“A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” Essay

American literature is a varied and broad subject, with many discussions started and concluded over the years to portray the intricacies of the human condition on paper. Some authors were more concerned with writing fictional narratives, while others attempted to describe, relay or retell events familiar to them. Prose and poems, novels, thrillers, dramas, character explorations, and simple stories, were all written to convey a message, to reach a particular audience and strike at their heart, to connect in a way that is only possible through genuine emotion. Many of such works are still fondly remembered or well-kept to this day, posing as writings of great significance and unique entries to their respective genres. Although the selection process for the things that ultimately get remembered can be quite unfair, I think the books and writings that got cemented as the literary canon are still worth knowing about, discussing, and remembering. Through reading such stories, one can not only get to understand the lives, values, and thought processes of people long gone but also find what makes literature memorable. The kinds of impact stories have, the constant themes of literature, and the ways that people can be portrayed and described, all can be learned by studying the canons. Speaking of stories and their impact, I want to further discuss and share my thoughts on one such piece, “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson”, written by the titular Mary Rowlandson. The story is notably a part of the so-called “captivity narrative” category, which is categorized as narratives about being in captivity of a foreign entity. The piece depicts the personal account of the author and describes the life she had to lead during the 11 months of her captivity by Native Americans. The story has an interesting presentation, and the tone it establishes is also somewhat unique. The descriptions of the events leading up to her capture are told in a manner that displays a lot of the horror and drama of a violent confrontation and presents the author’s emotions well. This kind of beginning serves well to establish the basic premise of the piece and build emotional investment. The emotional state and the approach Mary takes to her experience are also evident, as the entirety of the description is filled with religious undertones. I think that the piece captures the thought process of a deeply pious person of that period in an intriguing manner. How the lady attempts to both rationalize and explain the events as a God’s trial and interjects her faith into the descriptions is very fascinating. Mary’s relationship with the natives is also peculiar, as it cannot be understood on a strict binary. While the event of taking people into captivity is certainly not a good thing, that practice was rather common in earlier parts of history, and it is not the only thing that informs both the author’s and the audience’s view on the native people. They, like any other type of people, are complex, sometimes treating the protagonist with kindness, and intentionally bringing her harm in other situations. Mary herself learns to understand the culture and tradition of the natives she considered disgusting, although only partially. I think that the piece is a great demonstration of the period it was written in, although not a fully accurate one, perhaps. The depictions of people, events, the hope and desperation of the main character, as well as all the things she had to live through with her close ones, are all pretty complex and multi-faceted. The religious parts intertwine with the continued perseverance of Mary, who manages to live through the ordeal in large part due to her strength of character. Although I would have to admit that reading the text presented some challenges due to the writing style, it was largely well written, presented, and formulated. I think the piece serves as a good point of reference for the experiences of people in captivity, as well as a work that demonstrates the central role religion paid for people in the past. It, along with traditional values like family, was a kind of a beacon of hope for people, something that allowed them to constantly overcome adversity and better understand the world around them.