Exam 1 Flashcards
Why did the cover of the Rowlandson book change. What does this have to do with her waiting 6-7 years to publish the book
- initial cover emphasized God but the cover was eventually changed to represent history
- as the wife of a pastor she should inhabit a private family existence, and be an example of leading a Godly life
- Waited years to publish because she needed to be convinced against the social norms by clergy men that this was a Godly duty/calling she needed to pursue
Background information on the Rowlandson publication
- America’s first #1 best seller
- sold over 1000 copies in the first year
what is transculturation and how does Rowlandson incorporate it
transculturation: seeing oneself in the other
rowlandson did not intentionally let us in on the similarities she shard with the Native American women, nor did she see these similarities herself
what is didacticism and didactic moralism
Didacticism: the intention is to instruct
Didactic Moralism: most popular genre all the way through the 1820s –> used to teach a lesson to the reader
Information on time period and King Philip’s (Metacom’s) war
- King Philip’s name is Metacom (metacom’s war 1675-1676)
- Mary is given to the chief when taken captive
- considered the deadliest war PER CAPITA: 50% of the native american population was lost, only 5% of the english population was lost
- more like a civil war –> war between neighbors that had been coexisting with each other for over 50 years
- Native Americans that converted to Christianity were called “praying indians” and Rowlandson had no trust in them
- Native Americans had adopted english culture but the english did not do the same and were and the native americans were being pushed out rather than being allowed to coexist and this war was a breaking point bc they were losing their entire culture
why is the preface needed in rowlandson? Who authored the preface? What is the evidence thoughout
- It is suspected that Increase Mather authored the preface
- Preface was needed because publishing this could cause Rowlandson to become a target, ruin her reputation, and life. –> tells people this is her Godly duty
- “an appropriate act of pious gratitude and praise to God”
- Reading this will make you a better Christian
In Rowlandson’s work what purpose does the preface serve? How does it frame Mary’s experience?
- Book is targeted to puritans and colonial english people
- Needs to justify colonization so that people will continue to feel comfortable stealing land and fighting the war.
- The purpose is to show Mary as a victim
- divine providence: God guides and controls everything in the universe
In general, how does Mary characterize the Native Americans and their culture? what names does she give them?
she calls them barbarians, heathens, animals, devils, etc. She sees them as animals not as people
any time native americans are nice to her she says it is due to God and she believes nothing is too great for Him however since she still feels native americans cant be civilized which would mean they are too great for God
What details lead us to believe that Mary is of an elevated position in society?
- Native American discomforts himself to let be on the horse with her sick child
- She is allowed to read the Bible
- They burned good wife Jocelyn at the stake for complaining but keep Rowlandson safe even though she is complaining too
What popular 17th century genre did Rowlandson inspire, why was it so popular internationally?
- captivating narritive –> allows people to peak into a way of life they know nothing about
- end of preface offers people hope. He says because she held on to hope that’s why divine providence worked in her favor
How do the Native Americans respond to the worsening of her sick child?
- Put the sick child on the horse
- When they realize the child is about to die they tell Mary to go find another wigwam –> mary thinks this is because they can’t stand the sight of death but this is not true
- after the child dies they create a burial for her and allow mary to see her at the grave
- mary frames both of these experiences as how they are
How do the Native Americans respond to the death? How does Mary characterize these types of acts?
- Mary frames those experiences as Native Americans abandoning her sick daughter and not treating her dead daughter with compassion
By the end of the 4th remove, how has Mary depicted the Native Americans
- does not describe any of their human qualities she witnessed (ex: mothers caring for kids, etc.) but instead paints a one dimensional image of them acting as barbarians, animals, heartless, etc.
What are some signs that the Native Americans are a starving population
- very stingy with their food, stealing Rowlandson’s meat
- No part of the animal goes to waste, boil horse feet and drink the broth
- eat bark and other things only starving people would consider eating
What are some additional signs that Mary is favored by the Native Americans
- she gets more food than others
- she doesn’t get wet when they cross the river
- she sleep under covers and everyone else sleeps outside while its raining
- she is allowed all of her knitting materials and is allowed to make profit from it
- she requests not to work on the sabbath
- she is very prideful and spoiled
What is the mistress’s name? what derogatory names does Mary occasionally use to refer to her mistress? What happened in the apron scene
- mistress’s name: wettimore
- she is of the same level as Mary in her culture and has some of the same issues Mary has –> Mary doesn’t seem to see the same issues in herself
- Mary wears an apron daily and the maid wants a piece of the apron, Mary says no, Wettimore says if Mary says no she will kill her. Mary still says no and wettimore tries to hit her with a log, but mary moves
- Mary wants to keep her apron because it is one of her last belongings. Also aprons have pockets where she keeps her Bible (most prized possession)
Discuss the scene when King Philip offers Mary tobacco
one of the most striking examples of multiple voices
excellent example of didactic moralism
What is really happening when Wettimore wants to turn back, etc.
