that I did not see (all the time I was among them) one man, woman, or child, die with hunger.
IMPORTANT!! They care for their own, and the hunger that she complains about is rarely if ever fatal. This is a clear window into reality, which does not reflect what she described.
he Lord preserve them for His holy ends
extending religion to na's, how does this reflect her opinion towards them? seems more positive and forgiving.
the wonderful providence of God in preserving the heathen for further affliction to our poor country
Providence of God extends beyond her - implies that is is not selfish, but once again a deep-rooted faith
us
Use of us, refers to English
derided the slowness, and dullness of the English army, in its setting out
Jovial, positive attitude among the na's
It is the Lord’s doing
The insistence on "Lord's doing" is so ingrained in her narrative that it surpasses a tool, this is a deeprooted faith
enemy
Enemy is who?
their rooting in the earth for ground nuts
This is also something that Rowlandson did, so she is implicit in this
my afflicted time
Possessive perception of time
providence
Outside, greater control
I disgraced my master with begging
She is seen as a representative of her master/master's family. This implies that she holds social significance, and is held in a degree of esteem.
Then I took it of the child, and eat it myself, and savory it was to my taste
Not only does she take it from the child, but she enjoys eating it. There is a degree of cruelty here
she cut me off a little piece
Previous refusal was likely well-reasoned, as this shows a kindness and willingness to share food.
I could not get a taste thereof
Leaves out the reason - misleading?
she was well, considering her captive condition
So it is only the captivity that detracts from their wellbeing?
who
Personhood/identity
I had of it
what about the others? once again proving to be selfish
So like were these barbarous creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning.
Who is "him?"
respecting him was vanity and lies
Doesn't even consider it to be humour
they would not
Certainty. Supports the examples of kindness
the Lord brought to me some Scriptures, which did a little revive me,
The "lord brought her some scriptures," rather than her finding scriptures. She refuses to acknowledge her own role in controlling her emotional reactions, yet clings to a mirage of autonomy in her actions.
I found no comfort here neither, which many times I was wont to find.
Fascinating. This is the first time that she does not find solace in her bible. What change does this mark?
failed
Same interesting phrasing, acting as if she has agency and control over her future
that failed.
Her hope failed? Interesting phrasing
A squaw moved it down again, at which I looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in mine eyes. I thought I should have been quite blinded
Ash on purpose of accidentally thrown? Latter is possible
horrible addictedness to lying
As if a vice
I considered their horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking of trut
She perceives this as lying, but could it possible be humour/sarcasm? Once again, her mood is filtering her perception of everything
must
Interesting insistence
which was that I desired
Still following the will of the na's
it would be no matter if my head were off too.
Veiled threat? What is Rowlandson perceiving in this?
would carry all their trumpery with them
Rowlandson doesn't fully understand/agree with nomadic customs yet
I went with a good load at my back
once more reflects her mood, rather than the actual events
In the morning, another Indian bade me come at night, and he would give me six ground nuts, which I did.
There is general kindness. When one wigwam was too full, they suggested she go to another, which turned out to be the right decision despite her protests. The na's are taking care of her
walking up and down Boston
in her own environment, how does this change power dynamic?
but going out to see what I could find, and walking among the trees, I found six acorns, and two chestnuts, which were some refreshment to me.
She is foraging, adopting indigenous practices for her own survival
heart as full as it could hold
incredibly positive
in cold and hunger
Kinship in suffering
the best friend that I had of an Indian
Humanizes her master
spirit for the present
foreshadows more suffering and unrest
quieting
soothing
As soon as I had the opportunity
Does this mean "as soon as my mistress wasn't paying attention?"
my burden seem light
Contrast with her previous description of her load, this implies that her portrayal of events is directly influenced by mood.
homeward
Where is home? Does Rowlandson even know where they are going/what the purpose is?
their things
Does Rowlandson have any of her own things?
gave me my load
The na's have been kind in reducing her load in the past - marks a change in how she describes their actions. Why?
she snatched it hastily out of my hand, and threw it out of doors
They have previously been tolerant - what changed? Was it the occasion?
which did much rejoice my spirit
What does this mean? She is glad to be sold... even if that would mean freedom?
ravenous beasts
Dehumanizing language
And I only am escaped alone to tell the News
Is this where her impetus for telling this story originates? As the sole survivor, Rowlandson sees herself as having a duty to retell this story...
infidels
Same language as heathen and pagan.
one went through my side,
She speaks of her injury through the rest of the removes, this is where she got it.
