Early American Captivity Narratives

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Early American Captivity Narratives
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Characteristics of Captivity Narratives

• 1. A single individual, usually a woman, stands
  passively under the strokes of evil
• 2. awaiting rescue by God.
• 3. The sufferer represents the whole, chastened
  body of Puritan society.

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• 4. captivity to the Indian is dual paradigm
• The bondage of the soul to the flesh and the
  temptations arising from original sin
• The self-exile of the English Israel from
  England
• 5. The captives ultimate redemption by the
  grace of Christ and the efforts of the Puritan
  magistrates is likened to the regeneration of the
  soul in conversion.
• 6. Through the captives proxy, the promise of a
  similar salvation could be offered to the
  faithful among the reading public.
• Richard Stolkin--Regeneration Through Violence

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Purpose of Captivity Narratives

• Sensationalism
• Propaganda
• Showing the proper role for women
• Commenting on religion

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