives (the Nashaway) raided then Massachusetts town of Lancaster. During her time with the Indians, she prayed continuously (as many religious people would in her situation). It should be noted that she prayed because of her strong faith in God, while Jemison prayed out of habit so she would not forget her knowledge of the English language (Calloway book, 75). Rowlandson did not take much of a kind liking to her captives, as she witnessed countless murders and the death of her daughter, Sarah. Her encounter with Native Americans was not one of assimilation and adoption, but one of imprisonment.
In Axtell’s article on “White Indians”, it is noted that not only women and children were taken captive, but men also (p. 59). He also discussed the concept of those who were given the opportunity to return to their homes (Jemison was given this chance), some were reluctant to take that chance (62-63). Axtell even describes Jemison’s story in his article, and comparing it to many cases and situations that were similar to hers. Axtell gives a complete look at different scopes of captivity, as compared to the narratives that give in one case a positive look, and in another, a very negative look.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson had two very different aspects on the Native American Indians. Mary Jemison, was believed to adopted by the Seneca Indians at the age of 15. She was brought into the family with care and respect. Mary Rowlandson however, did not receive such a pleasure with the Indians. Mary Rowlandson was taken by the Indians, with her child who was wounded in her arms. Mary stated, “ I had often before this said, that if the Indians should come, I should chuse rather to be killed by them then taken alive but when it came to the tyral my mind changed; their glittering weapons daunted my spirit.” While being held captive Mary Rowlandson lived in horrible conditions. She did not eat properly and suffered starvation. She spent two months in these terrible conditions and suffered from depression. On top of starvation and depression Mary Rowland son had to witness the death of her daughter, Sarah. Sarah died in the arms of her mother. Mary Rowland son did not have a good experience with the Indians. She later was released, but she suffered many hardships along the way.
Mary Jemison, who was adopted ended up living with the Indians for 78 years. She enjoyed the Indians. Mary Jemison stated, “I was made welcome amongst them as a sister to the Squaws before mentioned, and was called Dickewamis; which being interpreted, signifies a pretty girl, a handsome girl, or a pleasant, good thing.” Mary Jemison was considered one of them. She was treated like an equal in the tribe. Mary Jemison learned their language and was provided with a home. She held positions and did light work. She enjoyed the Indian way of life better than the colonial civilization.When she got the chance to leave, she stayed. Mary Jamison said, “ I have witnessed, and had abundant proof of – it is a fact they are naturally kind, tender and peaceable towards their friends, and strictly honest; and that those cruelties have been practiced, only upon their enemies, according to their idea of justice.” Mary Jamison, unlike Mary Rowland son felt a belonging to the Indians. The two of them had two different experiences, one good and the other bad.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson led completely different lives with the Indians they were with and had completely different outlooks on the way the Indians went about things. Mary Jemison was taken in by the Seneca Indians as a captive in response to one of their men being killed. At first she was very scared that they were going to kill her as well because the Indians were known to do this as well. Her fear of the Indians at first is one of the few things that her and Mary Rowlandson had in common. But once they took her in she felt right at home. The indians said that would take her in and they said "with care we will gaurd her from trouble; and she may be happy till her spirit shall leave us" So they were obviously there for her. They even called her Dickewamis which meant pretty girl or good thing. Another thing she did have in common with Mary Rowlandson though was she was still lonesome and gloomy because she was away from her familyl and friends. But she did say she had a very easy and laid back life because all she did was little work around the house, nursed the children, and sometimes helped men carry game. And when given opportunities to leave she actually decided to stay because she liked the life so much. She said that although she recognizes that they tortured people, the indians only saw it as justice, not as ruthless murder, and they were actually very naturally kind people.
Mary Rowlandson on the other hand had a much different experience. She was taken in brutally by gettin shot in the side and everyone around her getting killed. She explained the killings when she said "Thus these murderous wretches went on, burning, and destroying before them." She thought the Indians were violent, brutal and 'merciless' people. She called them 'ravenous beasts'. They also treated her horribly when it came to food and they did nothing for her baby. She explained that there horrible way of comforting her was telling her that "your master will hit your child in the head". She also had to continue to run from the English and was always on the move even in horrible weather. And unlike Mary Jemison she was elated to leave. She couldn't wait to leave. She did not want to stay there and all she wanted to do was be with other christians.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson both had very different experiences with the Indians. Mary Jemison was welcome by the Indians and adopted into their tribe. She was treated kindly and made many friends within the tribe. She learned the Indian customs and lived their way of life. Although she worked in the fields, she said “their task is probably not harder than that of white women who have all those articles proved for them; and their cares certainly are not half as numerous, nor as great” This quote shoes how the Indian life was much easier for women than the English way of life. Jemison also talks about how the Indians are seen as cruel, but their cruelty is just according to their idea of justice and they are actually a very tender and caring people.