Now is the dreadful hour come,
The inevitable end of a battle, when all hope is lost? This hour signals the beginning of her trials and captivity.
Thus these murderous wretches went on,
But how does that differ from the way the English treated them? Clear bias here.
our merciless enemies
Still refers to native americans as their enemies, shows she has not changed her perspective yet. That change happens in the eighth remove.
before it was half ready they got half of it away from me
De las Casas writes of Native Americans eating raw meat, is this a part of the same custom?
English fields
Still English fields, despite the Indigenous occupation. She does not recognize it as their land.
English path
Anything remotely English is a blessing to her, so desperate she is for home.
I understood something of Lot's wife's temptation
She is empathizing with biblical sinners.
I did not wet my foot
Significance of wetting feet? It is mentioned multiple times
was a great brook with ice on it
Implies that is it late autumn/early spring
When they had done that they made a fire and put them both into it
What does this resemble from an indigenous standpoint? Is Rowlandson honestly depicting a ritual?
she having much grief upon her spirit about her miserable condition
How does this differ from Rowlandson's grief and misery?
I could hardly bear to think of the many weary steps I had taken, to come to this place
but does she think of the kindness afforded by the na's?
sell me for powder:
this feels more like a ransom than slavery, which she omitted earlier
but put five Indian corns in the room of it; which corns were the greatest provisions I had in my travel for one day
that is a fair trade, shows recognition of equity
that they might not observe what he was doing
why? what is he afraid of? they are generally tolerant of religion
he gave me a pancake
lots of food now, so I presumer her previous starvation was from scarcity and not cruelty
Philip spake to me to make a shirt for his boy, which I did, for which he gave me a shilling.
not slavery, but rather fair trade
Over night one went about yelling and hooting to give notice of the design
less ghastly than her previous descriptions, perhaps she is overcoming her initial shock?
I would smoke it
including her in a ritual
gave me two spoonfuls of meal to comfort me,
something that was previously refused, shows a kindness
“none will hurt you.”
contrast with how she describe their threats earlier
that I wept before them
suggests a certain comfort?
they asked one another questions, and laughed, and rejoiced over their gains and victories
this feels very human, very normal. contrast with the way she described their rituals at the beginning.
be amazed
at the number?
my son Joseph
this repeatedly happens, suggests kindness in allowing them to visit?
their espying some English scouts,
they live in fear of the english, this dictates their movement. compared to pre-contact?
God did not give them courage or activity
god did not give it to the na's either, they found their own courage
providence of God in preserving the heathen
providence of god, or na tendency to care for sick, wounded, and elderly?
their filthy trash
dismissive
I hardly ate any thing
is she deprived of food? or are they simply not eating for need?
my knitting work
allowed to have knitting work... this contrasts with her descriptions of cruelty
I was somewhat favored in my load
small kindness
whereupon they took him upon their backs, and carried him, one at a time
at all costs
Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier;
they care for their own
poor and coarse
what is the entertainment? bible?
us
who is us?
yes
they allow her to read, contrast with christians
mercy of God
more god
as their manner is)
dismissive + prejudiced
outrageous roaring and hooping
she perceives this as animalistic
master
is a master commonly assigned to "captives"?
, my son came to me
interesting that he was allowed to visit - not as harsh as what she describes
He would consider my low estate, and show me a token for good, and if it were His blessed will, some sign and hope of some relief
seeking salvation from god, rather than na or herself
myself also in this wilderness condition
she is becoming closer to wilderness
There I left that child in the wilderness
significance??
must be understood Quinnapin
there it is
my master’s
who is the master?
preserving me in the use of my reason and senses in that distressed time
is this true? or is she already breaking down
except a little cold water.
once more, how accurate is this?
they bade me carry it out to another wigwam
why bring it with them?
My wounds stink and are corrupt
metaphor for her being corrupt?
with the blessing of God it cured me also
not god's grace, just knowledge
he obtained leave
is he held captive?
een now a considerable time with the Indians
she does not see him as native american
pagans
first time she hasn't used "them"
Wenimesset, northward of Quabau
interesting that she uses the proper names
Wednesday night to Saturday night, except only a little cold water
is this out of cruelty or need? i.e. lack of food for all
poor sick babe
emphasis on sick child, seeking sympathy?
they
continue to use "they" (won't acknowledge them?)
power of God
emphasis on power of god, why? (puritan?)
