Chrystal Smith

The Effects of Women in Captivity Situations

            Prior to being enrolled in this course on Early American Literature, I was not familiar with the idea of the captivity narrative in any respect.  After volunteering for the reading on Ms. Mary Jemison I found the topic very interesting and longed for more information on the topic.  Throughout the course thus far we have read several different captivity narratives that were each written with a different tone as well as different personal feelings towards the captors by the people who they have ultimately removed from the only way of life they have known as well as the people they loved and knew.  What could possibly be so different in their experiences to make the experience differ so greatly?  Could it possibly be based on the captives themselves or the type of people who take them?

            Encyclopedia.com offered numerous accounts on their website concerning the captivity narrative.  The first one represented is that of Rachel Parker Plummer who was taken captive by the Comanche Indian Tribe in 1836.  Her experience is described as violent in which she is made to watch her son be tortured and never is made aware of what happens to him afterward including whether he is alive or dead.  She is eventually released, only she is not allowed to take her daughter with her due to the fact that her daughter is adopted by the Comanche tribe.  Eventually they are all forcibly returned to the white civilization.  Upon attempting to recall the events she has been subjected to in written form,  Rachel is quoted as stating, "To undertake to narrate their barbarous treatment would only add to my present distress, for it is with feelings of the deepest mortification that I think of it, much less to speak or write of it."   The article continues to explain that these instances occurred on regular basis to numerous Anglo women and men due to the Indian tribes’ ways of war.

            A literary critic by the name of Arsic who writes for Common Knowledge created a literary criticism on the topic of captivity narratives.  In her article she reviews numerous cases and then focuses on the aspect of Mary Rowlandson and her eleven week abduction by Indians.  It is described by the author as a horrific event that occurs to Mary Rowlandson, but that she constantly turns in her puritan ways to that of the Bible and God to help her get through it.  The author elaborated further by stating that it is hard for people reading about the account to understand due to the fact that they have never been through such an event.  It is further explained that the reason that such people as Cotton Mather and others who understand and connect with what she is explaining have been through the same sort of event in their own lives and can, therefore, relate to the information being provided.  The author makes it a point to explain that the reason that Rowlandson is so highly discussed and identified when the captivity narrative is spoken of is due to the fact that she is the first woman to recount her time in captivity in English.  Furthermore, the tone and unrest felt for the subject can be based on the idea that there is not closure in the horrific events that took place in her life.  The author elaborates,“. . . many critics have observed, anxiety without closure organizes the text of the first captivity testimonial in the history of American letters, Mary Rowlandson’s The Sovereignty and Goodness of God”.

            Jone Johnson Lewis gives a historical recount in her article of the entire topic of captivity narratives and envelopes many of the important names concerning the issue of Anglos being abducted by Indians.  She elaborates by saying that the roles the women who are being held captive are unable to carry on their normal roles as women, which causes unrest partnered with horror due to the events that they are being exposed to.  In the time in which these events are occurring, women have a more domestic type role that they are unable to fulfill.  Lewis continues, “. . . they often see the violent deaths of husbands, brothers and children. The women also are unable to fulfill "normal" women's roles: unable to protect their own children, unable to dress neatly and cleanly . . .” The author adds that the daily routine of the Indians is culture shock enough due to the chores and travelling on foot that has to be carried out.

            By conducting this line of research, my question was partially answered.  It is more clearly due to the research included in the post as well as other sources that were evaluated.  It is made evident that many women thrown into such a situation would not easily adapt due to the differences in their everyday lives and the “uncivilized” lives of the Indians.  Furthermore, the acts of violence that they are not accustomed to can be detrimental to their mental wellbeing.  Apparently Mary Jemison seems to be somewhat of an anomaly when comparing women in captivity settings.  In order to more properly evaluate this concept it may be necessary to look deeper into the captivity narrative genre and possibly evaluate men that have been in similar situations and see what type of effects the situation has on their mental and physical wellbeing.  I intend to complete further research on this topic for my second research post. 

Works Cited

Arsic, Branka. “MARY ROWLANDSON AND THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF PATIENT SUFFERING.”  Common Knowledge; Spring2010, Vol. 16 Issue 2, p247-275, 29p.

"Captivity Narratives." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 29 Mar. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Lewis, Jone Johnson. “Indian Captivity Narratives; women captives.”  http://womenshistory.about.com/od/indiancaptivitynarratives/a/indian_captivity_narratives.htm

Narrative of the life of Mrs. Mary Jemison.  LITR 4231, Craig White, Instructor. http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/texts/Amerind/Jemison/JemisonNDX.htm