Mary Rowlandson had a much harder time in the Indian tribe than Jemison had. She had been taken in a very cruel manner and never learned to live the Indian way of life. While with the tribe she was traveling the whole time. She was injured and had to watch the death of her child due to wounds that the Indians had caused during the battle. She was hardly allowed to eat with the Indians and when she did something wrong they would “knock her in the head”. Rowlandson kept her religion very strong and prayed every day in order to keep going.
The Axtell article talks a lot about the friendly captured similar to Jemison’s and how many white people did not want to leave the Indian tribes. However, it does mention several different types of captures, some of which the captive was treated very badly and did not want to stay with the tribe such as Rowlandson’s captivity.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson experienced two totally different views of the Native American people. Although they both wrote works describing their adventures, the books contrasted greatly from to another.
Mary Jemison was captured by the Seneca Indians when she was only fifteen years old. However, the Indians who took her from her town were actually adopting her into their family in order to compensate for the loss of one of their males in battle, as was common among Indians of the time. Since she was taken to compensate for the loss of their brother, she was of course treated like part of the tribe. She was treated with care and love as they welcomed her opened armed as she later wrote in her book retelling her adventure, “I was made welcome amongst them as a sister to the Squaws before mentioned, and was called Dickewamis; which being interpreted, signifies a pretty girl, a handsome girl, or a pleasant, good thing.” Jemison found Indian life suitable for her and worked with the tribe doing light work and later married an Indian man and had several children. After four years, she was given the opportunity to go back to her town but she decided that she would rather stay with the Indians. She found herself at home with the Seneca tribe until her death almost eighty years later.
Mary Rowlandson, however, was not so lucky with her Indian encounter. She was captured from her town in Massachusetts along with her daughter Sarah by the Nashaway Indians. The first several months that she was living with her captors they were on the run from colonial armies. Rowlandson and her daughter were not taken into the tribe as a daughter, but rather out of spite for the English. She often suffered from malnutrition and physical abuse from the Indians and soon became mentally unstable. However, her situation only worsened when they killed her daughter Sarah before her very eyes. Although Rowlandson was only with the Indians for several months, she took the opportunity to return to her town as soon as she was able.
Mary Rowlandson’s narrative of her captivity is one that is typical for that time period. Most English people believed, and most stories they heard, were about the Indians being barbaric savages. Mary Rowlandson was captured by the Indians after they destroyed her home and killed most of her family. Survivors of her family were mostly separated. The Indians were not kind to Mary, they would laugh at her when she was in pain, the Indians sometimes would not feed her, or house her. She was more of an object to them. She had a master and could be bought and sold. However, Mary Jemison’s narrative is much different. Again she was captured after the Indians attacked her home and killed her family. Mary Jemison, however, was much younger. The Indians did not treat Mary Jemison as an object, she was adopted. She was taken into an Indian family and treated by her “sisters” and “brothers” as though she was born of the same mother. They gave her a name, Dichewamis, that means “pretty one”. Mary Jemison was even offered liberty but chose to live out her life with the Indians. She married two different Indian men and had at least 8 children. The Axtell article discusses how most English overlooked those whites that became Indian. Mary Jemison chose to stay in the tribe. A typical story that was told was Mary Rowlandson, one of sorrow, torture, and affliction. The English would not accept “white Indians” because they did not understand why a white person would turn Indian. They thought the Indians would all want to convert and become civilized like the English themselves.
Nathan Stonner
Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jemison had two extremely different experiences with the Indians. Mary Rowlandson was captured by the Nashaway Indians. While she was with these Indians she experienced harsh and difficult living conditions. Right after she was kidnapped, the indians she was with were on the run. This constant hiding and escape was hard on her body and her mind. She did not get much to eat and her body was worn out. Also while she was with these Indians, they sometimes abused her and they ended up killing her sister. After this she became kind of crazy.
Mary Jemison was a totally different story. She was captured by the Seneca Indians. While she was with these Indians they treated her like one of their own. She became used to their culture and ended up marrying an Indian man. Jemison said that while she was with these Indians she felt at home and really enjoyed living with them.
The axtell article is about white indians. These white indians were captured at one point, but were welcomed by the tribe and ended up staying with them. Some of these white indians really enjoyed being with these tribes. They made good friends, adopted new cultures, and some made new families.
Mrs. Rowlandson tells us of a different encounter with the Indians than did Mary Jemison. She vividly describes the Indians attacking their settlement in Lancaster. In the morning, the Indians came and sacked their village. Rowlandson writes, “ Another there was who running along was shot and wounded, and fell down; he begged of them his life, promising them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him but knocked him in head, and stripped him naked, and split open his bowels.” Jemison talks about how the Indians took her in and were kind to her and that their culture was misunderstood, but if people were to read this and knew nothing about Jemison’s writing, they would have quite a skewed opinion. There are quite a lot of variations to the Indian stories, from Squanto and Thanksgiving to Mrs. Rowlandson’s graphic portrayal of an Indian attack. Now granted there may have been some confrontation between the Lancastrians and the Indians that she does not mention, but this does not mean that the savagery is warranted. Mrs. Rowlandson was on the run for almost 2 years, and she prayed continuously. During this time she was starved and lived in terrible conditions, and was treated just as worse. Jemison was treated as an equal in the tribe and enjoyed her time with them. So pretty much, they both had experiences in Indian captivity, one good and one not as much.
