Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan minister's wife, was captured during an Indian raid on Lancaster, Massachusetts. She was held captive by a leading Indian family for eleven weeks before returning to her husband. Rowlandson later wrote about her experiences in the book. She describes traveling from one "remove" to another with her Indian masters, experiencing the difficulties of hard work and the cold outdoors. She continuously quotes Scripture- she found it to be a source of strength and guidance for her in her time of trouble.
             One interesting contrast between the Puritan and Indian cultures can be seen in Mrs. Rowlandson's view of her male master Quanopin's wife, Wetamo. Wetamo was a "squaw sachem"- a woman who led the Wampanoag village of Pocasset. Wetamo had allied herself with King Philip (Metacom) early in the war. Despite the tradition of wifely obedience to one's husband, she was one of the key leaders during the conflict on her initiative. Mary Rowlandson, however, never recognized Wetamo's independent authority, which caused friction between the two throughout her captivity. Wetamo took her anger at Indian war losses out on her slaves, of whom Mary was one. She would do such things as throw away Mary's Bible (her one great comfort), arbitrarily deny her food, and force her to do challenging work- or, at least, work not expected of a New England Puritan wife. Rowlandson called Wetamo "a severe and proud Dame"1, viewing her authoritative stance as vain and insolent.2 As par!
             T of a more patriarchal society, Mrs. Rowlandson found it challenging to understand Wetamo's behavior as other than just a woman being excessively assertive. Wetamo, however, was acting out a role that was acceptable in her own culture. It is also of interest to note that Mary Rowlandson was a high-status individual in her Puritan society as a minister's wife. Yet, she would have no chance to have the kind of power which Wetamo possessed.
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