Rowlandson Puritanism

3/23/15

English III

Rowlandson Puritanism

        Strict adherence to piety distinguishes early Puritan culture from others of that era.  Mary Rowlandson’s piece A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a prime example of Puritan literature.  The values reflected in Mary’s work, such as evidence of Puritan elements, the overall focus of her literature, and point of view prove her novel to be Puritan.  These characteristics displayed in Rowlandson’s literature reflect Puritan upbringing and ideals.

         A definite display of Mary Rowlandson’s puritanism lies in her incorporation of the Puritan elements.  In her piece, Rowlandson describes god as “he wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with another” (Rowlandson 77).  This pain Rowlandson believes god is inflicting on her reflects the Puritan element of providence.  This element states that everything God does has a cause and a purpose.  Rowlandson shows that she believes God is harming her for a good reason.  A second example of Rowlandson using the Puritan elements lies in her incorporation of Grace.  When Rowlandson states “how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life” (Rowlandson 77) she displays knowledge that God has a reason to punish her, yet he does not.  This exhibits the Puritan element of grace, or unconditional love.  God allowed Mary to live even though she has sinned due to his unwavering love for his people.  More obvious evidence of Mary Rowlandson’s puritanism lies in the role she assigns god.

        Not only does Mary reveal knowledge of Puritan elements, but also general Puritan beliefs.  The Puritans are extremely reverent of God, and require him to be the central focus of all Puritan life.  Mary displays her view of god when she recalls how disrespectful she had been of “God’s holy time” (Rowlandson 77).  To Puritans, it is extremely important to keep the Sabbath a day devoted to god.  By focusing on her misspending the Sabbath, and not her current plight, Mary is showing how intent she is to keep god the center of her life.  Other Puritan writers also focused on God as a central theme.  Puritan writer William Bradford recounted his journey and settlement of America in Of Plymouth Plantation.  Bradford describes the new American land as cruel, and with nothing to sustain his men but “God and his grace” (Bradford 79).  This shows that other Puritan writers also focus their pieces around the presence of God in their lives.  Mary Rowlandson’s point of view also demonstrates her Puritanism.