- the baby is sick and she knows the baby will likely not survive, once they get back the baby dies
- they don’t allow mary into the wigwam and say it is family only
- only allow family to be present for death –> what they tried to do for Mary when her daughter was dying –> they did everything for mary as they would’ve done for their own
when wettimore’s baby dies, what is surprising about Mary’s response
- mary is glad the baby died because now theres more room for her in the wigwam
- Having very recently lost a child and being Christian makes this even more shocking
How does Mary’s statement in the 14th remove further discredit Mary as a reliable narrator
- she is caught in a lie: initially she said she was only given water for the first three days but here she says that she was given cake on the first day that she’s held on to and eaten off of for weeks
Discuss “my conscience did not accuse me of unrighteousness”
She doesn’t feel guilty about anything and according to puritan belief system if she doesn’t feel guilty about her acts then what she did was not wrong
What is concerning about the interaction between Mary and king philip?
- king philip asks how long its been since mary had showered and she says since she’s been in captivity so he makes it possible for her to shower
- scholars imply that she likely was taken advantage of sexually despite her claims that never happened. Because of cultural and religious norms it would’ve been seen as her fault, ruining her and her reputation
How much does Mary tell the General Court her husband will pay for her return
20 pounds ($50,000)
When Mary is dining with the Native American family, what is interesting about the Native American’s comment about killing Englishmen?
- native americans realize that she is starting to share their values
- she needs to eat and is starving and isn’t bothered that the englishmen were killed because she needs food
What is wrong about when Mary claims not have witnessed one native american die of hunger
mary sees a native american orphan and english boy out in the cold. She only helps the english boy and the baby starves to death
What is the ending? How does Mary view affliction?
- Affliction is a sign of being chosen by God
- problematic according to scholars: claiming to be elevated spiritually compared to other puritans who did not face captivity and especially puritan women
- Mary ignores parts that dont serve purpose to the narritive
Define “chattel.” Which part of the work reflects this strongly with regard to slavery?
- serfdom slaves still had rights
- chattel (like cattle): slaves are property and have no rights. When masters die slaves are sent back with all the animals and farm equipment to be assessed with property
Middle Passage
- triangular slave trade
- 10-20 million people total; roughly 2 million died in passage
- trip took 1-6 months depending on sea conditions
- elbows and wrists would be scraped to the bone by the motion of the seas
- slave trade castles, slave traders live on top in very nice conditions, Slaves live in the bottom in a dungeon
About Frederick Douglass’s publication
- 125 pages long
- sold for 50 cents a copy
- sold 30,000 copies in the first year
- general public did not expect for a former slave to be able to write like that
- translated in to multiple languages –> became international
- Britain outlawed slavery in 1834 (30 years before the US)
How does Douglass’s preface differ from the Rowlandson preface? What are two examples of Douglass’s fairness in his rhetorical approach
- Rowlandson presented a one-sided narrative, wanted to dehumanize native americans
- Douglass’s goal is to humanize slaves so people think it is ridiculous that people view slaves as property (opposite goals)
- fair specimen of the whole truth –> no one sided portrait
- no a bitter writer, a fair writer –> if he was one sided he would not reach his goals
- examples: names good qualities people have, admits the system is evil even to white people
How does Douglass point out the irony involved in the “curse of Ham”
- curse of ham: noah has 3 sons. Ham makes fun of him but the other 2 sons cover Noah. Noah says all Hams sone will be servants of servants –> biblical justification for slavery because Ham resided in Africa. Slavery is not something done to African people but for them
- irony pointed out: many slave masters have children with their slaves to the point it negates this argument (no longer sons of Ham)
What did the salves call Colonel Lloyd’s place and why
Greathouse farm
- so many slaves it was more like a village/town rather than a plantation
What does Douglass say about slaves and songs
the songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart
- trying to find a universal experience that people who have not experienced slavery can relate to
- surprised to find that northerners thought slaves sang because they were joyous
why did most slaves say the liked their master even if they didn’t
slave owners would spy and if a slave said something bad they would get sold further south
- would compete with other slaves to see who has the best owner –> shameful to have poor master
What story does Douglass provide to describe Gore’s cruelty? What happened when a white person killed a slave?
- nothing happens
- if they kill cattle they go to jail but if they kill a slave nothing happens
What does Douglass ultimately learn from Mr. Auld forbidding sophia from teaching Douglass to read
- freeing his mind is going to lead to freeing his body
- if a slave can write they’d be able to write their own pass –> allowing them to go wherever they want - could even write their own manumission papers
what event does he describe as the “one thing in my experience, more than other, that served to deepen my conviction of the infernal character of slavery, and to fill me with unutterable loathing of slaveholders?”
Once his grandma became too old to function as a slave, the slave holders sent her to the woods. Everything humans need to live happy lives were taken from her. They wouldn’t even treat livestock that poorly
What is unique about Thomas Auld as a slaveholder
- acquired his slaves through marriage
- Douglass says this type of slave holder becomes cruel because they have to paly a role
- Thomas and Covey are Douglass’s most cruel masters
According to Douglass, how does religion change Captain Auld
it makes him more cruel
