What is a Captivity Narrative?
A genre of American literature in which the narrator recounts their captivity by Native Americans, often ending with their escape or release.
Trapped, then Freed: Understanding Captivity Narratives
A captivity narrative is a genre of American literature that shares the story of a narrator being held captive by Native Americans.
Typically, the narrative is structured to offer a glimpse into Native American culture and society while also reinforcing the narrator's own beliefs about Western progress and civilization. These stories often end with the narrator's escape or release, celebrating the victory of Western individualism and freedom.
Popular examples of captivity narratives include A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, which details Rowlandson's time as a captive of the Narragansett tribe; and The Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson: Third Addition, where Rowlandson offers an updated account of her experiences.
As both a historical and literary genre, captivity narratives remain important works in our national literary canon. They inform our understanding of different cultures, of the history of American society, and remind us of the importance of freedom and individualism.
Learn about the rich history of captivity narratives through these two famous works of literature.
Mary Rowlandson's 1682 memoir documents her three-month captivity by Native Americans following an attack on her Massachusetts Bay Colony settlement. The narrative emphasizes the author's Puritan beliefs, contrasting Native American practices with those of her own faith.
Conrad Richter's 1953 novel tells the story of young white boy John Butler, who is kidnapped and raised by the Delaware tribe at the end of the French and Indian War. As he grows older, Butler struggles to reconcile his dual identities and the two worlds in which he belongs.