“Truly, friend; and methinks it must gladden your heart, after your troubles and sojourn in the wilderness,” said the townsman, “to find yourself at length in a land where iniquity is searched out and punished in the sight of rulers and people, as here in our godly New England. Yonder woman, Sir, you must know, was the wife of a certain learned man, English by birth, but who had long ago dwelt in Amsterdam, whence some good time agone he was minded to cross over and cast in his lot with us of the Massachusetts. To this purpose he sent his wife before him, remaining himself to look after some necessary affairs. Marry, good Sir, in some two years, or less, that the woman has been a dweller here in Boston, no tidings have come of this learned gentleman, Master Prynne; and his young wife, look you, being left to her own misguidance—”

Question

What is the relationship between the townspeople and the Indians?

How does this short excerpt reveal the townspeople’s attitude toward the Indians?

Answer 1

In the excerpt you've provided, the townspeople, particularly represented by the speaker, exhibit a sense of moral superiority and an attitude of judgment towards others, including the Indians. The focus on iniquity being "searched out and punished" reflects the Puritan ideology of upholding a strict moral code that is prevalent in the community. This also implies a contrast to how they perceive the Indians' behavior and lifestyle, likely viewing it as unruly or lacking the moral discipline of the Puritan society.

The reference to the "sorrowing" and "suffering" of one of their own – the young woman, left alone due to her husband's absence – suggests a protective and somewhat paternalistic attitude towards vulnerable individuals within their community. In this context, the townspeople may view the Indians as additional figures of moral failing or danger, as they are outside the Puritan social order. The townsman’s dialogue seems to establish a framework where Native Americans are not an integral part of the “godly” community—highlighting instead the Puritans' perception of themselves as a righteous society that contrasts sharply with what they would see as the chaotic or sinful nature of the Indigenous peoples.

Overall, this excerpt reveals a judgmental attitude towards the Indians, as the townspeople likely regard them as a reflection of the moral challenges they navigate within their own society. The speaker emphasizes adherence to their strict moral code, setting them apart from the Indigenous populations, which they may view as a threat to that social order.