The Intent to Glorify: Roger Williams Statue in Prospect Terrace

When critically encountering the Roger Williams statue in Prospect Terrace, I discern that the primary intent of its creation and installment was to glorify and heroize Williams. This observation unlocked a series of interrelated questions: What narrative does this monument construct and reproduce about Williams? How does it use the physical design and location to convey that desired message? What are the implications of the incomplete narrative and silencing at this site? I propose that the monument’s messaging focuses on Williams as the heroic founder of Providence; the physical monument space silences indigenous communities and idealizes Williams.