Langer Rowlandson Blog

Rowlandson's narrative is an interesting read full of ups and downs that exemplify the trauma that Rowlandson was forced through during her captivity. She goes from extreme lows to moments of redemption back to extreme lows throughout the eleven weeks of captivity. Amazingly, she never truly loses hope when she has God's word by her side with the Bible. From the beginning, Rowlandson's attitude toward her Amerindian captors is revealed. As she is trying to care for her babe while upon a horse's back, they both "fell over the horse's head." To show her disgust with her captors, she refers to them as "inhumane creatures" who "laughed, and rejoiced to see it." Her captors have no sense of remorse for her or her dying babe and give no comfort to them in their injuries. She is in a living hell with these "inhumane creatures", but sees "the wonderful power of God" when her Spirit id not sink. The Lord held her up in this time of peril. She is suffering, yet still feels blessed by the love of God for being able to see the light of the next morning. From the outset of her captivity she sees this as an opportunity for God to protect and save her spirits every day.

 In the thirteenth remove Rowlandson addresses the lying tendencies of her captors. She asks an Indian about the status of her son, who responds that "himself did eat a piece of him, as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat." This indian is used as an example of the whole group, a bunch of lying cannibals that have no respect or care for their captives. Rowlandson acknowledges that they have "a horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking of truth."She is surrounded by "a company of barbarous heathens," but holds onto hope of salvation. The end of the thirteenth remove creates a very bleak outlook for Rowlandson, where she reflects on what a "careless creature" she has been. Even when their is a death within the tribe, Rowlandson confesses she "could not much condole with them." She rarely feels sympathy for the tribe whether it is on an individual level or the tribe as a whole. Instead, Rowlandson reflects on the times of the past where she could pray and sing with her family on the nights before and after the Sabbath. But now, instead, she "had only a little swill for the body and then, like a swine, must lie down on the ground." She is full of sorrow about her lack of worship to the Lord. Yet, she still takes comfort in the Scripture of the Lord at every turn. Every time she is down in spirits, Rowlandson focuses upon the word of the Lord to lift her spirits and help her to continue on.

Rowlandson does not necessarily show remorse, but some sort of admiration for how God cared for the heathens throughout their travels. She points out, "strangely did the Lord provide for them; that I did not see one man, woman, or child die with hunger." She stands in awe and admiration of how God provided for such a vast amount of enemies. Although her enemies, they are still human beings under God, and Rowlandson thanks him for taking care of them with the vast array of resources at his disposal. Through this perverse way of preserving her enemies, she was protected from any harm and was eventually saved. In this light, Rowlandson sees herself as saved by the Lord. She realizes that she deserves chastisement for the times she neglected the Sabbath and did not pay proper dues to the Lord, but is glad to have endured these hard times. She rejoices that "God hath granted me my desire. O the wonderful power of God that I have seen, and the experience that I have had." Rowlandson has endured hardships, but thanks God multiple times that she did not suffer any "unchastity, in word or action" from the savages. She has come through saved and a stronger Christian for her hardships. Now, "if trouble from smaller matters begin to arise in me, I have something at to check myself with, and say, why am I troubled?" Through this journey, Rowlandson has a new philosophy on life that will bring her through all hardships. She has learned to look past the present, smaller troubles, and to look towards the big picture of the Lord's salvation.