A Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Religion played a powerful and influential role in early American Literature. The Puritans, who were some of the earliest American settlers used religion as a way to express gratitude to God for giving them the strength to sustain life during the best and worst of times. The main purpose of the Puritans traveling to The New World was because they were unhappy with religious practices in England and did not want God to become displeased with them. They had a strong desire to practice their faith based upon the bible. Writing about significant events helped to identify their expectations for a new life. Hard work, spiritual and religious beliefs, love, honor and respect for all mankind and a fear of God’s wrath would become the powerful tools to build a foundation
Mary Rowlandson” captures her reader’s attention as she describes being taken by the natives and how she was thankful that God had given her the courage and strength to keep going during those difficult times. In her narratives she confesses, “ I remember in the night session, how the other day I was in the midst of thousands of enemies, and nothing but death before me. It is the hard work to persuade myself, that ever I should be satisfied with bread again, But now we are fed with the finest of the wheat, and, as I may say, with honey out of the rock... Oh! The wonderful power of God that mine eyes have seen, affording matter enough for my thoughts to run in, that when others are sleeping mine eyes are weeping” …” I have seen the extreme vanity of this world: One hour I have been in heath, and wealthy, wanting nothing. But the next hour I sickness and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and affliction” …” I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles, and to be quieted under them. As Moses said, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14.13). (Baym, Levine et al,