The key to how the viewpoints differ comes down to one thing. Age. Mary Rowlandson already had a family and strong concept of her faith before being taken hostage. Her Ethics and values had already been laid. And probably along the way she was shown to look at the Indians as lesser people with barbaric rituals. On the other hand Mary Jemison was taken young and grew up learning Indian values and how to live life through easy morals. She goes on to say “they are naturally kind and tender, honest people.”
Both having seen the worst brutality of Indian warfare when taken hostage, they have completely different outlooks on their inductions into their new families. Rowlandson saw the dancing as devilish and described the entire evening as being in hell. With Jemison reflecting on the memory as peaceful, “I am happy to be accepted for adaptation.”
With one last note, Christian values play a basis for Rowlandson’s thoughts. Often she refers to the Bible and how she misses the time she had in a civilized manner, wishing she had done better with it. Jemison on the other hand sites Europeans for ruining the core Indian values with pushing of their own religion on all who they encounter. She also later during the Revolution sees herself not as a colonist, but helps out he British when they ally themselves with the Six Nations, which she is apart.
In the narrative about the life of Mary Jemison, the Indians who captured her seemed hospitable as they “threw her rags in the river; then washed me clean and dressed me in the new suit they had just brought, in complete Indian style”. Also, when she arrived at the Indian village, she was promptly placed in a wigwam and all of the “Squaws” came in to see her, howling and mournfully crying for the deceased. However, after this scene lasted for a while, joy and serenity came upon the people, and they rejoiced over Jemison as she would replace one of the deceased in a family. As if to make the adoption official, Jemison was called Dickewamis. It seems as though in Mary Jemison’s situation, the Indians wished to envelope Jemison into the Indian culture as fast as possible. Her Indian captors tried to make Jemison feel as comfortable as possible as well as wanted. She was provided with a home and many other necessities in order to make her want to be a part of this tribe, and that is exactly what happened. Jemison became very comfortable with the Indian’s lifestyle and customs. She even took an Indian husband and raised a family. When given the chance to return to white society, Jemison refused.
In James Axtell’s, “The White Indians of Colonial America”, captured whites seemed to be happy with the Indians just as Jemison was. Captured whites were often adopted, and they often adopted Indian culture and much of the time married Indians and raised a family. Axtell wrote that they cried and screamed when whites tried to force them back into white society because they wanted to remain with the Indians. Of course white people blamed it on the fact that most of the people who didn’t want to return to white society were either women or captured at young age and those two groups of people were especially weak.
However, in the account of Mary Rowlandson, attitudes seem to diverge. Throughout Rowlandson’s account of captivity, it is made very clear that she could not wait to get home to her husband and family even to the extent of wanting to be sold: “I desired them that they would carry me to Albany upon one of those horses, and sell me for powder.” If her captivity was as it is described, it seems obvious that she would want to get away. The account describes her as being treated horribly by the Indians—it talks of starvation and hunger as a constant state of being, constantly moving, harsh treatment, and inconsiderate ways of treatment especially as she was tending her dying daughter: “sat much alone with a poor wounded child in my lap, which moaned night and day, having nothing to revive the body, or cheer the spirits of her, but instead of that, sometimes one Indian would come and tell me one hour that "your master will knock your child in the head,".” Who wouldn’t want to return to their old setting before captivity after being treated in that way?
Several things can account for these differences. Of course, in these accounts we have to consider the possible skewing of facts that comes with discrimination and accepted standards of the time. It seems more likely that interpretations are skewed in the Mary Rowlandson account than in the others. Also, another thing that could account for the differences is the obvious one—the two women had very different experiences with the Indians and were treated in very different manners. Another aspect to look at when interpreting the differences is the region and the time period. Mary Rowlandson’s captivity was either during or around the time of King Phillip’s War in New England. Hostilities between the Indians and whites during this period in that area could definitely account for the harsh treatment that Rowlandson received.
Different captives had different experiences with the Indians. Some loved there new lifestyles, others couldn’t wait for the first opportunity to runaway. On the whole, the treatment given to the captives was a definite influence on the captives’ attitudes in both respects. Also, time period, the region, and the basic attitudes of whites towards the Indians and vice versa affect how captives were treated.
