1.On the tenth of February, 1675 came the Indians with great number upon Lancaster.

Authenticity in Autobiographical Literature

The trouble with memoir is that, as a reader, we never see the unbiased statement.

Our presentation will examine the authenticity of Mary Rowlandson's narrative by analyzing the influences that may have molded the voice of the narrator. 

The Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson

by Kathryn Begeja, Teresa Esposito, and Cassady Rubins

A Brief Historical Background

• Peace between William Bradford and Massasoit but when they died in 1657 and 1660 respectively, the tone and atmosphere changed

• In 1662, colonial forces captured Wampanoag leader Wamsutta, Massasoit's successor and son

• After Wamsutta's death, his brother, Metacom (King Philip), took over

• In 1675, King Philip's War officially began in the Plymouth Colony

• In 1676 after King Philip's death, the war ended

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

-"The colonists' attitudes toward land clashed radically with the practices of the native people. Traditional ways of gardening and hunting proves impossible for the Narragansett after English settlers had altered the ecosystem by dividing the land into private tracts for individual use; by prosecuting trespassers; by cutting down forests, constructing fences, and otherwise helping to extinguish game; and by introducing free-ranging livestock," (Wallis Herndon 434).

-Tension grew more and more and this was a big reason why the war started

Mary Rowlandson’s Capture Mary’s Story -Written sometime between 1676 and 1682 -She was in captivity for 83 days, and travelled a possible 150

miles and maybe more Her Captors -Algonkian tribes -84 nations -All over U.S. but the ones involved in Mary’s

capture and the war in general are the New England sects. -Of these, the following 2 were integral to

Mary’s story and King Philip’s War, especially since her master and mistress were a part of them

-Wampanoags -Squaw sachem Weetamoo -Her mistress -Narragansetts -Sachem Quinnapin -Her master -She was a valuable captive

Native Americans

Their Portrayal -"And as miserable was the waste that was made of

Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Calves, Lambs, Roasting Pigs, and Fowls..." (Rowlandson 34)

-Rowlandson, as well as every other colonist, saw them as savages

Native American Value -"Indians believed that behind every animal species was a

giant double or a boss spirit, that emanated manit to its smaller selves and directed their actions ... to hunt wild animals successfully men had to petition the boss spirits ritually to give their fleshly selves as gifts. Then, to ensure future prosperity, hunters treated their kill with respect, offering thanks to its spirit and apologies to the animal itself," (Silverman 518).

The Native Americans believed in the 7 Points of Respect which included respecting the land, animals, spirit gods, each other, and oneself.

How they are Portrayed in the Text The Seven Points Supported in the Text -Food and warmth Quote – Respect for feelings and for suffering “ Always

show compassions. Do not add to the suffering” The Seven Points Contradicted -Supports -¨“… I went into [a Wigwam] and there found a squaw who

shewed herself very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear,” (44) -¨“One bitter cold day I could find no room to sit down before the fire; I

went out, and could not tell what to do, but I went into another Wigwam where they were also sitting round the fire; but the Squaw laid a skin for me, and bid me sit down; and gave me some Ground nuts, and bade me come again; and told me they would buy me if they were able; and yet these were Strangers to me that I never knew before,” (44-5)

-Violates -¨“… [The Indians] gathered a great company together about

her, and stript her naked, and set her in the midst of them; and when they had sung and danced about her (in their hellish manner) as long as they pleased; they knockt her on the head, and the child in her arms with her,” (39).

Discussion Questions:

-While Rowlandson does make the Native Americans out to be villains, she also shows that they showed her kindness. WHY?

What other reasons could have led to the King Philips war?

