Mary Rowlandson faced what would be many people's worst nightmare, when she witnessed the massacre of her family and neighbors, as described in her autobiography, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Rowlandson. As if that horror wasn't enough, Rowlandson was kidnapped and held hostage by hostile Native Americans. During her imprisonment, Rowlandson suffered total culture shock and was both the victim and witness to a series of events that understandably changed her life. The chaos and uncertainty that Rowlandson faced during her imprisonment led her to reevaluate her perception of civilization and ultimately inspired her to have a deeper union with God and a greater appreciation for her life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay All of the ways Rowlandson changes his perception of the world are a product of his state of uncertainty in the face of the chaos of imprisonment. One can only imagine the chaos and horror of witnessing the sights Rowlandson speaks of during the attack on the settlers: "Some in our house fought for our lives, others basked in their blood, the house in flames above the our heads" (258). . The sacking of his village was only the first of many chaotic experiences Rowlandson faces. In fact, a stable environment is never mentioned throughout his story, as Rowlandson is constantly in a state of fear or confusion and never knows what to expect next. The unknown itself is the only constant. Experiencing a state of culture shock Rowlandson observes: "If one looked before him there was nothing but Indians, and behind him, nothing but Indians, and so on both sides, myself in the middle, and not a soul Christian near me" (266 ). Native Americans are people unknown to Rowlandson and live very different lives in a very different environment. After being taken into captivity, she is soon separated from her children and becomes uncertain of their whereabouts and conditions much of the time. As Rowlandson expresses it, “my children were gone, my relatives and friends were gone, our home and all our comforts… everything was gone… and I didn't know that a moment later that too would could go" (259). If her upended life wasn't confusing enough, she certainly found herself dealing with chaos when the life of her youngest child was taken. Rowlandson recalls his state of desperation: "There I left that child in the wilderness, and must commit him, and myself in this wilderness condition, to him who is above all" (262). It is not only the death of her son that makes her distraught, but also the fact that her son was not properly buried in her civilized home. The tragic events and culture shock lead her to question civilization as she knows it and seek ways to better understand her situation. At first, Rowlandson is under the impression that Native Americans are completely different from the colonists. Rowlandson describes Native Americans as “wretched,” “merciless heathens,” and “barbarous creatures.” He describes his initial impression living among them: “Oh, the roaring, singing, dancing, and screaming of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance to hell” (259). Her expressions have the connotation that she believes the way they live is uncivilized to the point of animalistic and that she feels her usual lifestyle is the correct and most virtuous way to live. It is for this reason that when Rowlandson begins to immerse herself in the Native American lifestyle she feels uncertain and begins to search." "(265).” (288).