Chrystal Smith

The Reasoning Behind Conflicting Opinions in Captivity Narratives

Upon beginning Literature 4231, I was not aware of captivity narratives and the major role that they have played in the subject of Literature.  After reading several samples of this type of narrative, it became an interest to me.  Due to the fact That I was assigned Mary Jemison’s captivity narrative as a topic of discussion to lead, I became even more enthralled with the subject at hand.  The emotions and firsthand accounts portrayed from the view of the person being held captive was stimulating and captivating.  I began to ponder the notion that most of the narratives that were read in class clearly displayed different experiences and opinions about the captors.  They were not all overwhelmingly positive or negative on a regular basis.  It became evident to me that each of the individuals were destined to have different experiences due to the fact that they were not all abducted by the same Indian tribe.  The one troubling question that still plagued me was whether or not this was the only reason that their individual experiences differed.  I began researching these questions within my first research post and was still not satisfied with the amount of information that was obtained.  Due to this fact, I continued researching the topic by addressing different people who have had the experience as well as the different genders of the captives and the experiences that they personally partook in.  Upon further research being performed, my interest has only grown concerning the topic as well as aided me in refining a question that would help narrow the focus of my research.  What factors influence the captives experience while in the possession of their captors?  Furthermore, are the external or internal forces more responsible for the overall physical and mental wellbeing of the peoples being held captive?

               Upon beginning the research process, I looked to scholarly journals and articles that could possibly satisfy the answer to the question at hand.  The 49^th Parallel provided an article that tied together authors of narratives that had been read in class with answers to my question in relation to situation and gender.  The author, Matthew Tomiak, commented,” The basic form of the captivity narrative remains relatively constant, retaining ‘as its central premise of the disruption of identity; . . . captives must come to terms with their identity in opposition to the Native community that has taken them” (1).  He addresses the idea of women directly by explaining that women must learn to face hardships and learn how to carry out tasks that are outside of their normal realm (1).  He continues with this type of analysis by introducing Mary Rowlandson.  Tomiak reiterates his previous point by discussing her description of the Natives as harsh and disparaging despite the fact that they were never unchaste or abusive towards her (3).  Next, Mary Jemison is added to the discussion due to the fact that her narrative is one of the most well-known.  He points out that even after her long period of captivity she still describes the Seneca’s as welcoming her amongst them as a sister (5).  Tomiak’s analysis is primarily based on the idea of gender and captivity, but offers possible insight as to why the experiences differ greatly.

               A different view that should be considered is that of Religion in relation to the captivity narrative which is evaluated in the Oxford Journal.   The author, Tara Fitzpatrick, focuses on the religious beliefs of the peoples whom are being taken captive as well as the beliefs of the settlement as a conglomerate.  She explains that the people of New England saw people being taken captive as a result of vanity in the world.  This point is reiterated by quoting Rowlandson.  She says, “. . . the Lord had shown her the ‘extreme vanity of the world’ and persuaded her that she could do nothing to save herself; she could only surrender to the will of God” (1).  She continues to follow the religious influence on the captives by explaining that the people viewed the situation that others were in as a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of God by being a victim of affliction and suffering through punishment (2).  Later, the author explains that the raids and hostages being taken were viewed by the people as punishment due to the fact that some of the members had strayed which ultimately results in the whole community being punished (4).  The captivity narrative is described at one point in the article as a method by which to warn prospective settlers about the horrors they may experience as punishment for restlessness and inconstancy (13).  Ultimately, this article’s basis is to attribute the experiences captives partake in as being based on religion as well as the beliefs that the individual holds.

               In order to evaluate individual captivity narratives on a more personal level, it became necessary to take an in depth look into accounts depicted by individuals.  One such article that was located featured the story of Eunice Williams.  In this instance, a young girl was taken captive due to the fact that a Mohawk woman’s child had been lost (Simpson, 1).  The Mohawk’s performed raids on villages in order to gain white citizens to use for a way of bartering politically.  The William’s family’s home was raided at dawn, a negro woman was murdered, and the entire family was taken captive (110).  William’s wife, he later learned, was murdered due to the fact that she could not keep pace while traveling with the tribe.  It became a constant occurrence that the weaker beings were eliminated in a sense in order to prevent the hindrance of the progression of the tribe’s travels (110).  William’s narrative reveals that he kept his strength during the trials and tribulations through his strength and belief in God (111).  Despite the fact that Eunice’s mother and some of her siblings were murdered as well as the fact that she was separated from the remainder of her family, Eunice still preferred to stay with her captors (109).  Regardless of the volatile situations with which she had been exposed, the girl was seemingly more receptive to the Natives and the way of life with which she had become accustomed to.

               Religion and the female gender in relation were easily located during the progression of research.  The male gender was not as prevalent and, therefore, an interesting aspect to include during my investigation.  Such an article was located on Captain John Smith and his encounter with Powhatan.  In his narrative, he refers to Pocahontas as an instrument of God that was sent to save him from his captors (87).  He elaborates on his experiences by describing a time when they had him tied to a tree awaiting his death when they discovered a compass that enthralled them.  In this particular instance, this form of technology aided in his escape (87).  Despite the fact that he was treated well after this, numerous negative comments are strewn within the events.  Smith was presented with a bounty of food at meal times, but he attribute this to the idea that they were going to eat him (88).He was treated like royalty by the chief and even refers to him as a brother due to the special treatment he was given (89).  It is recounted that at another instance, Smith was going to be killed again.  He had to bring stones to Powhatan and lay out awaiting his brutal demise.  In this instance, however, Pocahontas appears and lays her head upon his in an effort to protect him (90).  By the actions and treatments that were given to the captive in this instance, it is easily understood how mixed emotions can be experienced when released from the situation that they have been subjected to.

               From the research that was gathered and examined on the topic of the captivity narrative, it is very readily made evident that internal and external factors do, in fact, influence the experience that an individual has.  Some of the captives are very religious and stand fast through their religion in order to make it through the undesirable situation with which they have involuntarily become a part of.  Other captives seem to try and make the best of their situation while in the hands of the captors in order to survive.  Overall, it is made evident that no two situations are exactly alike and, therefore, will have different experiences, outcomes, and opinions of the people who have imprisoned them.  In order to continue this basis of research, it would be necessary to group the captivity narratives by whom the captors are, the gender and class of the captive, the religious views of the captive, and the feelings towards the captors at the end of the adventure.  Once this organizational measure was taken, it may be simpler to group the captives and come to a more concise conclusion than the one that was reached with this line of research.

References

Fitzpatrick, Tara.  “The Figure of Captivity:  The Cultural Work of the Puritan Captivity Narrative.”

               American Literary History, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring, 1991), pp. 1-26.

               http://www.jstor.org/stable/489730

Simpson, Audra.  “Captivating Eunice:  Membership, Colonialism, and Gendered Citizenship of Grief.”

               Wicazo SA Review, (Fall 2009), pp. 105-129.

Stafford, Brooke A. “Where Mediterranean and American Captivity Narratives Meet:  The Case of  

               Captain John Smith.”  LATCH 2 (2009), pp. 82-100.

Tomiak, Matthew.  “The Eradication of American Proto-Feminism:  The Conceptualizing of gender in the

               Indian Captivity Narrative.”  49^th Parallel, Vol. 23 (Summer 2009), pp. 1-13.