Who Were the Real Savages free essay sample

Mary Rowland and Benjamin Franklins Remarks Concerning the Savages of North-America, I explore two very different perspectives of Native Americans. Mary Railroadings account of her captivity by the Native Americans drew many references to the Bible. It is this unwavering Christian faith that maintained her hope during her confinement. The irony lies in the fact that despite her Christian faith that preaches kindness and goodness, Rowland portrays a predominately negative outlook towards the Native Americans. Although the Natives never harmed her during her captivity, Rowland calls them black creatures. The use of the color lack alludes to demonic references, which is a recurring theme when referring to the Natives. When they dance and sing she not only chooses to see the evil in the Natives but also her surroundings as she said they made the place a lively resemblance of hell. This shows her condemnatory character and Ideology as she judges those that are different from her. We will write a custom essay sample on Who Were the Real Savages? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Her Puritan way of life enforces a strict belief system that has lead to her ignorance of the Natives.These sub-human descriptions continue when she describes the natives as ravenous beasts and merciless enemies. However, she contradicts herself In the following passage: l have been in the midst of those roaring lions, and savage bears, that feared neither God, nor the devil, by night and day, alone and in company, sleeping all sorts together, and yet not one of them ever offered me the least abuse of unchristian to me, In word or action. Whilst comparing the Natives to vicious, wild animals she mentions that none of them ever hurt her emotionally or physically.Yet, she refuses to acknowledge this any further and even goes as far as to say, instead of turning His hand against them, he Lord feeds and nourish them up to be a scourge to the whole land. We observe here that Rowland has been so blinded by her faith that she fails to understand the other side of the story in which the Natives are defending their land. This is akin to her selfishly viewing the situation through tunnel vision where she desperately tries to maintain unwavering faith yet does not gain knowledge through viewing the situation as a whole.When Rowland returns home, she does not shown any signs of enlightenment 1 OFF so much hemmed in with the merciless and cruel Heathen, but now as much with dutiful, tenderhearted, and compassionate Christians. In the poor and distressed and beggarly condition I was received in. Her ideology does not change and s he leaves the ordeal with as much ignorance as she began with. Her reference to her friends and family as Christians as opposed to a more personal description reinforces the fact that her Puritan mindset has not changed.The Natives, did demonstrate impolite behavior by laughing when Rowland and her child fell off the horse. However, in Benjamin Franklins Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America e states: Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of different nations with Impartiality, we should find no People so rude, as to be without any Rules of Politeness; nor any so polite, as not to have some remains of Rudeness. Benjamin Franklin believed in self-sufficiency as opposed to living his life to fulfill a Christian destiny.In his remarks he aims to humanism the Natives and eliminate all prejudices and stereotypes of these people to those that see them as the enemy. As opposed to Rowland who referred to the Natives as savages and heathens, Franklin tried o bridge the gap between two very different cultures by stating that they were all o f one blood. He states Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs. Franklin questions the derogatory view of the Natives and presses that although our culture is the epitome of perfection to us, the Natives rightly believe their culture is Just as superior. While Mary Rowland alluded to demonic references in regards to the Indians, Franklin conversely emphasized the Natives social politeness by drawing imprisons between a conversation between Indians and a conversation in the British House of Commons. He states, interrupting another, even in common conversation, is reckoned highly indecent. According to Franklin, in English society we listen impatiently to the extent that we will cut off someone that is talking mid- sentence. In the house of Commons, the speaker will grow hoarse in calling to order due to the commotion of people. Franklin claims that Native hospitality supersedes that of the English, especially in regards to strangers. The Natives will hollow to let heir presence be known before they are invited in to the village, as they do not be lieve that they should enter territory unannounced. On the contrary, the English have no problems entering a territory uninvited. Franklin said Our people (English) are apt to crowd round them, gaze upon them This they esteem great rudeness. By this he means that when there is a stranger, the English rudely stare at them while the Natives think this is disrespectful and choose to hide in the bushes to watch a new stranger in town. They also have what is called a Stranger House in which the transgress were clothed, fed, and were even supplied with luxuries such as tobacco and pipes. An example of this is in the following passage: If a white man, in traveling thro our Country, enters one of our Cabins, we all treat him as I treat you; we dry him if he is wet, we warm him if he is cold, and give him Meat Drink that he may allay his Thirst and Hunger, we spread soft Furs for him to rest sleep on: We demand nothing in return. But if I go into a White mans House at Albany, and ask for Victuals and Drink, they say, Where is your Money? ND if I have disrespectful than anything Rowland had ever experienced.According to Rowland herself, the Indians did not physically or emotionally harm her and yet the English in Franklins remarks call the Indians derogatory names. After reading both Rowland and Franklins account of the Native Americans we gain two extremely different perspectives. We are forced to question, who were the real savages? While Rowland depicted such a brutal and demonic idea of the Natives she gained the least amount of knowledge from the experience and h er only form of enlightenment lay in the fact that she was able to sustain her faith.