Christian friend
why specifically christian?
inhumane creatures, laughed
dehumanizing, when their reaction seems very human. this is a comical situation, seen through a different lens.
it
this dehumanizes the baby in a way, not sure what the effect is
with sorrow that cannot be expressed
why the insistence on her sorrow and suffering?
vast and desolate wildernes
Compare this with the idyllic frontier that is usually described
Praying Indians
christian native americans
my thoughts ran upon my losses and sad bereaved condition
she is evidently troubled, which makes her an unreliable narrator
lively resemblance of hell.
lively/hell = slightly oxymoronic
black creatures
black because of the night or their skin? or does this imply corruption?
What, will you love English men still?”
does she no longer> are the NA assuming she lost love for them?
whether I might not lodge
does she want to stay in the house or not? unclear
fear of the Indians
implied NA success
vacant house (deserted by the English before
land metaphor? NA reclaiming land that has been taken from them
He came out a tall, handsome man, but without the power of speech.
how did this reverse the enchantment?
f the wearer of the white feather,
the wearer of the white feather, not White Feather
“Ugh!” she said, “you are a coward, though you are so big and great.”
he is an impostor
a woman’s journey
??
This done, she changed herself into the giant, turned White Feather into a dog, and bade him follow to the lodge
what happens now? is white feather alive?
No one suspected anything more than an accident, for the vine could not be seen except by him who carried it.
Interesting
Whoever reached this first was to beat the other’s brains out with it.
strange punishment
try first with the smallest and weakest of their number.
belittling him
was ill-kept and dirty
??? significance? Contrast with Wigwam
he knew what it all mean
how did he know?
locks of pigeons
smoke turned into pigeons
He heard the voice, awoke and found the pouch of tobacco, the pipe, and the white feather.
importance of ceremony?
White Feather, as he was thenceforth called
identity
enchanted vine which you are to throw over the head
what does the vine do?
but to go boldly to their lodge and offer to race with them
representative of the whole people
White Feather
his new identity
The boy knew nothing of the world except what his grandfather had taught him
what had his grandfather taught him?
so dark that no birds
because it is so big?
old oak that he well knew.
the boy knows the forest well
the body from the heart downwards was wood and fast in the earth
of the earth, a wood spirit
you wearer of the white feather
already marked as bearer of the feather
The first time he ventured from the lodge he brought home a rabbit, the second time a squirrel, and he shot a fine, large deer long before he was strong enough to drag it hom
highly successful, gifted
one child was missing.
the future chief?
not to be supposed that the giants would act fairly
is this their nature?
to fetch and carry for us all our days
compared to the giants, who "would eat their children"
sons and our daughters to do with them as you please, and if we win we will take yours.
significance of offering children?
should wear a white feather
as told by the legend?
the giants
giants again, who are they?
ad once been a brave and mighty people
implies a downfall? what happened?
The old man who had been known to live in it
as opposed to "who lived in it" defined by his myth
when she greatly desired to return to her own people,
Despite marrying Katahdin, she still desires the company of her people
forbade her to tell any man who had married her.
Why?
the Indians, who should have been great, have become a little people
places the blame for indigenous struggle directly on themselves, what is the significance of this? Does this refer solely to the Wabanaki tribe, or to the greater indigenous culture?
Ye fools, who by your own folly will kill yourselves
conflicts within their nation
victory
over what/whom?
Declare unto these people that they are not to inquire of thee who is the father of thy child; truly they will all know it by seeing him, for they shall not grieve thee with impertinence
"Grieve thee with impertinence:" bother the Mother with rude questions "they will all know:" the stone eyebrows why is this his sole directive? Is it a test?
build up his nation,
his nation, he sees the Wabanaki as a manifestation of his presence
through that boy
through the boy, not the power of Katahdin. Implies that the boy still serves an important role, not just a conduit
three years
significance of three years?
gathering blueberries on Mount Katahdin
The mountain gives, it is already a source of sustenance
Of the old time
Interesting phrasing, indigenous roots? Implies a separation between old and new