Compare And Contrast Equiano And Mary Rowlandson

Captivity Essay

Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano both had many obstacles in a certain period of life. From the different narratives, trials and tribulations were brought upon both. Taken from the life of which accustomed to and put in sometimes very harsh conditions had an antagonistic effect. Despite it all, Rowlandson and Equiano were able to get through by keep faith in God, the word of the bible, and spiritualism in itself. After all of the trials and tribulations Rowlandson and Equiano were able to escape and look back on all the things they went through. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano can be compared and contrasted by family life, conditions while captured, and moment of rescue.

Mary Rowlandson was taken captive by Indians

with her baby. Her and her baby were in bad conditions physically and it could be argued emotionally as well. They had to trek a long journey, “[o]ne of the Indians got up upon a horse, and they set me up behind him, with me poor sick babe in my lap” (Rowlandson 37). Yet Rowlandson continued to try and be there for her baby no matter the conditions they were enduring. Unfortunately during the long trek her youngest passed away and she longed to see her other children. Not being to exactly see each that did not stop Rowlandson from seeking her daughter who she has not seen in awhile. Losing one child, she was it as an obligation to go and connect with the other ones. Rowlandson also mentioned her other child was out in the wilderness but she knew not exactly where. Rowlandson children are very important and the loss of one child makes her realize she can not bare to lose another one.
Conditions while captured were brutal but Rowlandson’s courage and diversity was able to push through.

After a week of trekking Rowlandson did not eat or was not able to get much rest. “[b]eing very faint I asked my mistress to give me one spoonful of the meal, but she would not give me a taste” (Rowlandson 39). Not only did Rowlandson have to deal with nature against her, she even had captors who wouldn't even feed her. Due to the lack of food she had a weak body which helped in terms of the loads she had to carry. Rowlandson shares the severity of the weather conditions, “[b]y the advantage of some bush which they had laid upon the raft to sit upon, I did not wet my feet which cannot but be acknowledged as a favor of God to my weakened body, it was a cold time” (Rowlandson 39). If Rowlandson were to of wet her feet, serious frostbite and the sense of severity is there when the was a decision to thank God. The relationship between the captors and Rowlandson began to get better when Rowlandson did favors like making clothes in return for things like food. Rowlandson one day got emotional, “[t]here one of them asked me why I wept, I could hardly tell what to say: Yet I answered, they would kill me: “No”, said he, “none will hurt you”. Then came one of them and gave me two spoonfuls of meal to comfort me” (Rowlandson 40). Captors began to comfort Rowlandson ensuring that no one would hurt and gave her extra food. Rowlandson was being treated more like one of the captors than

the actual captured.
Being in the better graces of the Indian tribe, Rowlandson was given the opportunity to go and seek out her son. Rowlandson unfortunately got lost and her to turn finding no luck in finding the right way. The relationship change is genuinely shown when the captors willingly helped Rowlandson when the route was unknown. Rowlandson continues on her way and met other people willing to help. Rowlandson did not realize this but these people were her family and the slave days were over.
Olaudah Equiano grew up in hard working and family oriented. Equiano was the youngest and was the favorite from all the siblings. Training like shooting, sword fighting and war combat were important in this community and it proved the status of individuals. Honors such as emblems getting passed down from great warriors showed rankings as well. It was a normal day in the village and the children were on watch like any other day. Equiano’s village was attacked and the life known to these people were over. Equiano was then separated from his sister and other family as well.
Fate seemed to be in Equiano’s favor when he was captured.

Equiano starting out had caring captors, “[t]he people I was sold to used to carry me very often when I was tired either on their shoulders or on their backs” (Equiano 54). Equiano’s first master lost his wife and daughter causing the mental state to be off, so Equiano was sold. Luckily Equiano was able to see his sister once again, he felt the need to be there for her and try to aid the pain she was feeling. All slave masters admired Equiano and he was still live a fair well off life but, that would soon change when boards the slave ship. Equiano finally will see the true horrors of how slaves were treated, “...and I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation” (Equiano

56).
Equiano had come to some shock realizations and horrors on board that slave ship. After the long trek and journey, the slaves finally were on land and were sent to the merchant's yard. Having experience already, Equiano again had to see how families were torn apart. “[i]n this manner, without scruple, are relations and friends separated, most of them never to see each other again” (Equiano 59). Equiano came to realization that him being reunited with his family may never happen for him. Equiano closes out expressing the true disgust he has for this terrible thing accepted in society. “... thus aggravates distress and adds fresh horrors even to the wretchedness and slavery” (Equiano 59). Equiano may have mis the void of his family but he was able to prove the education he had and get himself out of slavery.
Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano both be compared and contrasted by family life, conditions while captured and moment of rescue. From families being torn apart to being free, plenty had happened to both Rowlandson and Equiano. Through everything they always had a will to get through. This journey allowed these two to see the true strength they had all along. These two different narratives of two completely different people shows just how much things can be comparable.