Mary Rowlandson Captivity Narrative

Summary

This lecture delves into the historical and cultural significance of captivity narratives, particularly focusing on Mary Rowlandson's account during King Philip's War. It explores themes of identity destabilization, spiritual and literal captivity, and the genre's reflection of societal anxieties. The lecture also draws parallels between early American captivity experiences and modern phenomena like alien abductions, emphasizing the genre's enduring relevance in examining human responses to trauma and change.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The painting 'The Murder of Jane McCray' is a sensationalized depiction of captivity narratives in early America, often retold with inaccuracies.
• 📚 Captivity narratives are found in the Norton Anthology with a breakout section dedicated to them, highlighting different accounts and interpretations.
• 🔊 The lecturer apologizes for the sound quality due to recording from home without a headset, which adds a layer of authenticity to the lecture.
• 🏰 The term 'captivity' originates from the Latin 'cavalry', implying the act of taking and holding someone against their will.
• 🧐 The script discusses various types of captivity, including literal, spiritual, imaginative, sexual, racial, and sensibility, each with its own implications and manifestations.
• 🤔 The painting of Jane McCray's murder is critiqued for its romanticized and sexualized portrayal, which does not align with historical evidence regarding Native American interactions with captives.
• 📈 The lecture explores the popularity and persistence of captivity narratives, suggesting they reflect societal anxieties and fascinations, with examples such as 'The River' book and a Hallmark movie.
• 👥 It highlights the gender differences in captivity narratives, with men's stories often focusing on action and escape, while women's emphasize passivity and distress.
• 📖 Mary Rowlandson's narrative is noted as the first by a woman in America, detailing her 11 weeks and 5 days of captivity and the cultural and religious implications of her experience.
• 🌐 The script touches on the transatlantic nature of the text, its influence, and the idea of identity destabilization through the captivity experience, which is a common theme in various narratives.
• 🔍 The lecture concludes by drawing parallels between historical captivity narratives and modern phenomena like alien abductions, suggesting that such stories are timeless reflections of societal fears and anxieties.

Q & A

What is the painting titled in the first slide of the lecture?

The painting is titled 'The Murder of Jane McCray.'

What does the term 'captivity narratives' refer to in the context of early America?

Captivity narratives refer to tales of individuals taken captive, often by Native Americans, which became sensational stories that were retold with varying degrees of accuracy.

What is the origin of the word 'captivity'?

The word 'captivity' comes from the Latin 'captive', which means to take and hold someone without their permission.

What are the different types of captivity mentioned in the lecture?

The different types of captivity mentioned are literal captivity, spiritual captivity, being held captive by imagination, sexual captivity, racial bondage, and sensibility.

What is the significance of the painting in the lecture in relation to the portrayal of captivity?

The painting illustrates a romanticized and sensationalized version of captivity, with elements of fantasy and implied sexuality, which does not accurately represent the Native American perspective on captivity.

What is the historical event during which Mary Rowlandson's captivity took place?

Mary Rowlandson's captivity took place during King Philip's War.

What were some reasons captives were taken during King Philip's War?

Captives were taken for trade, enslavement for labor, revenge, ransom money, and adoption to replace lost family or tribe members.

How many captives were taken between 1675 and 1763 according to the lecture?

Approximately 1600 captives were taken between 1675 and 1763.

What is the significance of Mary Rowlandson's narrative being the first by a woman in America?

Mary Rowlandson's narrative being the first by a woman highlights the rarity of women's voices in the public sphere during that time and its influence on later captivity narratives.

What is a 'jeremiad' and how does it relate to captivity narratives?

A 'jeremiad' is a type of sermon with three parts: establishing rules, people straying from the rules, and returning to the fold. Captivity narratives often mirror this structure, showing a destabilization of identity and a return to society or faith.

What is the 'captivity diagram' and how does it apply to the understanding of captivity narratives?

The 'captivity diagram' outlines the stages of captivity: starting at home, experiencing awakening, enduring the trial of captivity, and finally restoration or redemption. It helps to understand the transformative effect of captivity on identity and reflects societal anxieties.

How does the lecture suggest modern parallels to early American captivity narratives?

The lecture suggests that modern parallels such as alien abductions and prisoner of war experiences share similar characteristics with early American captivity narratives, reflecting the anxieties and fears of people in any time period.