Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Boy Captives: An Incident of the Indian War of 1695, by John Greenleaf Whittier
As a matter of course, under circumstances of perpetual alarm
and frequent peril, the duty of cultivating their fields, and gathering
their harvests, and working at their mechanical avocations, was
dangerous and difficult to the settlers. One instance will serve as an
illustration. At the garrison-house of Thomas Dustin, the husband
of the far-famed Mary Dustin [who, while a captive of the Indians,
and maddened by the murder of her infant child, killed and scalped,
wit the assistance of a young boy, the entire band of her captors,
ten in number], the business of brick-making was carried on. The
pits where the clay was found were only a few rods from the house;
yet no man ventured to bring the clay to the yard within the
inclosure, without the attendance of a file of soldiers. An anecdote
relating to this garrison has been handed down to the present time.
Among its inmates were two young cousins, Joseph and Mary
Whittaker; the latter a merry, handsome girl, relieving the tedium of
garrison-duty with her light-hearted mirthfulness and--
"Making a sunshine in that shady place." [3]
Joseph, in the intervals of his labors in the double capacity of
brick-maker and man-at-arms, was assiduous in his attentions to his
fair cousin, who was not inclined to encourage him. Growing
desperate, he threatened one evening to throw himself into the
garrison well. His threat only called forth the laughter of his
mistress; and, bidding her farewell, he proceeded to put it in
execution. On reaching the well he stumbled over a log;
whereupon, animated by a happy idea, he dropped the wood into
the water instead of himself, and, hiding behind the curb, awaited
the result. Mary, who had been listening at the door, and who had
not believed her lover capable of so rash an act, heard the sudden
plunge of the wooden Joseph. She ran to the well, and, leaning
over the curb and peering down the dark opening, cried out, in
tones of anguish and remorse, "O Joseph, if you're in the land of the
living, I 'll have you!" "I 'll take ye at your word," answered
Joseph, springing up from his hiding-place and avenging himself for
her coyness and coldness by a hearty embrace.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Boy Captives by John Greenleaf Whittier
Context of the Source
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) was a prominent American Quaker poet, abolitionist, and historian who often wrote about New England’s colonial past. The Boy Captives (1845) is a narrative poem based on historical events during King William’s War (1688–1697), a conflict between English settlers and Native American tribes (primarily the Abenaki and their French allies) in what is now Maine and New Hampshire.
The excerpt provided is not from the poem itself but from Whittier’s prose introduction, which sets the stage for the story. It describes the perilous life of early New England settlers, particularly focusing on the Dustin Garrison (a fortified homestead) and the famous figure Hannah Dustin (Mary Dustin in the text), who was captured by Native Americans in 1697, witnessed the killing of her infant, and later escaped by killing and scalping her captors—a story that became a legend of frontier survival and vengeance.
The passage then shifts to a lighter, almost comedic anecdote about two young cousins, Joseph and Mary Whittaker, living in the same garrison. Their playful romantic tension provides a contrast to the otherwise grim setting of war and captivity.
Themes in the Excerpt
The Harsh Realities of Frontier Life
- The opening lines emphasize the constant danger faced by settlers: "perpetual alarm and frequent peril" makes even mundane tasks like farming and brick-making hazardous.
- The need for armed escorts just to gather clay highlights the siege-like conditions of garrison life.
- This sets up the historical weight of the Dustin story, where captivity and violence were ever-present threats.
Contrast Between Violence and Domestic Comedy
- The passage juxtaposes the brutal story of Hannah Dustin (who killed her captors in retaliation for her child’s murder) with the lighthearted romance of Joseph and Mary Whittaker.
- This contrast serves to humanize the settlers, showing that even in war, life—including youthful flirtation—continued.
Gender Dynamics and Courtship
- Mary Whittaker is described as "merry, handsome" and "light-hearted," bringing joy to the grim garrison ("Making a sunshine in that shady place").
- Joseph’s desperate romantic gestures (threatening suicide to win her affection) reflect traditional gender roles of the time, where men were expected to pursue and women to resist (at least initially).
- Mary’s skepticism and eventual surrender ("I’ll have you!") plays into the comic trope of the reluctant lover, common in folklore and romance.
Youth and Playfulness in a Time of War
- Despite the life-and-death stakes of frontier life, the young cousins engage in playful deception (Joseph’s fake suicide).
