Indian Captivity Film Analysis

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Women Indian captivity narratives and films enlightens their audience about the tribulations and horrors women experienced when being held captive. One commonly read Indian captivity narrative was written by Mary Jemison and one commonly watched Indian captivity film named The Searchers was produced by John Ford. In the film The Searchers, little Debbie was taken captive by Indians. Ironically in Mary Jemison’s narrative she is also taken. Two women taken captive by Indians at such an early age with several things in common. Such as experiencing their family being slaughtered right before their eyes, adapting to the Indian customs and being forced to marry Indian men. In the end both are given their freedom but one elects to stay and live amongst …show more content…
Mary Jemison was a prime example. Shortly after the execution of her family she was purchased and taken by a group of Seneca. The Seneca Indians then adopted Jemison and gave her the name Dehgewanus. When Jemison reached the village, the Indians stripped her of her clothing and put on clothes that better suited their culture and painted her face. Jemison was not allowed to speak English and was relentlessly taught the Indian language which she learned to speak fluently. Jemison recounts being thankful for have fallen into the hands of her sisters because of how good they treated her and for that she had the utmost respect for them. Jemison goes on to express that the only thing that spoiled her happiness was her memories of her loving parents and home she once knew and if she was taken as an infant she would have been content with her situation. The Film The searcher was not as detailed as Jemison narrative but when Debbie was found in the film she had fully conformed to the Indian culture. Debbie fluently spoke the native language, dressed like them and seemed to be happy living with

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