In his book, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs Mary Rowlandson, the author reproduces his own story of the captivity of the Wampanoag Indians during their attack on the town of Lancaster in 1676. Throughout her captivity, Mary Rowlandson faced many trials, both physical and emotional. Despite the difficulties, the heroine drew strength from her faith in God. Her strong faith helped her to endure her captivity and ultimately be restored to her family. This paper will examine how Mary Rowlandson’s strong faith helped her through a difficult time of captivity.
Mary Rowlandson was born in England in 1637 and immigrated to Massachusetts with her family in 1643. Rowlandson grew up in a Puritan family and received a decent education for a woman of her time. In 1656, she married the minister of her town, Mr. Joseph Rowlandson. They had three children together before he died in 1669. In 1678, Mary Rowlandson married Captain Benjamin Whitman. The couple had one child together before Captain Whitman also passed away.
Rowlandson’s faith was evident from the beginning of her difficult situation. When she was first taken captive, she was separated from her three young children. Rowlandson was understandably distraught at this separation, but she turned to God for comfort. She narrates her imprisonment: “Oh, the sorrows of a gentle mother when she is forced to leave her dear children in the hands of the enemy! The Lord sustained me with His strength so that I would not drown under my burden” (Rowlandson 38). Rowlandson’s faith in God gave her the strength to endure this difficult situation.
She was constantly reminded of the power of God, even amid her suffering. For example, she writes of a time when her captors were considering whether or not to kill her. She writes, “I thought now my end came… But it was not the will of God that I should yet die, for the Lord had work for me to do” (Rowlandson 70). Once again, Rowlandson’s faith helped her to overcome a difficult situation.
Rowlandson’s strong faith was evident in her words and actions, showing compassion and forgiveness toward her captors throughout her imprisonment. For example, she cared for a sick child, even though the child’s mother had been cruel to her. She also showed forgiveness when she was finally released from captivity. In her narrative, she writes, “I forgave them [my captors] all that was past, and was willing to live peaceably with them” (Rowlandson 107). Rowlandson’s actions show that her faith was more than just words; it was a way of life.
Her physical hardships also tested Rowlandson’s faith in captivity. She was forced to walk long distances, sometimes barefoot, and she slept in the cold and rain with only a thin blanket for warmth. She was constantly hungry, as the Indians only gave her enough food to keep her alive (Brooks 273). Despite all these difficulties, Rowlandson never lost faith in God’s ability to protect and provide for her.
The psychological trials she faced were perhaps the most difficult to bear. Rowlandson was constantly afraid that the Indians would kill her or torture her. She was also burdened with the guilt of knowing that her captors had killed her husband and children. Despite all this, Rowlandson found comfort in her faith (Moots 123). She believed God was using her ordeal to teach her patience and fortitude.
Rowlandson’s belief that God used her captivity for a higher purpose is also apparent throughout her narrative. Rowlandson often reflects on how her captivity has changed her and has led her to a greater understanding of God. Rowlandson also believes that her captivity has given her a greater appreciation for her family and community. Rowlandson’s eventual return to her family and community is a testament to her strong belief (Newman 28). After spending more than eleven weeks in captivity, Rowlandson is finally released and can return to her family. The heroine’s return to the community proves her strong hope as she can share the story of her imprisonment with her community and help them understand how God can protect and comfort them.
In her book, Mary Rowlandson describes how her faith helped her to endure her captivity. Rowlandson writes about how she turned to God for strength when feeling weak. The author describes the power of her inner faith to overcome her fear of death, forgive her captors, and return to her family because of God. Mary Rowlandson’s strong faith helped her to endure her eleven weeks in captivity. Her faith was evident in her words, actions, and attitude. Despite the hardships she faced, Rowlandson maintained a strong faith in God. This faith helped her endure captivity and make peace with her captors. The heroine is an inspiring example to all who face difficult life situations. Her story reminds us that no matter how difficult our circumstances are, everyone can always turn to God for strength and help. The author’s narrative is quite informative and engaging for the reader, and it allows, through the prism of personal example, to look at the inner spiritual values of everyone.
Works Cited
Brooks, Lisa. “The Captive’s Lament: Reinterpreting Rowlandson’s Narrative.” Our Beloved Kin: A New History of King Philip’s War, Yale University Press, 2018, pp. 253–298. JSTOR.
Moots, Glenn. Anglican and Episcopal History, vol. 87, no. 1, 2018, pp. 121–126. JSTOR, Web.
Newman, Andrew. “Rowlandson’s Captivity, Interpreted by God.” Allegories of Encounter: Colonial Literacy and Indian Captivities, University of North Carolina Press, 2019, pp. 19–49. JSTOR, Web.
Rowlandson, Mary. A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. Open Road Media, 2016.