Celia Rowlandson American History Includes a Wide

Celia Rowlandson

American history includes a wide variety of women who have been involved with heroic acts. Two of these historic figures are Mary Rowlandson, a New England Puritan kidnapped by Indians in the 1700s, and Celia, an African-American slave who was hanged for killing her brutal master. Although their stories are very different, they demonstrated the personal fortitude to personally handle the worst of situations.

Rowlandson was living in a Massachusetts settlement when an Indian raid killed and wounded many of her fellow colonists. One of her children was killed in the massacre, another died soon later, and the third was taken by another raiding party. She was wounded and taken captive by the Indians. For three months until ransomed, she traveled with the tribe throughout the New England region as they hunted for food and eluded the colonists who were set on retaliation.

Rowlandson was born in England to a wealthy family and moved to Salem in the New World in 1639. She married a minister in 1654 and had three children. Despite the fact she had earlier said that she would rather die than be taken by the American natives, she found the inner strength to adapt to her situation by finding the will to live without her children, living day-to-day in a way very different from her upbringing, and eating foods that were very alien to her diet, such as ground nuts, roots, horse parts, and turtle meat. She even began to make and sell clothes to her captives.

After her ordeal, Rowlandson wrote the book originally titled The Soveraignty & Goodness of God, Together with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed; Being a Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, Commended by her to all that Desire to Know the Lord's Doings to, and Dealings with Her. Especially to her Dear Children and Relations. was written to retell the details of Mary Rowlandson's captivity and rescue in the context of religious faith. The book's title was later changed to Minister's Wife in New-England: Wherein is set forth, The Cruel and Inhumane Usage she underwent amongst the Heathens for Eleven Weeks time: And her Deliverance from them. Written by her own Hand, for her Private Use: and now made public at the earnest Desire of some Friends, for the Benefit of the Afflicted, to be used as a means to present a different picture of the Indians. Despite this title, the book somewhat conveyed an understanding of the captors as individuals who also suffered and displayed some goodness.

Although most settlers would have said that the King Philip War was a battle over the ownership of territory, it must be recognized for what it was: racism against a group of individuals who were not recognized as equal to the European colonists. Seeing the Indians as heathens and dangerous natives condoned the actions against them.

Unfortunately, it was not only the Indians who were seen as inferior by the Puritans, but rather anyone who was of a different race, color or religion. Even women had to know and respect their lower position in life. Rowlandson would not have been allowed to write and publish her book under typical situations, because women were not allowed to be independent thinkers. However, in this case the ends justified the means and the book was produced.

In fact, perhaps Rowlandson was able to cope so well not because she had her religious fervor to maintain her strength, but because of the way she was raised as a woman -- a very severe life where she had to fend for herself. This also may be the reason why she was able to express some positive things about the Indians. After all, she had been in a type of captivity all her life just by being born a female.

Although there are some relatively positive aspects of Rowlandson's story, this is not the case with Celia. From the moment she was born, not only was she demeaned for being a female but, even worse, an African female. Celia had no rights at all. As a slave, she could be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually abused and have no say about it.

The fact that Celia was able to keep her sanity and raise two children after being raped and debased says it all. Should she have kept on offering herself to the master once finding someone to truly love? It would have kept her alive. Yet, it would have destroyed whatever self-esteem and respect she had left for herself. Celia was in a no win situation from day one. No matter what way she turned, no matter what decisions she made, nothing good could come her way.

Once Rowlandson was returned from her three-month ordeal, she was able to go back to her earlier life style. Yes, she was considered inferior because of her gender. However, she also was treated relatively well. Even if Celia would have not been killed, her life would have been a living hell.

Unfortunately, Celia had two major strikes against her. If she had been a white female and killed her attacker, she still would have been punished. How long did it take the courts to agree that some women are justified in fighting violence with violence, if forced to commit a sexual act? For decades, women were seen in the wrong: A man does not consider sexual relations unless the woman encourages him! Most likely, if white, Celia would have been put into jail, but not hanged for retaliating against a white man.

From its earliest years, laws in America have encouraged the victimization of slaves by slave owners to improve the owners' economic and social gain. Ethical justification for sexual exploitation of slaves, women in particular, arose from 15th century Christian missionary attitudes that stereotyped the sexual habits of Africans. Bias about black male sexual abilities and black female promiscuity are still visible today. It was not until slavery was abolished, that slaves had legal recourse for rape. Even after the abolishment of slavery, the American legal system perceived the rape of black and white women differently; sexual assaults against the former were not taken as seriously.

Over the years, women have been reluctant to tell anyone about being raped -- due to the judicial system and also the emotional trauma. Also, they often believed their attackers' threats of great harm should they do so. Likewise, even though incestuous sexual abuse has been common throughout history, daughters who endured ongoing sexual abuse from their fathers had particular difficulties sharing their suffering with others.