Mary Rowlandson Chapter Summary

This passage written by Mary White Rowlandson is about religion and her personal struggles with her faith. Rowlandson references the Bible in her narrative. She writes, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12.6). This shows how much she values religion, and how essential it is in defining her character and beliefs. The authors purpose is to express as can be seen by the use of first person throughout the piece. She begins by saying, "I have seen the extreme vanity of this world." The use of the first person pronoun, I, indicates her purpose as well as reveals the point of view. Her references to the Bible also indicate that her intended audience is specific within the religious community.
Rowlandson's tone can best be described as ardent. This is illustrated by her strong beliefs expressed in the passage.