Religion and Speechin Puritan New England

"Puritans could never conceive of the self the way we do: isolated, individualistic, anomic, filled with separable desires, complex personal histories, and uncertain futures. What to us is the norm was to them the essence of sin."                         -The Language of Puritan Feeling

The Soveraignty & Goodness of God, Together With the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed: Being a Narrative Of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. Commended to her by her to all that Desire to Know the Lord’s Doings to, and Dealings with Her. Especially to Her Dear Children and Relations. Written by Her Own Hand for Her Private Use, and Now Made Public at the Earnest Desire of Some Friends, and for the Benefit of the Afflicted. Deut. 32.(3)9. See Now that I, Even I am He, and There Is No God with Me; I Kill and I make Alive I Wound and I Heal, Neither Is There Any Can Deliver Out of My Hand

The Puritan Family:Publicizing the Private

"The 'well ordered' family was the model for church and state, and the hierarchical and affectionate relationship between husband and wife was the center of the 'well ordered' family."                                                 -Women and Puritanism

Conflicting Doctrines That Were Problematic for the Narrator

Judea Capta

    Captives should be submissive to their captors.

Mary Rowlandson should be submissive to the

Indians.

Sexual Purity

Women should resist sexual temptation.

Mary Rowlandson should resist the Indians. 

Judea CaptaENFORCING:

Anecdote of Goodwife Joslin   "Wait on the Lord, be of         good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart."                     (p. 38)

CONTRADICTING:

Verbally Assertive    "I told them, they had as good knock me on the head as starve me to death."                      (p. 53)

Criticizing the English    "the Enemy in such distress for Food, that our men might track them by their rooting in the Earth for Groundnuts."                        (p. 59)

Discussion Questions

Why does Mary Rowlandson contradict herself in the text?

What does she gain and what does she risk?

Gender Perspective Overview of power -Judea Capta and its cultural relationship to proper

Puritan woman behavior -“Both Puritan men and women may be

raised in such a manner that the self-sacrifice, submission, and self-abnegation that are part of the language of martyrdom become necessary components of a sense of self worth, but for women these traits are reinforced not only by theology but also by specific historical/ cultural attitudes towards women as a sex. The self-sacrifice and affliction of the martyr thus becomes signs that could indicate not only ‘true’ sainthood but also ‘true’ womanliness.” (Toulouse 659)

-emphasis on waiting on the Lord (or man) to deliver them

Judea Capta and Money

-Mary’s status is dependent on her relationship with Puritan men.

On her own: beggar; redeemed by men: mistress

-Redemption= monetary value = Mary’s value

-Mary is reduced to a possession -But Mary gets to set her own redemption

price -example of her asserting herself

Power over the text (narrator)

Narrator =Minister and Puritan identity (separate voice from Mary and her experiences)

-Need for an endorsement and a male-sanctioned reason to have a public voice

Who is Mary’s audience? How does this awareness affect her telling of the story?

Power within the text (Author: Mary and her experiences)

-Captivity allowed Mary to explore numerous power outlets

-Silences in the text suggest a potential affectionate relationship between her and Quinnapin

-Quotes from text (pg 36 and pg 46) -These silences suggest that Mary is taking

control over her own affection and body -Impact of Mary’s awareness of Puritan

audience Mary needs to convince the Puritan

community of her chasteness in order to protect her reputation and in essence, her livelihood

Weetamoo Power Struggle - Examples of tension between the two (throwing of the

bible, Mary defying Weetamoo, etc) -Mary refuses to acknowledge Weetamoo’s status

as royalty -How Mary asserts herself is heavily dependent on

her own culture (Judea Capta); is submissive to men with power, but no matter the status of the women she doesn’t bow down to them.

-Gender Limitations -Weetamoo had status outside of men (royalty herself),

is physically and verbally assertive to everyone (including men), displays her wealth and status without shame

-Mary is not used to this, could offend her Puritan beliefs but could also be jealous of such freedom

Food for Thought

What do Mary Rowlandson, Daisy (from The Great Gatsby), and Snooki have in common?

Describe their behavior. Think about the way they interact with different groups of people.

Formula for Performativity

Historical/ Cultural Context + Intended Audience= Perception of experience and how it is constructed

Ex. Mary Rowlandson Strict and oppressive community +

Puritan Community= Everything was by God’s will and Judea Capta

What about Daisy? What about Snooki?

Performativity Definition

The audience will expect a performance that conforms to their ideals and culture, which will lead to certain aspects being included and others excluded and certain voices being emphasized while others are silenced

- Performativity will ultimately impact how the text is constructed which will affect the authenticity of the text