Mary Rowlandson

“A Narrative of the Captivity”

Biographical Info

Born in England, immigrated to US in 1639 Married a minister in 1656 Taken captive by Native Americans during King

Phillips’ War: Husband was in Boston at the time 3 months later, she was ransomed for 20 pounds Home was destroyed in attack, so they moved to

Boston Husband preached about her ordeal, and died 3 days

after Remarried in 1679

The Story

Purpose: to show how her experience revealed God’s purpose

Immediate bestseller The first of a trend: “Captivity narratives”

White women, captured, survive overwhelming odds

Convey an understanding of captors as individuals who suffered and face tough decisions– as humans with some sympathy toward prisoners

King Phillips’ War: Underlying Causes Living styles

Two cultures different ways of life and land use Native cornfields trampled by colonists’ livestock Increased competition for natural resources Collapse in fur trade forces Native people to sell their

land End of treaty

Bradford died in 1657; alliance his generation created with Natives fell apart

Greed Colonists’ hunger for land and ill treatment of Native

people by government to get it

Immediate Causes

Colonist Major Winslow took Native tribe leader Wamsutta at gunpoint. Soon after, Wamsutta sickened and died

His death angered the Wampanoag (tribe) King Phillip (Meatcom) succeeds for his

brother Wamsutta

The War: Details

1675- hostilities broke out in Swansea, and the war spread

Natives who had converted to Christianity stayed neutral or fought with the English Native soldiers fighting for English turn tide of

war and kill King Phillip in 1676 Many Natives interred into camps on outlying

islands

The Effects

Traditional ways of life lost Hundreds of Natives sold into slavery Women/children become local servants Native communities must adapt to survive.

Lives lost One in ten soldiers killed or injured on both

sides.