During the colonial America times, disputes between Native Americans and English colonials occurred. There were several cases of English colonial women being held captive by the Native Americans. Reasons for this disturbance is due to the amount of loss, starvation, and the desperate need to obtain and preserve land. As a result, captivity narratives have been produced and have held a significant role in American Literature. In these stories, there are many undercover voices and perspectives. Some may only take from these narratives a narrow-minded view of the Native Americans. However, from these tales, one can see the gender roles women were placed into during these times and the religious motive behind the male influence. Many of these captivity
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This statement from an article titled Mary Rowlandson’s Great Declension, gives an explanation for the most recognizable purpose of a captivity narrative being published. However, it is critical to notice the male influence throughout the religious intention. The main problem is trying to find the female voices in the literary works that have been edited by males. When the male perspective has been integrated into these personal narratives, it then lacks the personal perspective from a woman. It is typically a “true” story of a woman who has been captured and writing about it is a way to understand what one has been through. Men used these narratives to include their own personal agenda and religious motivation. In an article titled Female Captivity Narratives in Colonial America it states, “Female captivity narratives played contradictory roles; while they recorded each captive’s unique experience, male editors often included their own cultural, moral and religious values in the written work” (O’Hara 2009). This shows evidence that one of the main reasons for captivity narratives being printed and published was to show the importance of …show more content…
Surely, people of the time considered this to be a way to show the strength and courage of women who used their faith as a means of survival. However, in today’s society, it is more noticeable to see the propaganda brought upon from these personal testimonies. Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is the only documentation of her writing. It is almost impossible to not consider the male perspective behind this religious influences and comparisons between the Native Americans. According to O’Hara, “Female captivity narratives serve a broader role than simply recounting the experiences of colonial women captured by Native Americans. Instead, the narratives offer insight into the religious and political contexts of colonial America” (2009). The religious and political aims are simply obvious in the narratives and it is essential to look past the captivity
This statement from an article titled Mary Rowlandson’s Great Declension, gives an explanation for the most recognizable purpose of a captivity narrative being published. However, it is critical to notice the male influence throughout the religious intention. The main problem is trying to find the female voices in the literary works that have been edited by males. When the male perspective has been integrated into these personal narratives, it then lacks the personal perspective from a woman. It is typically a “true” story of a woman who has been captured and writing about it is a way to understand what one has been through. Men used these narratives to include their own personal agenda and religious motivation. In an article titled Female Captivity Narratives in Colonial America it states, “Female captivity narratives played contradictory roles; while they recorded each captive’s unique experience, male editors often included their own cultural, moral and religious values in the written work” (O’Hara 2009). This shows evidence that one of the main reasons for captivity narratives being printed and published was to show the importance of …show more content…
Surely, people of the time considered this to be a way to show the strength and courage of women who used their faith as a means of survival. However, in today’s society, it is more noticeable to see the propaganda brought upon from these personal testimonies. Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is the only documentation of her writing. It is almost impossible to not consider the male perspective behind this religious influences and comparisons between the Native Americans. According to O’Hara, “Female captivity narratives serve a broader role than simply recounting the experiences of colonial women captured by Native Americans. Instead, the narratives offer insight into the religious and political contexts of colonial America” (2009). The religious and political aims are simply obvious in the narratives and it is essential to look past the captivity