The Life of Mary Jemison - Essay Example

The Life of Mary Jemison Introduction Mary Jemison, the American frontierswoman, was born in a ship (this ship was going from Northern Ireland to America) to Thomas and Jane Jemison in 1743. She was captured by the Indians when she was around 15 years of age, while living with her parents in Pennsylvania. Her family was killed in the encounter and only she left behind and the Indians adopted her. “She was adopted and incorporated into the Senecas, a familiar practice among Iroquois and other Indian peoples seeking to replace a lost sibling or spouse. Mary married and raised a family in the decades before and after the American Revolution; many captives, once adopted and integrated into an Indian community, refused the opportunity to return home, finding life in Indian society more rewarding. In 1823 Mary Jemison related her life story to James Seaver, a doctor who lived near her home in western New York. Seaver’s story of “the white woman of the Genessee,” as she became known, sold over 100,000 copies in 1824” (Captured By Indians: Mary Jemison Becomes an Indian). This paper briefly explains opinions of Mary Jemison about native American culture and relationship between Native Americans and Anglo-Americans in the eighteenth century based on the autobiography of Mary Jemison written by James Seaver. Native American culture in Mary’s opinion In family and society, Native Americans projected themselves as one of the most civilized community. But in the battlefield they never behaved like that. In fact they were so cruel in the battlefield that they never exhibit any humanitarian methods while fighting with others. Native Americans was loved their beloved ones deeply, but they never shown any sympathy or mercy towards other communities. In fact they were so cruel and their brutality was so severe that they never hesitated in kidnapping and killing of innocent people from other communities. Mary’s complete family has been brutally assassinated by the Native American tribes, The Indians, which forced Mary to describe them as brutal and uncivilized tribes The Native American culture during 18 th and 19 th centuries were not much civilized. Even though, her family members were killed by the Indians (Native Americans); the Indians have shown some mercy towards her and adopted her to the Native Indian community even though she was a white female. Mary has realized that even though the Indians are so cruel in the battlefield, they were not so in the family after staying together with them for a longer period. It was the duty of the men to protect the villages and homesteads as per the Native American culture during Mary’s period. The major duty of the women was to prepare food, and perform agricultural duties along with taking the responsibility of raising the young. The conflicts between the whites and the Native Americans were stiff during Mary’s period and hence the males were concentrated completely on protecting their family and territory. Women along with their children engaged in all sorts of homely works and agricultural works. Mary has enjoyed his works in the company of her children. As per the Native American culture the social bonding between the women in the society was so strong so that they often refer others as their sisters. This close relationship among Native American women helped them to solve their problems collectively. Since most of the men were at the battlefields, strong social tie up was required also in order to execute their homely responsibilities. Even though the work load was too much on the shoulders of Native American women, they have established strong tie up between them in order to make their woks easier. The resources available for Native American women were less compared to white women, but still they were able to execute their duties efficiently using the available resources. Even though the Native American was so cruel to others, they have loved their beloved ones so deeply so that their diseases and deaths were created deep sorrow in their minds. They have a rather unusual policy of adopting a prisoner in place of their lost brother or any other family member in the battle field. After the Indians capture Mary alive they have removed all her dirty traditional clothes and dressed her with good ones suitable to the traditional Native Indian style. Then they have assembled around her in order to start the adoption ceremony. The adoption ceremony was an unusual one. “In the course of that ceremony, from mourning they became serene, - joy sparkled in their countenances, and they seemed to rejoice over me as over a long lost child. Their tears flowed freely, and they exhibited all the signs of real mourning. At the commencement of this scene, one of their number began, in a voice somewhat between speaking and singing, to recite some words to the following purport, and continued the recitation till the ceremony was ended; the company at the same time varying the appearance of their countenances, gestures, and tone of voice, so as to correspond with the sentiments expressed by their leader. Oh, our brother ! alas! He is dead-he has gone he will never return! Friendless, he died on the field of the slain where his bones are yet lying unburied” (Seaver, p.57) Mary was loved deeply by the family adopter her and they treated her as their true sister in place of their lost brother. The Native Indian family who adopted Mary taught her their native language and they deny asked her to stop the English language usage and that also not forcefully. Mary was forced to marry an Indian when she grown up and irrespective of her concerns about the characters of on Indian male, her husband Sheninjee was a good matured person. He was a noble man –large in stature, elegant in his appearance, generous in his conduct, courteous in war, a friend to peace, and a lover of justice (Seaver, p.67). In contrast with the traditional Indian males, her husband has command respect from all others who was in touch with him. Mary was fortunate to have such a wonderful husband from the black community even though traditionally, the Native Indian males believed to be cruel and uncivilized at that time because of tough mindset. (Most of the males have their duty in the battlefield and they have not shown any mercy to their opponents) Relationship between Native Americans and Anglo-Americans in the eighteenth century We lived without any jealousies, quarrels, and revengeful battles between families and individuals which have been common in the Indian tribes since the introduction of ardent spirits among them. The use of ardent spirits among Indian, and a majority of the attempts which have been made to civilize them by the white people have constantly made them worse and worse; increased their vices, and robbed them of many of their virtues, and ultimately produce their extermination (Seaver, p.72&73) Britain has engaged in wars with France and America between the second half of 18 th and the first half of the 19 th centuries which has created more complex relationship between the Anglo Americans and Native Americans. During this period, the British Empire in America was in bad need of support from the Native Americans in war and trade and hence they have taken extreme care while dealing with the issues related to Native Americans. Briton sought the help of Native American military power during this period in order to utilize it in their wars. Thus the Indians and Britain engaged in political and economic relationship between each other during this period. The relationship with Briton was helped Native Americans in the creation of a new social entity; the urban working class. Thus Apart from indigenous people another class has been created in the Native American community during this period. Moreover, the repeated wars have resulted in more interaction between Native Americans and the Whites which resulted in the creation of a new culture not only in America, but in Britain as well during this period. The economic, military and political relationship between Native Americans and the Whites has strengthened the social and cultural relationships as well. The Whites tried to civilize the Native Americans; but most of their effort went in vein as the Native Americans were so adamant in keeping their traditions and values. Conclusions Mary Jemison was a white girl who happens to be captured by the Native Americans after killing her family members. Even though she was a white girl one of the Indian family adopted her in place of their lost brother and nurtured her with immense care and love. In her opinion, the Native American culture during her time was not much civilized. Even though, they were so cruel in the battlefield, they were not so in the family. The Whites forced to establish strong relationship with the Native Americans in order to utilize their military force in wars. Even though the Whites tried to make the Native Americans more civilized, most of their efforts were resulted in utter failures. Works Cited 1. “Captured By Indians: Mary Jemison Becomes an Indian”. 30 September 2009. 2. Seaver, James E. “The Life of Mary Jemison”. 30 September 2009. Read More