- This suggests resilience and adaptability—even in danger, people find ways to maintain normalcy and humor.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices
Juxtaposition
- The shift from Hannah Dustin’s violent revenge to Joseph’s comedic antics creates a stark contrast, making the romantic episode feel like a brief respite from darkness.
- The serious historical context makes the lighthearted moment more poignant.
Foreshadowing & Historical Allusion
- The mention of Hannah Dustin’s story (a well-known tale of captivity and vengeance) foreshadows the dangers that loom over the settlers, even as they engage in mundane or playful activities.
- The reader is reminded that romance and war coexist—joy is fleeting in this world.
Dramatic Irony
- The reader knows Joseph is faking his suicide, but Mary does not, creating humorous tension.
- Her dramatic outburst ("O Joseph, if you're in the land of the living, I’ll have you!") is ironic because she assumes he is dead, while he is merely hiding.
Poetic Interjection (Line 3)
- The line "Making a sunshine in that shady place" is lyrical and metaphorical, breaking from the prose to emphasize Mary’s brightening influence on the garrison.
- This elevates her character, making her more than just a love interest—she is a symbol of hope in a dark time.
Colloquial & Historical Diction
- Whittier uses archaisms and regional phrases ("a file of soldiers," "man-at-arms," "I’ll take ye at your word") to immerse the reader in the 17th-century setting.
- The dialogue ("I’ll have you!") feels authentic and folksy, reinforcing the oral tradition of passed-down stories.
Symbolism
- The well could symbolize depths of despair (Joseph’s fake suicide) but also rebirth (his emergence and Mary’s change of heart).
- The log he throws in instead of himself represents deception and trickery, a common theme in courtship tales.
Significance of the Passage
Historical Documentation
- Whittier blends history and legend, preserving oral traditions of early New England.
- The Dustin story was already famous, but Whittier contextualizes it within the broader struggles of settler life.
Humanizing History
- By including a romantic subplot, Whittier reminds readers that real people—with emotions, humor, and relationships—lived through these violent times.
- This balances the brutality of the Dustin narrative with human warmth.
Cultural Memory & Mythmaking
- The anecdote about Joseph and Mary softens the harshness of the Dustin legend, making the past more relatable and less monolithic.
- It also reinforces gender norms of the time (the persistent suitor, the initially resistant woman), which were part of the cultural fabric Whittier’s audience would recognize.
Whittier’s Style & Purpose
- As an abolitionist and moralist, Whittier often used historical stories to explore themes of justice, survival, and humanity.
- Here, he contrasts violence with love, perhaps suggesting that even in war, human connections endure.
Line-by-Line Breakdown of Key Moments
"The business of brick-making was carried on... no man ventured... without a file of soldiers."
- Purpose: Establishes the constant threat of Native American raids.
- Effect: Makes the later romantic scene feel like a brief escape from danger.
"Making a sunshine in that shady place."
- Purpose: Elevates Mary from a minor character to a symbol of joy in hardship.
- Effect: The poetic line stands out, making her presence memorable.
"Growing desperate, he threatened one evening to throw himself into the garrison well."
- Purpose: Introduces the comic conflict—Joseph’s melodramatic attempt to win Mary.
- Effect: The exaggerated threat sets up the humor of his later trick.
"On reaching the well he stumbled over a log; whereupon, animated by a happy idea..."
- Purpose: Shows Joseph’s quick thinking and playful nature.
- Effect: The sudden shift from despair to cleverness is comically satisfying.
"O Joseph, if you're in the land of the living, I’ll have you!"
- Purpose: Mary’s dramatic declaration is the climax of the joke.
- Effect: Her emotional outburst makes Joseph’s reveal funny and triumphant.
"I’ll take ye at your word... avenging himself... by a hearty embrace."
- Purpose: Resolves the tension with romantic victory.
- Effect: The playful "vengeance" (a kiss instead of violence) contrasts with the real vengeance of Hannah Dustin, reinforcing the duality of human experience in war.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is more than just a funny anecdote—it’s a microcosm of Whittier’s historical storytelling. By weaving together war, legend, and romance, he creates a rich, layered narrative that:
- Preserves history (the Dustin story).
- Humanizes the past (the Whittaker cousins).
- Balances darkness with light (violence vs. humor).
- Reflects cultural values (courtship, resilience, oral tradition).
Whittier’s skill lies in making history feel alive—not just as a series of battles and atrocities, but as a tapestry of human experiences, where even in the shadow of war, love and laughter persist.