A Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary...

â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† and â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† are both nonfiction narratives that describe the struggles of women in some form of captivity. The similarities between these two texts are in some ways incredibly obvious, for instance they are both written in the first person from the perspective of marginalized women struggling to merely survive. â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† specifically deals with the extreme level of sexual abuse that female slaves were subjected to and it is frequently cited as first hand proof that women were treated even worse than men on plantations. While this may be true it is not a similarity that it has to â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity†¦show more content†¦Similarly, â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† offers many insights into the suffering that life can sometimes offer. Her account does not have the same subtle o ptimism found in â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson†, however, it similarly shows how many can take their luxurious lifestyles for granted, by outlining the suffering or even discussing a woman who was happy her child was dying and would be removed from a life of pain (23). Both of these texts clearly outline how resilient human nature can be – they both tell the stories of women who are put into incredibly challenging situations and yet they both continue to survive. This survival mechanism of humans is an intriguing recurring theme in both texts and is a similarity that links them both together. While there are a myriad of similarities between these two texts, there are also significant differences in context, theme, and scope. For instance, â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† is the story of only eleven weeks of captivity. This is naturally a far less comprehensive experience than in â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† which tells the narrative of a girl who suffered her entire life. Naturally, reading both of these texts shows a shocking difference in narrative view. â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† is quite optimistic, as one reads through her account it is clear A Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary... A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson The life one treasures and takes for granted today can be so easily erased in the blink of an eye and gone tomorrow. Therefore, not only is it important to cherish how one lives for today and now, but it’s also important to how one can overcome the misfortunes and hardships they may suffer; tragedy can make a person or break a person. Mary Rowlandson’s experience during her eleven weeks of captivity as documented in â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† is a perfect answer to the above argument. The eleven weeks she experienced as a prisoner of her Indian captors proves to be a pivotal occasion in her life, which changes her feelings, lifestyle, and attitude as well towards her abductors. By the end of her horrifying experience, she rises more profoundly grounded in every way: mentally, physically, and spiritually with a new outlook on life, closer to Go d, and a newfound opinion of the Indians. Accordingly, the narrative contains both literal and symbolic dimensions. Before the attack on her village and her capture by the Native Americans, She lived a blissful and pleasurable life with her family. She had a nice home, comfortable furnishing, and ate the best of foods. Although Rowlandson’s husband was a minister and she was a Christian, she did not feel she lived her life as devoted or committed, as she should be; she could have prayed more or been more devotedShow MoreRelatedA Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, by Mary Rowlandson1483 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† by Mary Rowlandson is a short history about her personal experience in captivity among the Wampanoag Indian tribe. On the one hand, Mary Rowlandson endures many hardships and derogatory encounters. However, she manages to show her superior status to ever yone around her. She clearly shows how her time spent under captivity frequently correlates with the lessons taught in the Bible. Even though, the colonists possibly murderedRead More A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson944 Words   |  4 PagesThe Pressure to Assimilate in Mary Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson There are times when assimilation is not a choice but rather something is forced. In circumstances such as being taken hostage, the ability to survive must come at the price of assimilating ones own customs into another lifestyle. In February of 1675 the Native Americans who were at war with the Puritans obtained hostage Mary Rowlandson of the Plymouth colony. During this timeRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Captivity And The Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1422 Words   |  6 Pagesof twenty-four people. Mary Rowlandson was among these captives, and the resulting captivity narrative, titled The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, published in 1682, is formed based on her memory. Rowlandson’s captivity narrative carried great significance in that it came to be used as a didactic Jeremiad, leading its Calvinist audience back towards God’s path and away from an allegorical wilderness. As a devout Calvinist, Rowlandson believes that her journeyRead MoreThe Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1600 Words   |  7 PagesThe Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson reveals that the ghastly depiction of the Indian religion (or what Rowlandson perceives as a lack of religion) in the narrative is directly related to the ideologies of her Puritan upbringing. Furthermore, Rowlandsons experiences in captivity and encounter with the new, or Other religion of the Indians cause her rethink, and question her past; her experiences do not however cause her to redirect her life or change her idealsRead MoreA Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1042 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† and