Inspired by medieval accounts about the City of Gold and the opportunity to tie on the famous Spanish conquerors, Cabeza de Vaca enthusiastically embarks to the Americas in 1527. However, the so-called Narváez Expedition develops different than expected and turns into a total disaster: during their expedition along the west-coast of Florida, Cabeza and his crew get lost, the majority of his comrades dies and Cabeza falls into the hands of the Indians. Exactly one century later, the Puritan goodwife Mary Rowlandson meets a similar fate and – after her town Lancaster has been raided by the Indians – becomes an Indian captive as well. This paper will extrapolate the different approaches of Vaca and Rowlandson to their Indian captivity, exemplifying through them the diverging intentions and strategies of the major colonizers of the New World, namely the English and Spanish. Therefore, I will mainly concentrate on Mary Rowlandson’s account, accentuating her Puritan creed and the ambivalent success of her adaption of those principles on her life during captivity. In doing so, this paper will provide the reader with a brief historic overview about the Puritans’ religious agenda in New England and explain why Rowlandson’s text was met with such an exorbitant approval. In a short excursion, the main differences and similarities between Rowlandson’s and Vaca’s narration will be highlighted, only to point out that both Rowlandson and Vaca were figures bound to the social, cultural and religious conventions of their time.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Relevance of Rowlandson’s Account for Puritan Society
3. Rowlandson’s Implementation of Puritan Principles
4. Similarities between Puritans and Indians
5. Short Excursion: Rowlandson vs. Cabeza de Vaca
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the differing strategies and religious approaches adopted by Mary Rowlandson and Cabeza de Vaca during their respective periods of captivity, using their accounts to illustrate the diverging colonial ideologies of the English and Spanish empires. The analysis focuses on how both figures utilized their faith to process trauma, maintain cultural identity, and justify their survival within the "wilderness."
- Analysis of the American captivity narrative genre and its Puritan origins.
- Examination of Rowlandson’s reliance on Puritan theology during her captivity.
- Comparison of English religious colonization versus Spanish political and economic expansion.
- Evaluation of "decivilization" processes and the inversion of cultural roles.
- The role of God as an omnipresent force in shaping both colonial experiences.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Similarities between Puritans and Indians
During her 11 week long captivity, Rowlandson’s Puritan principles are constantly put to test. Her narrative offers a unique insight in how the Puritans “make sense of worldly matters in accordance with religious belief” (Weckenmann 5). What is more, due to her captivity and inevitable intimacy with the Indians, she could provide the reader of 17th century with thorough insider knowledge about Indian society, their various cultures and diverse modi operandi. Interestingly enough, as results will show, despite their allegedly cultural, racial and religious discrepancies at first glance, Rowlandson reveals that “some characteristics of the Indian way of life […] comply with the Puritan principles of belief” (6).
For example, the Puritans believed that life represented a temporary state, a so-called “preparation for the afterlife” (6). Hence, indulgence, luxuries and other material belongings were deprecated by Puritan society since they – especially the material belongings – would be of no use in the afterlife. Rowlandson herself states that “outward things […] are the vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit, that they are but a shadow, a blast, a bubble, and things of no continuance” (Rowlandson 17). In that respect, Indians seemed to live according to that philosophy. They possessed very little, however, never hesitated to share the little they have with their compatriots. When the English army destroyed their cornfields, in order to starve them, Rowlandson is astonished by the Indians’ ability to survive with the bare necessities, providing food for every member of the community.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical context of the Narváez Expedition and Mary Rowlandson’s captivity, establishing the goal of comparing their distinct approaches to survival.
2. The Relevance of Rowlandson’s Account for Puritan Society: This section explores how Rowlandson’s narrative functioned to restore the crumbling Puritan creed and why it resonated so deeply with her contemporary audience.
3. Rowlandson’s Implementation of Puritan Principles: This chapter details how Rowlandson interpreted her suffering as divine intervention and a test of faith, adhering to Puritan beliefs even under duress.
4. Similarities between Puritans and Indians: This part highlights unexpected overlaps in the lifestyle and survival philosophies of the Puritans and the indigenous peoples during the captivity experience.
5. Short Excursion: Rowlandson vs. Cabeza de Vaca: This chapter contrasts the religious motivation of the English colonists with the political and economic agendas of the Spanish, while noting their common reliance on faith as a comfort mechanism.
6. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that while the protagonists served different imperial goals, both utilized their religious faith to justify their actions and facilitate social re-integration.
Keywords
Captivity Narrative, Mary Rowlandson, Cabeza de Vaca, Puritanism, Colonialism, Indian Captivity, Religion, God, Wilderness, Frontier, Cultural Identity, King Philip’s War, Faith, Survival, Narváez Expedition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on comparing the captivity narratives of Mary Rowlandson and Cabeza de Vaca to explore how different colonial agents—English and Spanish—responded to the trauma of being held captive by indigenous populations.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the role of religion in colonial survival, the construction of the "captivity narrative" genre, the clash of cultures in the New World, and the psychological impact of perceived divine judgment.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to examine how both figures adapted their respective belief systems to interpret their experiences and how their narratives served to reinforce their cultural and religious identities.
What methodology is employed to analyze these texts?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, drawing upon historical context, secondary criticism, and specific textual references from the primary narratives to extrapolate the strategies used by both captives.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The body covers the specific Puritan ideological framework, the "decivilization" process observed in Rowlandson’s behavior, and the contrasting political motivations behind the Spanish colonization efforts represented by Cabeza de Vaca.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Captivity Narrative, Puritanism, Colonialism, Faith, and Cultural Identity.
How does Rowlandson interpret her abduction?
Rowlandson interprets her captivity as divine punishment for her previous religious negligence and as a test of her faith, which she must endure to prove her status among the "chosen ones."
In what way does Cabeza de Vaca’s experience differ from Rowlandson’s?
While both rely on faith, Vaca represents the political interests of the Spanish Empire and aims to justify his failed expedition, whereas Rowlandson writes primarily to reinforce the spiritual values of the Puritan community.
- Quote paper
- Mario Nsonga (Author), 2012, “The bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head”: Reflection on Mary Rowlandson’s and Cabeza de Vaca’s responses to captivity, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/207837
