Survival_of_the_Fittest

Survival of the Fittest It is hard for most people to imagine what they would do if they were taken captive for a great length of time. It seems safe to say that the vast majority of us will never face those circumstances; however, that situation became very real for Mary Rowlandson, as she describes in her narrative “The Sovereignty and Goodness of God.” Being a devout Puritan and wife of a minister, Rowlandson quickly turns to God to for guidance through the three months she was enslaved. Not only does her strong religious faith aid in her survival, her housewife skills and family do as well. Rowlandson does not down play the barbaric nature or violent tendencies of the Native Americans. Again and again she describes their threats on her life and the lives of all other Englishmen. During their first few days in captivity, Mary and her baby were both suffering from the severe wounds inflicted on them during the hostile takeover of Lancaster, and the rough conditions of the wilderness were drawing them closer and closer to mortality. Miraculously, both awake in the morning and Mary credits God with this saying “...still the Lord upheld me with his gracious and mercifull Spirit, and we were both alive to see the light of the next morning” (73). During the eighth remove, Mary unexpectedly sees her son, Joseph. By this point, their morale is low and the Bible is all they have to bring them comfort. Together, they read from Pslams 118, which says “I shall not dy but live, and declare the works of the Lord: the Lord hath chastened me sore, yet he hath not given me over to death” (82). She believes God will preserve them in the wilderness, “while under the enemie's hand,” and then return them to safety (82). Throughout all of the hardships she faces, the sadness, sickness, and starvation, she holds on to her faith. She says “Oh how doth God shine forth in such things as these” (67). A few weeks into her captivity, Mary begins to trade labor for food from the Indians. King Philip asked Mary to make a shirt for his son, which she did, and he paid her one shilling. With that money, she was able to buy a piece of horse meat. After that, he asked her to make a cap for his boy for which she was invited to dinner. She began making clothing for several members of the tribe. She says “There was a Squaw who spake to me to make a shirt for her Sannup, for which she gave me a piece of bear. Another asked me to knit a pair of stockins, for which she gave me a quart of Pease” (83). Because she was so hungry due to the lack of food early in her captivity, this would have greatly satisfied her. She used her common housewife skills to befriend some members of the Indian community and earn a small amount of food. The last thing that keeps her going is her family and the few Indians she becomes close to. Without human companionship, she would not have lasted long. Her spirit seems to be uplifted everytime she hears good news about her family. During the sixteenth remove, a letter comes from the Council to the Sagamores about the returning of the captives, and that in fourteen days she must be ready. In response to this news, she says “My heart was so heavy before that I could scarce speak or go in the path; and yet now so light, that I could run” (94). When the Indians begin to travel back towards Mary's home, she reports having similar changes of heart. If it were not for Mary's devout Christian beliefs, crafting skills, and love of her family, she may not have made it through her few months as a prisoner of war. The Indians showed her little mercy, and for that she turned to God for enlightenment and salvation. To bargain for food and other provisions, Mary knitted various pieces of clothing for several tribe members. Just as her soul began to tire like her body, she would hear good news about either her children, friends, or husband, and once again she was high spirited. These three things, along with a good bit of luck, aided in her survival.