The authors that will be analyzed in this essay are Mary Rowlandson and Jonathon Edwards, and their pieces are The Sovereignty and Goodness of God and Personal Narrative respectively. I chose to analyze these texts because of my interest in the Puritan accounts of the colonies, and because of my own Christian faith. It is fascinating to me to read about the first colonists in America, their faith in God, and the documentation of their beliefs. Being a Baptist myself, I share many of the beliefs written in these texts. This opportunity to learn more about the origins of the Christian faith in America and the way the colonists applied it to their daily lives is a unique and fascinating experience.
Mary Rowlandson was born around 1636 and was …show more content…
In their writings, both focus greatly on the role that God’s grace plays in their lives. In Rowlandson’s case, she focuses on God’s grace in her abduction and protection as an Indian captive. Throughout her narrative she compares her situation to that of Job, a man from the bible. Rowlandson uses this comparison as a metaphor to her captivity, having faith that just as Job was shown mercy in the bible she would also be shown God’s mercy and be returned to her home. Likewise, Edwards details the Lords mercy in his own life during his spiritual awakening. Just as Rowlandson faced physical trials during her captivity and was forced to depend on God’s mercy for her salvation from the Natives, Edwards also depended on God’s mercy to save him and redeem him from his spiritual trials. In both cases the authors focused on the importance of God’s mercy in their salvation from their spiritual and physical …show more content…
The biggest differences were found between Rowlandson, Bradford, and Edwards. Originally, the colonists needed the services of the Natives to survive the winter. This led to the depiction found in Bradford’s writings, and the necessity of the friendship with Squanto. As the colonists lost the need of the Native Americans, they turned on them and saw them as an obstacle to growth. The ensuing conflict is chronicled in Mary Rowlandson’s account of her abduction. Finally, after the defeat of the Natives, the colonists view of them changes again, to that of condescendence and pity. This can be found in Edward’s writings, and his work as a missionary to the Housatonic River Indians (333). Despite their commonly held Puritan values, all authors depict the Natives in a drastically unique ways based on societies views of the
Mary Rowlandson was born around 1636 and was …show more content…
In their writings, both focus greatly on the role that God’s grace plays in their lives. In Rowlandson’s case, she focuses on God’s grace in her abduction and protection as an Indian captive. Throughout her narrative she compares her situation to that of Job, a man from the bible. Rowlandson uses this comparison as a metaphor to her captivity, having faith that just as Job was shown mercy in the bible she would also be shown God’s mercy and be returned to her home. Likewise, Edwards details the Lords mercy in his own life during his spiritual awakening. Just as Rowlandson faced physical trials during her captivity and was forced to depend on God’s mercy for her salvation from the Natives, Edwards also depended on God’s mercy to save him and redeem him from his spiritual trials. In both cases the authors focused on the importance of God’s mercy in their salvation from their spiritual and physical …show more content…
The biggest differences were found between Rowlandson, Bradford, and Edwards. Originally, the colonists needed the services of the Natives to survive the winter. This led to the depiction found in Bradford’s writings, and the necessity of the friendship with Squanto. As the colonists lost the need of the Native Americans, they turned on them and saw them as an obstacle to growth. The ensuing conflict is chronicled in Mary Rowlandson’s account of her abduction. Finally, after the defeat of the Natives, the colonists view of them changes again, to that of condescendence and pity. This can be found in Edward’s writings, and his work as a missionary to the Housatonic River Indians (333). Despite their commonly held Puritan values, all authors depict the Natives in a drastically unique ways based on societies views of the