The Inspiration Behind Dorothy M. Johnson's "Lost Sister"

     Dorothy M. Johnson was an American author known for her Western fiction. Among her fictional writings is the famous short story Lost Sister, inspired by a true life kidnapping of Cynthia Ann Parker on May 9, 1836, in Fort Parker, located in the State of Texas, by the Comanche Indians that attacked the settlement (Johnson, 96). Cynthia was abused at first but became integrated into the tribe soon after her arrival (“Cynthia”). Dorothy Johnson's character, Bessie is a exact replication of Cynthia Ann Parker in that they are both taken from their white families by Comanche Indians at a young age. They are cared for and raised by the Comanche tribe, and considered as one of their own. They adapt to Comanche culture, learning the Native ways that consists of the women carrying out demanding tasks like cooking, skinning and cleaning animals, maintaining camp, and caring for the children (Comanche, Johnson 104). These ways became their ways (“Cynthia,” Johnson 97). They were Comanche.

     After years of living among the Comanche, Cynthia and Bessie are torn away from the only thing they know, the Comanche and brought back into the white community to live with their family by blood. There was no compassion for them or those they left behind like their spouses and children. The “proper” thing to do according to the Europeans was to return them to their rightful place in society and that was among their race no matter the cost. One life is taken to recapture another. The cost, mental anguish, emotional torment from the separation from their adopted family. Both women unable to adjust to white society. They longed to return to tribe from which they came (“Cynthia,” Ortman, Johnson 96-109).

     What was the reason behind Dorothy Johnson's story Lost Sister, that resurfaces the recapture of Cynthia?

     I think the reason Dorothy chose to write a fictional story based on the true life events of Cynthia Ann Parker was to bring awareness to the ongoing conflict between cultures whereas the European regarded the Indians as savages because they were different than them, racially and culturally. When Indian captives refused to go back to their white societies it was like a slap in the face to the highly regarded superior society. A society that would be forever confused by one of their own choosing a savage lifestyle over theirs. But to the captive it was merely a decision to continue a Indian lifestyle. The only way of life that they were familiar with. One that provided a union of compliance and appreciation from the captives, and constant adoration and trust of the Indians. Indian life often claimed the captives respect and allegiance. When and if they were force to go back home, they were looked upon as uncivilized. We are made aware of the cultural difference in Lost Sister when Aunt Margaret prepares for Bessie's arrival by buying her new nightgowns, hairpins, the best towels all in an effort to make her feel comfortable (Johnson, 98). These are not the amenities of a Native woman. Aunt Bessie hands were gnarled, skilled at making tepees and beading ceremonial clothes (Johnson, 104), but these familiarities were ignored.

     Maybe this was an outcry by Dorothy Johnson on behalf of Cynthia Ann Parker. Her true life story made fictional, renamed Lost Sister, then published for all to read in hopes that one day society would gradually begin to grasp the sadness in life from exile and except the fact that she was Comanche and she just wanted to go “home.”

      Dorothy Johnson got my attention with her story. It was heart-felt and took me on an emotional roller coaster. I was outraged at the fact that they would attempt to tear Bessie away from her Indian family after forty years. I was sad that they did not take her feeling into consideration when making the choice to bring her back home. Not once, did the sisters try to learn anything about her culture, about her. Although there was a language barrier, the older sister, Mary had no problems relating to Bessie. The reason why was because they both have love in common and through the love they were able to express themselves to one another non verbally through touch and sound. Love is a universal language, easily translated. I believe that home is where the heart is and I wish Bessie-Cynthia Ann Parker could have remained at “home.”

“It don't matter what happens, if you're only strong and have great courage.
-Mary Jemison (Indian Captive)”
― Lenski, Lois

Works Cited

     "Comanche." Crystalinks. Ellie Crystal, 2011. Web. 8 Nov. 2011.   <http://www.crystalinks.com/comanche.html>.

     "Cynthia Ann Parker." Lone Star Internet. Lone Star Internet, 2 Sept. 2010. Web.
7 Nov. 2011. <http://lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/CynthiaAnnParker.htm>.

    
     Johnson, Dorothy M. “Lost Sister.” The Hanging Tree. N.p.: University of Nebraska Press , 1995. 96-109. Print.

    

     Lenski, Lois. "Lois Lenski Quotes." Goodreads. Goodreads Inc., 2011. Web. 7 Nov.
2011. <http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5310.Lois_Lenski>.

    

     Ortman, L.K. "Connelly Family of Clark County." Geneology Trails. K.L. Ortman,
2011. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. <http://genealogytrails.com/ill/clark/families/connelly/ch_5.html>.

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