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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page analysis of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans and Mary White Rowlandson's personal narrative that tells of her capture by Narragansett Indians in a 1675 attack on Lancaster, Mass. The writer argues that both of these accounts are revealing as to how whites viewed Native Americans and how this showed the contrast between what is considered 'civilized behavior' and savagery. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_90savage.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
an account of her experiences among the Indians. This account is extremely revealing as to how the Puritans of the seventeenth century viewed Native Americans and it is fascinating to
follow how her perspective changes subtly during the course of her capture. Rowlandsons narrative can be contrasted with the views later expressed by author James Fenimore Cooper in his novel,
The Last of the Mohicans. While these works are naturally greatly different in their discourse, they both address the opposing views that white settlers had of
Native Americans as being both noble and extremely savage. In doing so, both narratives give the readers of these works food for thought as to exactly what constitutes civilized behavior.
At the beginning of her narrative, Rowlandson refers to the Indians as "hell-hounds" that were characterized by "savageness" and "brutishness" that defied description (35-36). By characterizing the natives in
this manner as being somehow similar to animals, by contrast Rowlandson affirms her own people as being both human and spiritual, and, therefore, on a different plane of existence from
the savage Indians. In keeping with this mindset, whenever the Indians show her any kindness, Rowlandson fails to see this as a sign that the Indians are capable of kindness?a
sign of civilized behavior?but, rather sees it as a kindness that comes directly from God. The Indian is only the unknowing intermediary of Gods bounty. For example, when a
Narragansett woman brings Rowlandsons son to visit her or later when a man gives Rowlandson a Bible to read, she immediately attributes both acts to Providence. In a similar instance,
Rowlandson is about to board a raft and a native puts brush on the bottom of the raft so that Rowlandsons feet wont get wet. She immediately thanks God for
...