Mary Rowlandson defiantly had a much different experience with the Indians then Mary Jemison did. Jemison preached about how the Indians cared for her and treated her like there own, while Rowlandson talked about being treated like a slave more than a family member. Jemison said that she was upset and scared at first because of the barbaric ways the Indians killed their prisoners, but soon became accustomed to the Indian life style and settled in fairly happily. The Indians had more laid back culture then the English and as Jemison stated they “…had no master to oversee or drive us, so that we could work as leisurely as we please.” Jemison also claimed to have a family and many friends there, too. Rowlandson was starved by her masters and was forced to watch her children die because of the lack of supplies the Indians gave her. She spoke about how barbaric the Indians were towards there English captives and was frequently threatened with her life.
Rowlandson also had a very different outlook to the Indians then James Axtell’s paper boasted about. Axtell claimed that the Europeans couldn’t keep their own citizens from going back to the Indians, especially younger captives, after they were released back to there families. The captives raised by the Indians would speak with Indian dialects and felt most comfortable in their Indian clothing. Some of the prisoners often “will take the first opportunity to run away.” Others would keep their Indian names instead of conforming back into the white society. So there were more reports about the Indians being very welcoming with there captives then brutish, but its still safe to say they became more hostile the more and more the English attacked them. Some Indians kidnapped for ransom, while others kidnapped in order to incorporate them into their culture to replace a fallen comrade.
There are some large comparisons between the captivity narrative of Mary Rowalndson and the narrative of Mary Jemison, and there are also some differences. Obviously, both women were captured against their will, but Mary Jemison seemed to be treated better at first. She described being fed, reclothed, and accepted immeadiately. On the other hand, Mary Rowalndson was treated as a prisoner, experiencing little food, clothing and respect. Eventually, both women were welcomed into the Indian Society, and were treated like one of their own. Both women eventually left their new Indian lives. Both wanted to return home to see thier families, but the Indians around them acted differently. The Indians around Mary Jemison didn't want her to leave, while Mary Rowalndson's leaving was the Indians idea. These stories also caompare to the Axtell article because that article describes pilgrims being captured by force, but being treated well in their new lives. In s the article, some pilgrims didn't want to leave their new lives, while both the women did want to be reunited with their families. I did notice that Mary Rowalndson's narrative seemed to be a bit more violent and described a lot more killings than the narrative of Mary Jemison. I concluded this may either be due to the different Indian tribes they were captures by or the amount of the story that was actually retold.
The two narratives by Mary Rowalndson and Mary Jemison both tell of the interesting nature of Indians. One was treated with respect and taught the Indian way of life, while the other experienced the total opposite.
Mary Rowalndson experienced several days of horrific treatment. Her town was invaded and burned, her children were killed or died due to sickness, and life/family forever changed. "Now away we must go with those barbarous creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no less than our bodies." This was a small account of what Rowalndson and the other 24 captives went through. Probably the most important thing in her life at the time was her faith. She (as well as others) believed so strongly in God, for she quoted so many Bible scriptures in her text. She stayed alive because of her beliefs.
Compared to Rowalndson story, Jemison life was a lot different. She was raised then brought into the Indian tribe and accepted by all. She walked and talked with the Indians as a way of life, and that is how they treated her. After in the tribe for several years, she denied having the chance to return to her home. She decided to get married and have children. Jemison stayed with the Indians until her death. She was essentially converted into an Indian.
Both Mary Jemison’s narrative and Mary Rowlandson’s narrative deal with their relationships with American Indians, and actually living with them as British captives. However, both of these women have very different experiences and interactions with the Indians. Rowlandson has a much more negative time with the Indians, and for good reason. Her story begins with her and her entire family being kidnapped by the Indians during a ransacking and looting attack. Many are wounded and killed, and here and her young child are among the wounded. Right from the beginning, she is treated terribly, and is scared when she is separated from two of her children. Not long after being on the run with the Indians, Rowlandson loses her youngest daughter and has a breakdown. This is hard for any mother, but the fact that it was away from home and that they were held captive makes matters worse. In addition, as time progresses the only aspect of the Indians which she really sees are negative. The Indians are constantly attacking and ransacking other British settlements and seeing innocent people from her country get murdered. Although she is eventually returned home and reunited with most of her family, Rowlandson’s experiences with the Indians are very negative to say the least, and the part of their culture which she views is in a sense barbaric.
On the other hand, Jemison has a completely different experience with the Indians. Initially, she was shaken up by the fact that she was taken, as any person would, however as time progresses she becomes more comfortable with the American Indians, and their lifestyle. She has no problem with the settlement she is now in, and finds the way things are run somewhat practical and simple. She, unlike Rowlandson, found their culture intriguing and enjoyed the life at the Indian settlement more than life with the British. As time goes on she decides that this is the place she would like to be and eventually stays with the American Indians for nearly 8 decades. During this time she becomes a wife with several husbands and even has many children with the American Indians. Her experiences were incredibly different from those of Rowlandson, and she actually partial views them as her calling, and an incredibly positive turning point in her life.
