Difference between revisions of "Week 2 Questions/Comments-327 11"
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(→Samuel de Champlain, 1616) |
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'''While Rowlandson's and Jemison's accounts are interesting, it is important to keep in mind their respective motives, Rowlandson's essay in particular. Captivity narratives were very trendy, and the more salacious a story, the better it sold in publication. I do not mean to say that Rowlandson's story should be discounted, nor that it is without value. Bearing in mind John Smith's portrayal of himself as a swashbuckling playboy (or his colleagues' 1612 tall tale), we would do well to remember that certain elements of the story may be exaggerated for the benefit of the intended audience. ''Viewed in this light, Jemison's story is more credible, because she did not seek fame through sensationalism.''''' --Stefanie L. | '''While Rowlandson's and Jemison's accounts are interesting, it is important to keep in mind their respective motives, Rowlandson's essay in particular. Captivity narratives were very trendy, and the more salacious a story, the better it sold in publication. I do not mean to say that Rowlandson's story should be discounted, nor that it is without value. Bearing in mind John Smith's portrayal of himself as a swashbuckling playboy (or his colleagues' 1612 tall tale), we would do well to remember that certain elements of the story may be exaggerated for the benefit of the intended audience. ''Viewed in this light, Jemison's story is more credible, because she did not seek fame through sensationalism.''''' --Stefanie L. | ||
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| + | The differences in Jemison’s and Rowlandson’s accounts are truly astonishing. While Rowlandson sees the entire captivity as a test of her faith, and views the Indians as “murtherous wretches” who deprive her of food, reproach for not acting in an appropriate manner, and sell her for ransom; Rowlandson views her captives as family, even marrying on of the members of the tribe. Rowlandson had some initial fears about living among the Native Americans, but she soon begins to refer to some of them as her sisters and doesn’t mind at all the work she is set to do, while Jemison calls the Indians “roaring Lyons, and Salvage Bears.” Jemison desires nothing more than to be returned to her family and friends, while Rowlandson does not want to leave at all and only considers going home because she knows her parents love and miss her. These two very different accounts highlight one of the main problems with studying early Native American’s women’s history, that is, many if not most of the accounts lean heavily towards one bias.-- Grace Christenson | ||
== John Heckewelder’s 1819, Women’s Lives among the Delaware == | == John Heckewelder’s 1819, Women’s Lives among the Delaware == | ||
