Captivity Narratives Criticism
Captivity narratives are a significant genre in American literature, originating with the early settlement of North America and evolving alongside the nation's history. Initially, these narratives likely began with Native Americans captured by Spanish explorers, but the genre is more commonly associated with European settlers' accounts of abduction by Native Americans. Captain John Smith's Generall Historie of Virginia (1624) is often cited as an early example, but the genre gained prominence in Puritan society where it served both as entertainment and a vehicle for religious instruction—highlighting the punitive yet redemptive hand of God, as seen in works like Mary Rowlandson’s The Sovereignty and Goodness of God.
In Puritan captivity narratives, vivid depictions of violence and forced marches were framed within a theological context, reinforcing social conformity as advocated by figures like Cotton Mather. Over time, the transition from first-hand accounts to professional authors' embellishments saw a shift towards sensationalism, especially during periods of conflict with Native Americans and the French. By the nineteenth century, these tales were adapted into popular dime novels, reflecting societal shifts towards sentimental fiction and focusing on male protagonists and nation-building.
The scholarly study of captivity narratives began in earnest with Roy Harvey Pearce in the late 1940s, who viewed them as windows into American popular culture rather than mere historical accounts, as discussed in The Significances of the Captivity Narrative. Contrarily, Richard Vanderbeets advocated for their classification as a unified genre, emphasizing shared ritualistic elements (The Indian Captivity Narrative as Ritual). Critics like Alden T. Vaughan and Edward W. Clark have delved into the Puritan influences on these narratives (Cups of Common Calamity), while Colin Ramsey highlighted their role in demonizing Native Americans (Cannibalism and Infant Killing). These narratives also influenced literary works, such as James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, as explored by David T. Haberly (Women and Indians), and the evolution of sentimental novels, as noted by Gary L. Ebersole (Capturing the Audience).
Contents
- Representative Works
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Criticism: Overviews
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The Significances of the Captivity Narrative
(summary)
In the following essay, Pearce examines the evolution of the style and intent of captivity narratives, from religious confessional to pulp thriller, and argues that they provide a window into American popular culture.
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The Indian Captivity Narrative as Ritual
(summary)
In the essay below, Vanderbeets urges readers to view captivity narratives as a unified genre built upon common rituals.
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By Dens of Lions: Notes on Stylization in Early Puritan Captivity Narratives
(summary)
In the following essay, Minter considers changes in the purpose and tone of captivity narratives over time, particularly focusing on the narrative of Mary Rowlandson.
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White Men Held Captive
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Namias explores the changing images of males in captivity narratives from 1608 through the nineteenth century.
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The Significances of the Captivity Narrative
(summary)
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Criticism: Captivity Narratives And Puritanism
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Cups of Common Calamity: Puritan Captivity Narratives as Literature and History
(summary)
In the following essay, Vaughan and Clark expound on the uniquely religious characteristics and influences of the Puritan captivity narrative.
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‘My Outward Man’: The Curious Case of Hannah Swarton
(summary)
In the following essay, Carroll investigates Cotton Mather's underlying message in his account of Hannah Swarton's abduction, comparing it to Mary Rowlandson's narrative.
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Cups of Common Calamity: Puritan Captivity Narratives as Literature and History
(summary)
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Criticism: Captivity Narratives And Native Americans
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Cannibalism and Infant Killing: A System of ‘Demonizing’ Motifs in Indian Captivity Narratives
(summary)
In the essay below, Ramsey links captivity narratives with the demonizing of Native Americans during the Puritan era.
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Resistant History: Revising the Captivity Narrative in ‘Captivity’ and Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues
(summary)
In the following essay, Fast examines the modern poetry of Native Americans Louise Erdrich and Maurice Kenny, which attempts to re-read the captivity narratives written by Europeans.
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Cannibalism and Infant Killing: A System of ‘Demonizing’ Motifs in Indian Captivity Narratives
(summary)
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Criticism: Influence On American Literature
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Women and Indians: The Last of the Mohicans and the Captivity Tradition
(summary)
In the essay below, Haberly outlines the influence of captivity narratives on James Fenimore Cooper's creation of The Last of the Mohicans.
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Capturing the Audience: Sentimental Literature and the New Reading Covenant
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Ebersole traces the emergence of the sentimental novel format in eighteenth-century captivity narratives, focusing on Edward Kimber's novel The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Anderson.
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Women and Indians: The Last of the Mohicans and the Captivity Tradition
(summary)
- Further Reading