Furthermore, in Axtell’s article on white Indians, he in a sense collectively sums up ideals from captives who are similar to Jemison and Rowlandson. He gives examples of captives who had positive experiences and were fascinated by the way the American Indians viewed government, family, way of life, and overall just life in general. He recalls of many British who, after living with the Indians, felt that this was a much simpler and more practical lifestyle, just like Jemison. However, Axtell also gives examples of people, like Rowlandson who found certain tribes’ practices uncivilized and wrong.
Rowlandson’s and Jemison’s captivity narratives are complete opposites of each other. To begin Rowlandson’s captivity was one of violence and struggle, while Jemison’s captivity was relatively calm and much more peaceful. In reality their experiences were different mainly because of them being involved with two different tribes. These tribes varied in the way they treated and accepted captives.
In the case of Rowlandson her captives, the Nashaway, were not very humane as is the example, “Some in our houses were fighting for their lives, others wallowing in their blood, the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head, if we stirred out.” (Rowlandson narrative). This shows the brutality and warrior like stance of these people who were not very accepting of outsiders.
On the other hand, Jemison’s captives, the Seneca, were friendly feeding her food regularly and provided shelter each night. After a while they welcomed her into the tribe and she married some of the Squaws. They accepted her into the tribe to replace a couple of people from the tribe that had died recently. She seemed happy with them as is evident when she says, “My situation was easy, I had no particular hardships to endure.” (Calloway 75).
Though they all have there differences there are also several similarities such as the tribes involved were all from the New England area. They also all took captives when they cam upon a town or to replace dead members. Finally, they all had a respect for death and burying the dead as is the example of Rowlandson’s daughter.
In most of the cases involved these differences resulted from where exactly the Indians lived and what tribe they were from. Since some tribes were more united and accepting of other tribes and people they would welcome captives to stay with them. These differences also resulted from the way the Europeans treated each tribe and if the tribe accepted outsiders or shunned new people to the land.
Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is very different then the Mary Jemison narrative, while the Axtell article provides a glimpse to both sides of captivity. Rowlandson’s experience was distraught and unhappy from the beginning when she said, “It is not my tongue, or pen, can express the sorrows of my heart, and bitterness of my spirit that I had at this departure (day she was captured).” As she becomes part of the Indian society there is not an adoption process or a ritual that makes her apart of the tribe. Rowlandson remains as a outsider that is told what to do be her mistress on a daily basis. The main difference that separates Rowlandson’s experience in captivity is that she never had the desire to stay and be apart of the Indian community. She was merely repulsed by the food, way of life, and the daily activities of living with this tribe.
On the other hand, Mary Jemison’s narrative depicted the hospitality and adoption into the Indian community that Rowlandson’s experience lacked. As described by Jemison, the Seneca Indians had the choice to adopt her into the society or, “Satiate their vengeance by taking his/her life in the most cruel manner they can conceive of.” By choosing to adopt Jemison into the family, this made Jemison’s experience positive and she thoroughly enjoyed the society in which she now lived in. The two Squaws that she was given to treated her like a real sister in every way. She even was an active member of their society, being assigned to nursing children and even caring the hunters game. It is clear that Mary Jemison, allowed her self to be physically and emotionally adopted by the Indian tribe and enjoyed her new life very much.
To combine both of these experiences, the Axtell article on White Indians provides the reader with a glimpse to both sides of captivity. He shows that the Indian way of life can be wholesome and positive, while he also shows that this life can be brutal and unwelcoming to outsiders. All in all, the Axtell article gives a general overview of both Rowlandson and Jemison’s experiences with their Indian captors.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson were two women with completely different experiences.Both obviously had experiences with the Indians,but they differ greatly.Mary Jemison was the lucky woman who actually got to enjoy the Indians.Since she was taken in at the age of 15 by the Seneca, she was welcomed into the tribe as one of their own and treated with a great deal of respect.These great experiences that Jemison had with these people even influenced her to stay with the tribe and live a life where she participated in their practice of polygamy, having two different husbands.Not white husbands either,but Indian.She obviously enjoyed being part of their way of life to marry and have children with them.Even further, when one experiences the luxuries of the European lifestyle who would want to live so primitively like the Indians?For Jemison, she wanted to.She even turned down the chance to go back to her normal life outside the Indian tribe.She later came to learn their language and culture.She apparently loved their way of life if she was willing to give up everything she had come to acquire before being "adopted" into the Seneca's lives.Though the story ended greatly for Jemison, Mary Rowlandson's story wasn't as good.Infact, it was the complete opposite.Rowlandson was taken by force by the Nashaway Indians.She describes to us,"On the tenth of February 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster,their first coming was about sunrising; hearing the noise of some guns, we looked out; several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven. " (narrative)This paints us a vivid picture of the terror that she would experience.Not only the fright of being caputured was traumatizing,but also being injured and divided from her children is a mother's worst fear.After this initial attack, Rowlandson is dragged along with the Indians to different acts of violence, one on Northampton(narrative).Rowlandson was starved,suffered depression, and experienced all kinds of violence and brutality.Needless to say, Rowlandson's experience wasn't one that influenced her to stay with the Indians.How both of these narratives differ from Axtel's is in the nature of the capturing.In Axtel's piece,"White Indians in Colonial America", we see the Indians being brought into the European lifestyle.Among the captives were also men(pg 58) unlike the women and children captured in the "Two Mary's" experiences.All of these documents have atleast one thing in common, one culture tried to change the other's culture and bring the people to practice and live like they did.
Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jemison had two very different experiences with Indian tribes. While Jemison was treated as an equal and experienced care and compassion from her tribe, Rowlandson went through something extremely different. The Indians even mistreated Rowlandson and her child by doing things such as not providing them with at least a “crumb of refreshing…from Wednesday night to Saturday night, except only a little cold water.” When she so much as complained even the slightest bit about her workload, the most she received was a slap in the face, and when she wanted a nice place to sleep, she was on her own. As for Jemison, the Indians treated her as though she was already part of the tribe, giving her a more than pleasant lifestyle that very much appealed to her. The Indians provided things for Jemison that she needed and wanted, whereas Rowlandson was forced to fend for herself and her family. It seemed as though her captives were far more hostile than those that took in Jemison. They had no respect for Rowlandson, and they often hit her and beat her, and even threatened to beat her wounded, crying child. On the other hand, Jemison’s Indian’s were quite respectful. The main difference between the two articles is the simple fact that Rowlandson was a captive, while Jemison was adopted.
In their accounts, both Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jemison were taken against their wills and were initially scared of the Indians and their culture. However, Mary Jemison's experience with the Indians was much more positive than Mary Rowlandson. Mary Jemison assimilated into the tribe while Mary Rowlandson retained her English traits and values. Rowlandson saw her loved ones murdered by the Indians and was treated poorly, and therefore was more resistent in becoming part of the tribe. Jemison, on the other hand, didn't see her loved ones die and "was ever considered and treated by them [her squaws] as a real sister." Rowlandson held onto her religon and the english language, making her even more of an outsider. Jemison, in reflection, liked being part of the Indian culture, while Rowlandson did not.
Mary Rowlandson’s and Mary Jemison’s captive narratives differ in many ways. First of all the backgrounds from which they are writing are very different because Mary Jeminson lived a true Native American life and was entirely accustomed to Native American culture, being brought into that culture at the early age of 15. Jemison was treated as a normal Indian woman she was even given everyday tasks such as farming. Jemison was treated with such respect from the fellow tribe members because she was adopted into the tribe to compensate for the loss of a tribe member. Jemison enjoyed Native American life and felt so at home there. Rowlandson was also captured by Native Americans but she did not spend time in a specific Native American village, she traveled from place to place with her captives. Instead of being treated as a member of the tribe such as Jemison, Rowlandson was treated more like a possession of the tribe. The Indians would occasionally physically hurt Rowlandson and they did kill members of her family. Rowlandson did not live at peace or at ease with the Indians and constantly worried about her safety. Rowlandson was a religious person and viewed some of the Indian religious traditions as acts of Satan. While the two girls’ stories differed in many ways I also found some similarities. After being captured both Jemison and Rowlandson did not know what to expect from the Native Americans and they both feared for their lives. Both women did witness killings and other violent acts done by the Indians. They just perceived these acts in different ways. I believe Axtell’s article relates more to Mary Jemison’s story because many of the white captives Axtell discusses are treated with respect by their Indian captives and they begin to accept and participate in Indian traditions and customs. In Axtell’s article white captives often chose to stay with their new Indian families instead of going back to their colonist way of life. In conclusion I feel that Jemison and Rowlandson’s depictions of the Indians vastly differ as a result of the way they were treated by the Indians.
Mary Jemison was captured at a young age. She was treated like family by the Indians who kept her in captivity. She learned their ways and traditions and grew to accept them. Unlike most English people, Mary Jemison understood their culture after some time and chose to live with them as a “white Indian.” Being such an adolescent, she probably was treated much better than other English captives. Mary Rowlandson was older than Mary Jemison and instead of being treated as an equal; she was seen as a slave. She was tortured, underfed, and worked hard. Perhaps the Indians who did this were trying to prove a point to the English and any other foreigners. After all, migrants used the Indians as slaves and worked them to the bone. They too were treated like animals. Mary Jemison states how kind and generous the Indian people were, while Mary Rowlandson describes a more horrific image. Also, something to call into question; is this what the English wanted to hear? Most of them saw the Indians as savages, living in a society that was uncivilized in their eyes. Personally, I think Mary Rowlandson’s story was what they wanted to bring back to their country and show just how heroic they were for what they were doing.