â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† are both nonfiction narratives that describe the struggles of women in some form of captivity. The similarities between these two texts are in some ways incredibly obvious, for instance they are both written in the first person from the perspective of marginalized women struggling to merely survive. â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† specifically deals with the extreme level ofRead More Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1366 Words   |  6 PagesNarrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson From the violent and brutal clash between Indians [1], and British colonists in Massachusetts during King Philips War (1675-6) grew a new literary genre. After their redemption, some colonists who had been prisoners of the Indians wrote autobiographical accounts of their experiences. These captivity narratives developed a large audience, and interest in the narratives continued into the nineteenth century.[2] After her captureRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1031 Words   |  5 PagesMary Rowlandson Captivity and Spiritual Freedom The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, or also known as The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, written by Mary Rowlandson is a powerful captivity narrative. Mary Rowlandson gives a first person perspective about her experience of being held captive during King Phillip’s War. Rowlandson lost everything by an Indian attack on her town. The Indian’s over took the town of Lancaster, catching homes on fire, killing and capturingRead MoreA Narrative On The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1670 Words   |  7 Pageswriting about the historical context of Mary Rowlandson’s, â€Å"A Narrative on the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.† I am going to look at the entire historical background of Rowlandson’s narrative. The way I am going to explore this is how the readers back then would have interpreted Roland’s reference to Biblical verses, and her questioning of God’s role during h er captivity. I plan on using at least 2 sources for this assignment. Mary White Rowlandson was a colonial woman in America whoRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1603 Words   |  7 PagesThe Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson reveals that the ghastly depiction of the Indian religion (or what Rowlandson perceives as a lack of religion) in the narrative is directly related to the ideologies of her Puritan upbringing. Furthermore, Rowlandsons experiences in captivity and encounter with the new, or Other religion of the Indians cause her rethink, and question her past; her experiences do not however cause her to redirect her life or change her idealsRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson1245 Words   |  5 Pagesof a captivity narrative, Mary Rowlandson’s memoir, â€Å"The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson†, accurately reflects the respective formatting by which a subject is taken captive, d escribes the treatment and conditions of their stay, and dictates their hope of being rescued by means of divine intervention. Whilst Rowlandson’s narrative follows the correct standards of a captivity narrative throughout the time given with each â€Å"remove†, â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the

The Native American Struggle Free Essays

The Native American Struggle The way of life for the Native Americans changed greatly when the settlers arrived but they fought strongly to hold onto their sacred beliefs. No amount of influence or interference from the Europeans could change what the American Indians believed in. The natives fought long and hard to try to preserve their heritage and their lifestyles. We will write a custom essay sample on The Native American Struggle or any similar topic only for you Order Now While they are still given a small portion of land to live on, the plight of the Native American people has been going on since the settlers first set foot upon this land and continues to this day. Largest Tribes Although they are all considered Native Americas or American Indians, there are over 550 different tribes in the United States. According to Time For Kids (2008), â€Å"Nearly 1 out of every 100 people in the U. S. is a Native American. Most live in areas west of the Mississippi. Native Americans belong to 561 tribes. The Cherokee tribe of Oklahoma is the largest. † (para. 1). The five largest tribes are; 1. Cherokee 308,000 2. Navajo 219,000 3. Chippewa 104,000 4. Sioux 103,000 5. Choctaw 82,000 Figure 1. The above shows the top five largest American Indian tribes in the Untied States. As one can see, the populations are large, yet still the American Indians do not have enough land to sustain their tribes and heritage. Note: From Time For Kids (2008). The Cherokee tribe or rather Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe, often referred to as the most advanced tribe among the American Indians. As stated on Cherokee Nation (2009), â€Å"Since earliest contact with European explorers in the 1500’s, the Cherokee Nation has been identified as one of the most advanced among Native American tribes. Cherokee culture thrived for thousands of years in the southeastern United States before European contact. After contact, Cherokee society and culture continued to develop, progressing with acquisitions from European settlers. Soon, we had shaped a bicultural government and a society that matched the most ‘civilized’ of the time† (para. 1). The Navajo Nation, most known for their language, is the second largest Native American tribe, located mostly in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The language of the Navajo people was often considered a mystical language. According to Navajo Nation (2005), â€Å" Visitors from around the world are intrigued and mystified when they hear the Navajo language – so, too, were the enemy during World War II. Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create a secret code to battle the Japanese. Navajo men were selected to create codes and serve on the front line to overcome and deceive those on the other side of the battlefield. Today, these men are recognized as the famous Navajo Code Talkers, who exemplify the unequaled bravery and patriotism of the Navajo people† (para. 2). During World War II the Navajo men who used that secret code were known as Wind Talkers. The third largest tribe in the United States and probably the least known, are the Chippewa Indians. In Access Genealogy (2009), â€Å"One of the largest tribes North of Mexico, whose range was formerly along both shores of Lake Huron and Superior, extending across Minnesota Turtle Mountains, North Dakota. Although strong in numbers and occupying an extensive territory, the Chippewa were never prominent in history, owing to their remoteness from the frontier during the period of the colonial wars† (para. 1). The last two tribes in the top five are the Sioux Indians and the Choctaw Indians. The Sioux people were among the most powerful within the Native American tribes. The Sioux was also home to one of the most popular Indian chiefs, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull. The Choctaw Indians are located mostly in Oklahoma. According to Choctaw (2008), â€Å"The Choctaws were one of the largest and most advanced tribes in all of North America† (para. 1). Early Life Before the arrival of the settlers, Native Americans lived a peaceful life, hunting and living off the land. The were dependant on the resources of the land. The plains Indians in the west were around for many centuries before the settlers arrived. Most American Indians are a deep spiritual people. According to _ (2003), â€Å"The natural environment helped to shape the people’s thinking and cultures as they viewed the world and the Universe in a native perspective of a physical and metaphysical reality† (para. 2). Believing in the deep powers of the land, the plains Indians were very loyal to the environment. As stated on _ (2003), â€Å"The natural environment of the Great West provided life to American Indians. It also took life! People learned that working together, and hunting together, was extremely important! Living alone on the plains meant certain death. It was a hard life, taught by Nature†(para. 3). They survived by depends and respecting the land, and together as a people. Oftentimes the men of the tribes would leave for days at time to hunt and gather food, leaving the women to farm and care for the children and elders of the tribe. The Settlers Life for the Native Americans change dramatically once the settlers landed. At first Indians greeted the settlers in Jamestown with hostility just based on the treatment they received from the Spanish, but soon after they started sharing their food. According to The Library of Congress (2003), â€Å"At first, Powhatan, leader of a confederation of tribes around the Chesapeake Bay, hoped to absorb the newcomers through hospitality and his offerings of food. As the colonists searched for instant wealth, they neglected planting corn and other work necessary to make their colony self-sufficient. They therefore grew more and more dependent on the Indians for food† (para. 1). With Captain John Smith leading the settlers in Jamestown, trade relations did not always work with the Indians. The Library of Congress (2003) states, â€Å"Unfortunately for the Indians, Smith believed that the English should treat Indians as the Spanish had: to compel them to ‘drudgery, work, and slavery,’ so English colonists could live ‘like Soldiers upon the fruit of their labor. ’ Thus, when his negotiations with Indians for food occasionally failed, Smith took what he wanted by force† (para. 2). After the Native Americans knew the English settlers were here to stay, they began to attack. Powhatan was disappointed that the settlers were not as friendly and forthcoming as the Indians were. As stated in The Library of Congress (2003), â€Å"He knew that the English â€Å"invade my people, possess my country. † Indians thus began attacking settlers, killing their livestock, and burning such crops as they planted. All the while, Powhatan claimed he simply could not control the young men who were committing these acts without his knowledge or permission† (para. 3). Soon the settlers began fighting the American Indians, forcing them of their land and more west. Once the Indians started moving west, the English and French settlers laid stake to the land. Present Day Even today the tribes struggle to maintain their heritage. They remain a highly spiritual people. Most tribes however are plagued by poverty, high rates of teen suicide, and alcoholism. Under constant scrutiny for their beliefs and religious practices, up until 1978 the were forced to either convert to Christianity or be jailed (Wikipedia 2009). Even still, as recent as 1993 the Peyote Indians were denied certain parts of their religious practices. According to Wikipedia (2009), â€Å"However, despite the passing of the Freedom of Religion Act in 1973, several practices of Native American religion were still being stifled. For example, the Peyote Indians named their tribe after the peyote cactus, which is central to their religious practices. The peyote cactus was banned by the government, however, due to its powerful hallucinogenic effects, and thus was still outlawed to be used by the Native Americans. It was not until the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act of 1993 was passed that the Peyote Indians could lawfully use the peyote cactus in their religious celebrations† (para. 25). Figure 2. The pie chart illustrates the top five Native American tribes that had families living in poverty in 1989. Note: From U. S. Bureau of the Census (1990). Even in recent memory the amount of Native American families that lived in poverty was very high. Native American families that live in poverty rates among the higher than any other American ethnic group in the nation. Still today, most Native American Indians face discrimination on a daily basis. According to About. com (2009), â€Å"In the U. S. , Native Americans are a â€Å"minority† racial group, and as such, they continue to face discrimination. In fact, prior to the civil rights laws, once could find three separate drinking fountains labeled â€Å"Whites,† â€Å"Colored† and â€Å"Indian† in certain states. Movie theaters were similarly split into three separate sections† (para. 3). Even though most of the land that the Native American occupies is