Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

“Corn! All their life was bound up with corn. Corn and work. Work to grow the corn, to protect it and care for it, to fight for it, to harvest it and stow it away at last for winter’s food. So it was always, so it would be always to the end of time. How could they live without corn?”

In the first few paragraphs of the novel, Molly considers the importance of corn in her family’s life. The rhythm of growing and harvesting corn seems to be one that will never be interrupted. When Molly is taken captive, she worries about who will plant the corn. Although taken from her own family farm, corn is a constant in Molly’s life. While living with the Senecas, the different ways of preparing corn will make Molly feel homesick. However, the reliance of both the Senecas and the English on corn is a common feature of their cultures.

“Molly and her father walked out the door together. Despite his stern ways and blustering words, he had a great affection for his children and Molly was his favorite. He put his great, knotty hand on her head and rumpled her tousled yellow hair. ‘Pa…’ Molly hesitated, then went on: ‘Ain’t you ever afeard like Ma?’ ‘Why should I be afeard?’ laughed her father. ‘There’s nothin’ to be scared of. The Injuns’ll never hurt you, Molly-child! Why, if they ever saw your pretty yaller hair, a-shinin’ in the sun, they’d think ‘twas only a corn-stalk in tassel and they’d pass you by for certain!’” 

Neighbor Wheelock has just warned the Jemisons that “the Indians” are coming and suggests that they leave the area along with him. Thomas Jemison laughs at the warning and insists that his family will stay. This quote demonstrates Thomas’s confidence, which is quickly proven to be misplaced; however, his prediction that “the Indians” will not hurt Molly is correct. Throughout the novel, Molly is noticed and set apart because of her hair. In his final farewell to his daughter, Thomas Jemison repeats these words.