Seth Maberry-
I think there are a few things to compare between Mary Jemison's captivity and how that shaped her outlook and that of mary Rowlandson. However, I think the most important thing about the two is their one, reocurring, fundamental difference. Mary Jemsion over the course of her four year captivity grew from at the beginning very fearful of the indians and critical of their customs, to becoming understanding and almost appreciatvie of their ways. She at one point, while talking about missing her family says, " Aside from this consideration, or had I been taken in infancy, I should have been contented in my situation. Nowihstanding all that has been said against the indians, in consequence of their cruelties to their enemies-...it is a fact that they are naturally kind...". Rowlandson on the other hand didn't have such appreciation after her ordeal. She is constantly quoting scriputre in her narrative and crediting God with her well-being. If the indians wanted to, they could've killed her too, but they kept her alive. However, she doesn't seem to realize this, and she uses very harsh words when discussing them. Mary Jemsion would be what Axtell calls a "white indian". Rowlandson would most definatley not be.
Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jemison experienced many of the same aspects when living with the Native Americans; however they both viewed the situations in a very different way. When Jemison was captured she explained that she feared for her life as the tribe went through an exciting ritual. She decided to look at how the Natives were thinking, not what she had experienced before she was brought to the village. Rowlandson also feared her life in the beginning; however once she meets with her husband she found happiness. They both didn’t know the fate of their own children which left them mortified and depressed. Jemison said, “One thing only marred my happiness... …was the recollection that I had once had tender parents and a home that I loved” (Calloway pg.77). It seemed to me that Mary Rowlandson had more memories and a stronger christens belief. Jemison missed her home, when Rowlandson was morning the loss of her children. It is no wonder to me why Rowlandson couldn’t adapt to the Native way of life; she had a strong hatred for them. Jemison uses her religion to keep her knowledge of English sharp. She says that she enjoys the simplistic ways of the natives and she enjoys the idea that no one is looking over her shoulder. To me it seems that Jemison was more of a child with no husband or family of her own to miss, however Rowlandson had the life she loved until it was destroyed by the “Indians”.
Mary Rowlandson's and Mary Jemison's expreriences were similar in someways and extremely different in others. Their experiences were similar in that Indians came and attacked their homes, killed their families, and left them with hardly anything. They were different in that Mary Jemison was much younger than Mary Rowlandson at the the time they were taken captive. Mary Rowlandson had a family of her own with a husband and children whereas Jemison was just a daughter and a sister.
Their captivities were very different I think. I would not say that Mary Jemison's experience was necessarily a captivity but more an upbringing in Indian Culture. Rowlandson, however, was treated poorly. They often would not let her eat. They would make her sit up for two days straight. She described one instance where an Indian would come up behind her and say, "Your master will knock your child in the head." The well being of her child was a great concern to her as with any mother. She often mentioned wanting to be sold. Her experience was about as dreadful as could be. Mary Jemison became part part of the Indian culture. She often made references about enjoying it and saying that if people understood what the Indian's compassion and love there would not be as much turmoil in our land today.
Both women went through challenging and tough times and help display a picture to us today about white-indian relations in the seventeenth century.
A major difference in Mary Rowlandson’s capture and Mary Jemison is the freedom they felt. Mary Jemison was not in the repressed state of mind. She assimilated to the native life style and carried on. Mary Rowlandson kept the English state of mind and thought of the natives as “those barbarous creatures”. She had no desire to live with these savages and longed for her European life. Instead of learning about traditions and ceremonies Mrs. Rowlandson saw the rituals as disturbing. “Oh the roaring, and singing and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance of hell.” Mary Jemison learned from the people and found more freedom then ever given to women in normal European life. She wasn’t a victim, feeling captured. Don’t get me wrong, she was shaken up in the beginning as any person would be, but she grew and became educated through her situation.
The Axtell Article about White Indians describes both ends of the spectrum. It has many stories about women adjusting to the lifestyle with more civilized cultures. It also has stories similar to Mary Rowlandson’s were the captives hated their new environment. I think the main reason for this is the different personalities. I’m sure that each tribe had different traditions when it came to captures, but I don’t think that each woman’s time spent was that different. I think it depended on how open minded the captive was. In Mary Jemison’s case, she saw it with an open mind rather than turning her nose up at “savages” much too different than the Europeans to respect. Mary Rowlandson was appalled by this way of life and wanted to go back. She saw it as one of the worst things that could happen to her. “Affliction I wanted, and affliction I had, full measure (I thought), pressed down and running over.” I think in the end, it just matters how judgmental and close-minded the captive was.
~Kelsey Hoehn
Mary Rowlandson's captitivity narrative had far more differences then similarites. One of the only similarities was that both women, Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jemison, were taken from their homes, families, and lifestyle. Thier reaction to the treatments they recieved is where they differ. Rowlandson experienced life on the run from the Europeans, while being with the Nashaway Indians. Her captitive, was in fact captivity, which as you will read far differs from that of Jemison. It was like imprisionment. Rowlandson wanted to leave the Indians and return to the Christian Europeans. Her treatment can be easily described in one simple quote. She had written that if she ever was to do anything wrong that her captives would, "knock her in the head."
