Narrative Of The Restoration Mary Rowlandson Analysis

In 1675, King Phillips War was going on and colonies were being taken over and people were being held captive by Native Americans. Mary Rowlandson’s was one of many held captive. In her book, A Narrative of the Captivity an Restoration, her faith is tested, and she demonstrates that her relationship with God is just as strong as ever, she uses it as an opportunity to spread the word of God. One reason Rowlandson survived was because of her faith and her optimism while she was captured. Her story begins in February 1675, the Native Americans began to take over her town, they took women and children and began to murder men. In the beginning of her narrative she mentions God, when she is looking for a way out of her home. She remains optimistic and states, “The lord herby would make us the more acknowledge his hand, and to see that out help is always within him.” (Rowlandson 129) this implies that she knows God is coming to help her, that he has the capability. Her puritan way of thinking is also shown, puritans believed that God made things happen, there were no coincidences. When one of the people with Mary yells out, “And Lord, let me die with them,” (Rowlandosn 129) when she says this a bullet hits her and she dies. Rowlandson mentions that she knows her friends will be in the Kingdom of heaven enjoying what she has worked for. Instead of taking a moment to mourn Rowlandson looks for the bright side in the situation which will be that her friend will be with god. When she is being taken away, she mentions that she always thought she wanted to be killed before being taken, but that as it was happening to her she realized she wanted to stay alive. The main reason she changed her mind was because she wanted to be able to tell her story, and show everyone what she endured. Another belief for people who strongly believe in god the way she does was that husbands come first, when she mentions her family the first person she mentions is her husband and then her children. Although her children were gone and one of which was dead she remained hopeful and continued to pray to God. She continues through her move and begins to lose hope and think of all the past difficulties, and then she gets hopeful. She mentions, “The Lord renewed my strength still, and carried me along, that I might see more of his power,” (Rowlandson 131) this shows that although she was doubting she remained hopeful and continued to thank God and believe in him even through the hardships so far. This was an opportunity to show people who were or are reading her book that if she can remain hopeful and keep her faith through thee difficulties than so can her readers, and people of the same religion. During her third remove is when she begins to compare what her life spiritually used to be and what it has to be from now on. …show more content…
A majority of he writing seems to show people or give them a reason to continue their faith, and let them know that it is never to late to be with God. In this part of the story it was Sabbath, and she reflects on the amount of times she’s either misspent her time or not paid attention to. She mentions that God had every right to cast her out and or let her die, but he showed mercy to her. She writes, “Yet the Lord still showed mercy to me, and upheld me; He wounded knee with one hand, so he healed me with other,” (Rowlandson 131) this shows that because she lacked faith she was punished but since she regained it he helped her. This shows people that it is not to late to believe and be saved by him, they have opportunities to go back and re-exam their religious beliefs. This part of the story is relatable to the readers because many of them were beginning to lose their faith or not attend sermons as often as they should. This made people think that they can go back and continue their faith, and that God will still be there giving people more chances. Throughout