Compare And Contrast Equiano And Mary Rowlandson

Many people living in democratic societies often believe thralldom is of the past, but others, domestically and around the world, find themselves victims of slavery or serfdom. Today, many people find themselves enslaved for a variety of reasons, including to push a political agenda or to make a profit. Both, Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano have written enlightening narratives regarding their experiences in captivity. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano’s captivity narratives can be compared and contrasted through their experiences of both kind and unkind treatment by captors, conditions under captivity, as well as their faith.
Rowlandson and Equiano’s treatment by their captors differed greatly, for Mary was treated better as her time

While aboard the ship, the slaves were placed in a common living quarter under the deck of the ship; hundreds of slaves were packed like sardines and chained during the voyage across the Atlantic. When first introduced to a new setting, under the deck, Equiano remarks, “there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: So that with the loathsomeness of the stench and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat…” (Rowlandson 56). Equiano was placed in an environment with sickening conditions compared to Rowlandson’s discomfort and change of standard of living that made her conditions

Rowlandson, a devout Puritan, displays her strong belief in her faith and God who she credits for her survival during captivity. Her point of view shifted when she stated,“I cannot but take notice of the wonderful mercy of God to me in those afflictions, in sending me a Bible.” (Rowlandson 39). From the day a Native American offered her a Bible on, Rowlandson’s perspective on her situation changed from dispirited to hopeful. The scriptures she read brought her great comfort; she often made biblical allusions and made comments about her purpose to serve God. Rowlandson’s faith played a significant role in her survival and eased her transition into