How Did Mary Rowlandson Contradictions

The early colonial period of the New World was marked by complex interactions between the English colonizers and the Native American tribes, which were often shaped by religious beliefs and practices. Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan woman captured by the Wampanoag tribe during King Philip's War, offers a unique perspective on this tumultuous time through her first-hand account of her captivity. In her narrative, Rowlandson reveals the contradictions in the religious awakenings and activities of both groups, depicting the violent and destructive behavior of the Native Americans and the English colonizers while questioning the religious beliefs and values that guided their actions. Through Rowlandson’s accounts, we can discern the complexities of

On the one hand, the colonizers saw themselves as the chosen people of God, whose mission was to spread Christianity and civilization to the "heathen" tribes. This sense of religious superiority and mission is evident in Rowlandson's narrative, where she repeatedly refers to the Native Americans as "barbarous" and "cruel" and contrasts their way of life with that of the English. For example, Rowlandson writes that the Native Americans "drink water and eat horseflesh and roots and anything," while the English have "bread and salt beef and butter and cheese and many good things besides." She also describes how the Native Americans engaged in practices that the English saw as sinful, such as drinking and gambling, and how they did not observe the Sabbath or attend church. In contrast, the English colonizers saw themselves as godly and pious, committed to following the word of the Bible and building a righteous

While the English colonizers often saw the Native Americans as a homogeneous group of "heathens," Rowlandson's narrative highlights the diversity of beliefs and practices among the different tribes. For example, during her captivity, Rowlandson encountered Native Americans who were both hostile and friendly to her, and who had different beliefs about the nature of God and the afterlife. She describes how one Native American woman, whom she called "Squaw Sachem," offered her food and comfort during her captivity and seemed to have a belief in a benevolent God, while others taunted and tormented her and appeared to have a belief in malevolent spirits. This diversity of beliefs and practices among the Native Americans challenges the simplistic and stereotypical view of the "heathen" tribes that the English colonizers often held. It also highlights the complexity of the religious and cultural landscape of the New World and the need for greater understanding and respect for the beliefs and practices of different