The Account of Mary Rowlandson and Other Indian Captivity Narratives

A Clash of Cultures Mary Rowlandson's “The Account of Mary Rowlandson and Other Indian Captivity Narratives” shows two different sides of the Indian people. This narrative describes Rowlandson's experience as a captive of an Indian tribe that raided the town of Lancaster in 1676. Following her capture Rowlandson is treated no better than an animal, and has no type of freedom what so ever. Even so, after living with the Indians for some time, they start to treat her more like a person by trading and giving her time to see her family. Neither the whites or Indians are completely at fault for the death of so many people, it is the clash of two completely different cultures. Although after learning a little bit about each others culture, they start to treat the other with more respect. On the 10th of February 1676, large numbers of Indians raided the town of Lancaster. They brutally beat and murdered many of the towns inhabitants and some were captured, including Mary Rowlandson. Rowlandson watched as men, women, and children were murdered in the most grotesque ways imaginable. One man begged for his life before the Indians but they, “knocked him on the head, stripped him naked, and split open his bowels” (Rowlandson 59). The first few weeks of her captivity Rowlandson was treated like an animal, scarcely given food or water. Her baby died eight days after capture. Even with all of this happening, Rowlandson does not lose faith in god. She is forced to pray in secrecy for the Indians do not allow it. Every few days the Indians would change locations and Rowlandson would have to walk there with no energy or help. If she fell the Indians would not help but laugh or yell instead. The Indians had no sympathy toward Rowlandson which made her hate them even more. As time progresses, the Indian attitude toward Rowlandson changes. The first obvious sign of this is when the Indians had to cross the Baquaug river. After an exhausting walk