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Excerpt from Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, by Mary White Rowlandson

By Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

The sovereignty and goodness of GOD, together with the faithfulness
of his promises displayed, being a narrative of the captivity and
restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, commended by her, to all that
desires to know the Lord's doings to, and dealings with her. Especially
to her dear children and relations. The second Addition [sic] Corrected
and amended. Written by her own hand for her private use, and now made
public at the earnest desire of some friends, and for the benefit of the
afflicted. Deut. 32.39. See now that I, even I am he, and there is no
god with me, I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, neither is
there any can deliver out of my hand.

On the tenth of February 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon
Lancaster: their first coming was about sunrising; hearing the noise
of some guns, we looked out; several houses were burning, and the smoke
ascending to heaven. There were five persons taken in one house; the
father, and the mother and a sucking child, they knocked on the head;
the other two they took and carried away alive. There were two others,
who being out of their garrison upon some occasion were set upon;
one was knocked on the head, the other escaped; another there was who
running along was shot and wounded, and fell down; he begged of them his
life, promising them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken
to him but knocked him in head, and stripped him naked, and split open
his bowels. Another, seeing many of the Indians about his barn, ventured
and went out, but was quickly shot down. There were three others
belonging to the same garrison who were killed; the Indians getting up
upon the roof of the barn, had advantage to shoot down upon them over
their fortification. Thus these murderous wretches went on, burning, and
destroying before them.

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson ​

1. Context of the Work ​

Mary Rowlandson’s Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration (1682) is one of the most famous captivity narratives in early American literature. It recounts Rowlandson’s 11-week captivity during King Philip’s War (1675–1676), a brutal conflict between English colonists and Native American tribes (primarily the Wampanoag, led by Metacom, or "King Philip"). The war was one of the deadliest in colonial America, marked by extreme violence on both sides.

Rowlandson, a Puritan minister’s wife from Lancaster, Massachusetts, was taken captive when Native American warriors raided her town. Her narrative was published after her release, blending personal testimony, religious reflection, and propaganda—justifying colonial expansion while framing her suffering as a test of faith.

The excerpt provided describes the initial attack on Lancaster, where Rowlandson witnesses the destruction of her community, the killing of neighbors, and her own eventual capture (though the capture itself is not described in this passage).

2. Themes in the Excerpt ​

A. Divine Sovereignty and Providence ​

  • The opening lines establish a theological framework: Rowlandson attributes her suffering to God’s will, citing Deuteronomy 32:39 ("I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal"). This reflects the Puritan belief in predestination—God controls all events, even suffering, for a greater purpose.
  • The violence is not just a Native American attack but part of God’s mysterious plan. Rowlandson does not question God’s justice; instead, she presents the massacre as an act of divine punishment or testing.
  • The phrase "the smoke ascending to heaven" is ambiguous—it could symbolize prayers rising to God or the destruction of the wicked, reinforcing the idea that God is observing and judging.

B. Savagery vs. Civilization ​

  • Rowlandson portrays the Native Americans as "murderous wretches"—a dehumanizing term that reinforces the colonial binary of "civilized" (English) vs. "savage" (Native).
  • The descriptions of violence are graphic and methodical:
    • "Knocked on the head" (bludgeoned to death)
    • "Split open his bowels" (a brutal, ritualistic killing)
    • "Shot down" (executed without mercy)
  • These details serve to shock the reader and justify colonial retaliation. The narrative aligns with the propaganda of the time, which painted Native Americans as inherently violent to justify land seizures and war.

C. Vulnerability and Helplessness ​

  • The colonists are depicted as outnumbered and defenseless:
    • "Several houses were burning" → Chaos and destruction.
    • "One begged of them his life, promising them money, but they would not hearken" → Even pleas for mercy are ignored.
    • "The Indians getting up upon the roof of the barn, had advantage to shoot down upon them over their fortification" → The colonists’ defenses are inadequate.
  • This reinforces the Puritan idea of human frailty—only God can truly protect them.

D. The Puritan Worldview: Suffering as a Test of Faith ​

  • Rowlandson’s narrative is not just a survival story but a spiritual autobiography. The attack is framed as a trial from God, similar to biblical stories (e.g., Job’s suffering).
  • The fact that she writes this for "the benefit of the afflicted" suggests that her story is meant to instruct others in endurance and faith.

3. Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices ​

A. Biblical Allusions & Typology ​

  • The epigraph from Deuteronomy sets a prophetic, judgmental tone—God is in control, even in suffering.
  • The destruction of Lancaster mirrors biblical accounts of divine wrath (e.g., the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah).
  • The numbering of the dead (five in one house, two outside, etc.) gives a methodical, almost clinical account, reinforcing the idea of God’s ordered judgment.

B. Sensory Imagery & Vivid Description ​

  • Visual: "the smoke ascending to heaven," "several houses were burning"
  • Auditory: "the noise of some guns"
  • Tactile/Violent: "knocked on the head," "split open his bowels"
  • These details immerse the reader in the horror, making the attack feel immediate and real.

C. Passive Voice & Detachment ​

  • Rowlandson often uses passive constructions (e.g., "there were five persons taken," "one was knocked on the head") to distance herself emotionally from the violence.
  • This could reflect:
    • Trauma (she is recounting events she witnessed but may not yet have processed).
    • Puritan stoicism (emotional restraint in the face of suffering).
    • Propaganda (presenting the Native Americans as agents of chaos, while the English are passive victims).

D. Repetition & Cataloging of Violence ​

  • The repetitive structure ("there was one… another… two others…") creates a rhythm of relentless violence, emphasizing the scale of the massacre.
  • The lack of names for the victims (except in later parts of the narrative) depersonalizes the dead, making them symbols of colonial suffering rather than individuals.

4. Significance of the Excerpt ​

A. Historical Significance ​

  • This is one of the earliest firsthand accounts of King Philip’s War, providing insight into colonial-Native relations.
  • It reflects the Puritan mindset—interpreting suffering as part of God’s plan rather than questioning colonial policies that provoked the war.

B. Literary Significance ​

  • Rowlandson’s narrative established the captivity narrative as a genre, influencing later works (e.g., The Last of the Mohicans).
  • It blends personal memoir, religious sermon, and political propaganda, making it a complex text that serves multiple purposes.

C. Cultural & Political Impact ​

  • The narrative justified colonial violence by portraying Native Americans as savage and merciless, while the English were pious victims.
  • It reinforced the idea of Manifest Destiny—the belief that God ordained European dominance over the "heathen" Native populations.

5. Close Reading of Key Lines ​

"See now that I, even I am he, and there is no god with me, I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal, neither is there any can deliver out of my hand."

  • This Deuteronomy verse frames the entire narrative as an act of God’s will.
  • The repetition of "I" emphasizes God’s absolute power—He is the sole authority over life and death.
  • The phrase "neither is there any can deliver out of my hand" suggests that escape is impossible without divine intervention, setting up Rowlandson’s later claims of miraculous survival.

"Thus these murderous wretches went on, burning, and destroying before them."

  • "Murderous wretches" is a dehumanizing term, stripping the Native attackers of any moral or political motivation.
  • The alliteration ("burning, and destroying") creates a rhythmic, almost hypnotic effect, reinforcing the inexorable nature of the violence.

"One begged of them his life, promising them money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him but knocked him in head, and stripped him naked, and split open his bowels."

  • The parenthetical "(as they told me)" suggests Rowlandson heard this secondhand, adding a layer of uncertainty—yet she presents it as fact.
  • The escalation of violence (begged → knocked → stripped → split open) creates a climax of horror, designed to shock the reader.
  • The nakedness and disembowelment may symbolize the stripping away of civilization, reinforcing the "savage" stereotype.

6. Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters ​

This passage is not just a historical account but a carefully constructed narrative that serves multiple purposes:

  1. Religious Instruction – It teaches Puritan readers to endure suffering as a test of faith.
  2. Political Propaganda – It justifies colonial violence by portraying Native Americans as irredeemably savage.
  3. Personal Catharsis – Writing the narrative may have helped Rowlandson process her trauma while reinforcing her identity as a survivor chosen by God.

The excerpt sets the tone for the entire narrative—one of violence, divine providence, and cultural conflict. It remains a powerful (and controversial) text in early American literature, offering a window into the mindset of Puritan settlers during a pivotal moment in colonial history.

Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific aspect (e.g., gender roles, comparisons to other captivity narratives, or the full narrative’s structure)?