Equiano s Narrative Of The Captivity And Restoration Of...

What would you do if you were taken by people you did know, and were held captive for ransom for 11 weeks or were sold into the slave trade at the age of 10? These events happened to two people from different countries, and at completely different points in time. Both narratives show journeys of hardship â€Å"A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson† and â€Å"The Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African†. Mary Rowlandson’s story is about her journey through an 11 week period in which she was held captive by Native Americans during the King Philip s war, she was taken in exchange for ransom, as they needed money. Olaudah Equiano’s narrative is about an 11 year old African boy who was†¦show more content†¦this part of her story why she was worse off than Equiano. Rowlandson during the start of her captivity, is shown to be treated horribly. Equiano on the other hand, was treated like an equal at the start of his captivity. â€Å"The next day I was washed and perfumed, and when mealtime came I was led into the presence of my mistress, and ate and drank before her and her son. This filled me with astonishment; and I could scare help expressing my surprise that the young gentlemen should suffer me, who was bound, to eat with him who was free†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Equiano 60). While staying at the house, Equiano was treated respectfully by his mistress and her family. He ate with them at mealtime, also eating and drinking before the son, because of a custom they believed. It gave Equiano hope, he finally began thinking that he was going to be apart of the family. As he was treated like an equal there. It gave him motivation to overcome all of the obstacles in his life. So he could finally have the life he deserves. I believe that due to the facts present, Equiano was treated much better than Rowlandson. He was treated as an equal and it seemed that he was soon going to bec ame part of the family. Rowlandson on the other hand, had to accept the death of her youngest daughter, and wasn t even present at her burial. Paragraph 2: choices The choices of Equiano and Rowlandson were acutely different. Equiano’s choices were to help others, whileShow MoreRelatedA Narrative Of Captivity By Mary Rowlandson Essay962 Words   |  4 PagesA Narrative of Captivity by Mary Rowlandson and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano are captivity narratives in which the two narrators share their individual stories of being abruptly kidnapped and enslaved. Equiano was an black 11 year old boy who was stolen from his home by African slave traders in 1756. Rowlandson, a 39 year old Puritan woman, was taken in 1675, during King Philip’s War, after Indians raided her town. Although the two authors are both kidnappedRead MoreA Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano1246 Words   |  5 PagesCaptivity narratives were popular with readers in both America and the European continent during the era of North and South American discovery and colonization. They related the experiences of whites being enslaved by Native Americans and of Africans being enslaved by whites. Two captivity narratives that were widely read during the time are A Narrative of the Capture and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by OlaudahRead MoreThe Tribe Not Only Kidnapped Mary Rowlandson1263 Words   |  6 Pagesset flames to Rowlandson’s life. The tribe not only kidnapped Mary Rowlandson, but her three kids as well. This tragedy is what inspired Rowlandson to start writing and becoming a famous known American author. The beginning of Mary White Rowlandson’s life started in the year of 1637. She was born in Somerset England. A little ways down the road of her life, Rowlandson’s parents brought her to the Massachusetts colonies. In fact, Mary Rowlandson’s father was known to be one of the wealthiest menRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 PagesNative American oral literature / oral tradition - European explorers’ letters, diaries, reports, etc., such as Christopher Columbus’s letters about his voyage to the â€Å"New world†. - Anglo (New England) settlers’ books, sermons, journals, narratives, and poetry Native American / American Indian oral literature / oral tradition creation storiesï ¼Ë†Ã¨ µ ·Ã¦ º Ã§ ¥Å¾Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° trickster talesï ¼Ë†Ã¦  ¶Ã¤ ½Å"å‰ §Ã¨â‚¬â€¦Ã¤ ¼  Ã¥ ¥â€¡Ã¯ ¼â€° rituals / ceremoniesï ¼Ë†Ã¥â€¦ ¸Ã¤ » ªÃ¯ ¼â€° songs / chantsï ¼Ë†Ã¦â€º ²Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° Anglo Settlers’ Writings Highly religious and pragmatic - John