Women's History Looks at Indian Captivity Narratives

Views of women in the 1700s and 1800s is shaped by culture -- as are the views of other people. Indian captivity narratives -- that genre of American literature about women (usually) captured and held by American Indians -- give us some sense of what was the "political correctness" of the time -- what were the standard themes and interpretations included in these accounts in order to make the stories interesting to the readers of the time? How did the narratives reinforce and how did they challenge the assumptions and stereotypes of the time? Read more:

• About Captivity Narratives
• Women's History Questions on Captivity Narratives
• Some Individual Indian Captivity Narratives
• Bibliography and Links for More Information