Mary Jemison had a far more positive experience during her "captivity." She was taken by the Seneca Indains under the term "compensation," for one of their warriors who was killed in battle. In a way this could be considered justifible when compared to that of Rowlandson. Jemison was treated with much more respect, as she was given the name "Dickewamis," which translated "pretty girl." She overtime adopted the beliefs, rituals, and lifestyle of her captors. As noted in the Axtell article, Jemison was given an opportunity to go back to the Europeans, but turned it down. Like Rowlandson, Jemison's experience can be summed up in one quote. "I was made welcome amongst them as a sister..."
Mary Rowlandson and Mary Jeminson’s narratives are very comparable in the sense of captivity by the Indians. Both were ripped from their homes and families with harsh actions, including raids and extreme violent actions towards innocent people. Both women were taken against their will and held prisoner by the Indians in order to make a statement. Overall, the women were used in a form of slavery.
In difference of the two situations, Jeminson was much younger when she was captured and didn’t leave a husband and children behind like Rowlandson did. Although, both women didn’t want to be put into the situation they were, their attitudes caused different outcomes in their individual situations. Jeminson decided to allow the Indian’s culture to influence her. Although Jeminson was treated like a slave, she allowed the lifestyle to be a part of her own. She found the living situation to be extremely different, but acceptable: the shelter, food, work, even religion. It does take some time for her to warm up to the idea, but in the end she lives with the tribe, becomes a wife and even raises some children of her own within the tribe. Rowlandson encounters a very different experience; she chooses to strictly maintain her European view on life. She views she is simply living among a tribe against her will and nothing and no one can change the way she feels. As a matter of fact, she goes back to her former lifestyle with even stronger puritan beliefs than when she was captured in the first place. She was so negative towards the Indian lifestyle it was considered that she be murdered. Her talent of sewing was used by the Indians, and may have been the reason her life was saved.
Jeminson’s case could be comparable to that of the “White Indians” in Axtell’s story, while Rowlandson’s was completely different. Rowlandson didn’t even attempt to allow the Indian lifestyle to influence her even the smallest bit. These attitudes influences how the Indians treated each woman.
Mary Rowlandson, who was brought into a Indian family in a cruel manner and had rought times living and adjusting to the Indaian way of life. On the other hand, Mary Jemison was adopted and welcomed by the Indians in a nice and friendly way; she made lots of friends in the tribe. Therefore, even though both Marys were Brought into Indains tribes, they both experienced two completely different ways of life. Mary Rowlandson also had another bad experience when she had to watch her child die because of the wounds that the Indians had caused during the battle. The only thing they had in common was that the two were brought into Indian tribes and experienced different ways the tribes lived.
Mary Jemison and Mary Rowlandson had comparable experiences only in the way that they were both taken away from there home and families and taken into an Indian tribe. We can all come to conclusion that Mary Rowaldson had a terrible experience. She was first taking away from her children and one died during the process. Unlike Mary Jemison, who was free, and incorporated into society; Mary Rowlandson was treating as a prisoner and had no freedom. Almost as if she was a slave. It came to the point where she just wanted to kill herself once she realized one of children’s lives was taken. Mary Rowlandson was treated like the scum of the earth; she was not fed, she was not cleaned, and was just sitting in poor innocent people’s blood. While she was doing that Mary Jemison was welcomed with open arms and was treated just like another one of the Seneca Indians. She seems to almost be happier with the Indians then she did back home.
Since that was the case she was let go, but refused to leave because she loved it so much. So much that she ended up marrying an Indian in the Seneca tribe and conceiving a child with him. While on the other hand, Mary Rowaldson was let go and gladly left. She was treated with no respect just like a brutish pig. It shows how different cultures people in different ways. Some are accepting and others are obviously not. So I wouldn’t really say these two experiences were comparable in anyway because they had two totally different outcomes (one good and one bad).
There were lots of difference between Mary Rowlandson’s experience and Mary Jemison’s experience. Mary Rolandson was captured by Nashaway Indian, and had starved and depressed time. However, Mary Jemison also captured by Indian (Seneca), but she grew to be loved and enjoyed Indian life.
Mind of receiving situation was also different. Mary Rowlandson thought that situation was test of God, because this time period, Puritan society was focused on the Bible life, and she was puritan. Maybe she had very harsh time, she could not endure without faith to god. However, Mary Jemison enjoyed that time, and she also had chance to be free, so she didn’t need help of god.
“White indian” showed us Indian captured women, children, and men, but comparing with Mary Rowlandson’s experience, Nashaway Indian didn’t capture men, maybe because (European) men were dangerous.
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