Compare And Contrast Equiano And Mary Rowlandson

Captivity narratives capture the trepidation, deprivation, and anguish that occurred within the lives of those torn from their homes and separated from their family and friends. These stories shed light on the horrendous situations that occurred in the past, as well as situations that occur today. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano are two strong individuals who shed light on the captivity they endured throughout their lives. Through their treatment while in captivity, travel conditions, and religion, Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano can be compared and contrasted. Mary Rowlandson, in the beginning of her captivity, was treated terribly by the Native Americans who that pillaged her village and took her captive. She was torn from her

However, while he was in Africa, he was treated like part of the families as noted through his narrative when Equiano recalls, “and all their treatment of me, made me made me forget that I was a slave” (Equiano 55). Equiano was welcomed and maintained a certain amount of respect, as he was always the first to eat, being he was older than the family's son. This gracious treatment, however, ended when he was sold after members of the welcoming family passed. Once on the slave ship, his treatment was almost the opposite of the treatment he received in Africa. Equiano was not treated like a human being which caused him to consider ending his life. Him, along with the hundreds of other slaves on board received minimal food and no respect. Equiano witnessed many floggings and attempted suicides as captives jumped overboard to evade their captivity. His treatment tempted suicide as a relieving option for the pain that he endured, yet he decided otherwise when the crew jumped after those who jumped, flogging the survivors. Equiano's treatment shifted drastically from a fairly well ownership in Africa, to a the grueling treatment on board the slave