federally protected, the American Indians have a constant struggle with the government to protect their rights as a people. About. com (2009) states, â€Å"they continue to fight to protect their rights and religious freedoms, both of which have repeatedly been threatened over the years through denial of access to religious sites, prohibitions on the use or possession of sacred objects, and restrictions on their ability to worship through ceremonial and traditional means† (para. ). In summary, even though the Native American Indians way of life has changed drastically, their beliefs and lifestyle remain the same. The European settlers made a large impact on the American Indians but it was the they that helped the early settlers truly settle in to the new land and survive the harsh weather conditions of their first few years on the new continent. Native American Indians are of strong will and deep beliefs, they still fight for their rights as a people. Even in this new century of technological advances, the Native American Indians work hard every day, from their small Indian Reservations that they call home, to preserve their heritage and their way of life. References About. com (2009). Native American Indian History and the Native American’s Ongoing Fight. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://racerelations. about. com/od/thehierarchyofrace/a/nativeamericans. htm Access Genealogy (2009). Chippewa Indian History. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www. accessgenealogy. com/native/tribes/chippewa/chippewahist. tm Cherokee Nation (2009). A Brief History of the Cherokee Nation . Retrieved January Day, 2009, from http://www. cherokee. org/Culture/57/Page/default. aspx Choctaw Indians (2008). On the Genealogical Choctaw Trail. Retrieved February 14, 2009, from http://www. choctaw. org/History/Genealogy/Genealogy. html Navajo Nation (2005). Navajo Nation History. Retrieved January 2009, from http://www. navajo. org/history. htm The Library of Congress (2003). Virginia’s Early Relations with Native Americans. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://memory. loc. ov/learn/features/timeline/colonial/indians/indians. html T ime For Kids (2008). Top 5 Largest Native American Tribes. Retrieved February 6,2009,from http://www. timeforkids. com/TFK/teachers/wr/article/0,27972,96120,00. html U. S. Bureau of the Census (1990). Characteristics of American Indians by Tribe and Language. Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www. census. gov/population/socdemo/race/indian/ailang2. txt Wikipedia (2009). Americanization (of Native Americans). Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Americanization_(of_Native_Americans) How to cite The Native American Struggle, Papers

Save the Animals free essay sample

Imagine monkeys and dogs crying out in pain, rabbits bleeding from the eyes because of chemicals, and three or four animals crammed into tiny cages. This is what scientists that test on animals see everyday. In America, 30 million animals are tested on every year. Rats, mice, guinea pigs, dogs, monkeys, cats, and rabbits are only some of the types of animals that are used for testing (Update: Animal Testing). Animal testing is not justified because it is cruelty to animals and because animals aren’t models for humans. The first reason animal testing is not justified is that it is cruelty to animals. When animal tests are done, scientists inject chemicals into the skin, for example, to see if they have a certain reaction. Obviously, this can’t be pleasant for the animal. Some of the chemicals are very harmful or even deadly to the animals. In the article Animal Experimentation is Never Justified, from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, it describes some of the horrors of animal testing, â€Å"conscious monkeys are forced to inhale toxic smoke; improperly anaesthetized dogs are subject to invasive surgery; blinded cats are dropped into vats of water; guinea pigs are coated with corrosive substances that eat through their organs. We will write a custom essay sample on Save the Animals or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † If starving a pet is considered animal cruelty and you can go to jail for it, then putting lab animals through painful and irritating test should also be considered animal cruelty. It is also animal cruelty because of the way the animals are treated in the labs. The animals are put under so much stress in small cages with sounds of other animals in pain. Issues and Controversies’ article titled, Update: Animal testing tells the effects of stress, â€Å"routine handling†¦ [elicits] striking elevations in pulse, blood pressure and steroid hormone release that can persist for an hour or more after the event.† If the animals are stressed out, the results will be inaccurate. The stress affects the animal’s nervous systems, which in return affects the results of the tests. Animal cruelty by definition is voluntary harm to an animal. The companies that test on animals are aware that their products can be or are harmful to animals. Otherwise they would just put it straight on the market. Animal testing is not justified because it is animal cruelty. The second reason animal testing is not justified is because animals are not models of humans. Although animals are quite similar to humans, animals and humans differ too much to get accurate test results. An article from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, called Animals Testing Is Never Justified, explains why animals are not models of humans, â€Å"Each species has its own biological system and therefore responds differently to drugs and surgeries.† Just because rabbits and humans are both mammals, doesn’t mean that we are exactly alike biologically. In the same article it was stated that, â€Å"many drugs that test safe for animals are later found to cause harmful side effects in humans.† The only way to get results for products that are made for humans is to test it on humans. Stem-cell research is the best model for humans. In conclusion, animal testing is a waste of time and money. Testing on animals is cruel and also animals are not models for humans. I order to get real results that will be accurate; companies need to test their products on human stem-cells