Similarities Between Mary Rowlandson And Harriet Jacobs

Mary Rowlandson and Harriet Jacobs both penned a narrative of their time spent in captivity. Though they were born nearly two centuries apart, their imprisonment shared commonalities. The most prevalent common factor between the two narratives is that both autobiographies relate the story of an enslaved mother powerless to come to the aide of her children. Rowlandson bemoans that her “poor wounded child” died in excruciating pain, she was deprived of visiting with her eldest daughter and her son’s location was not disclosed to her (Rowlandson 176-77). Jacobs was dealt a regrettable lot, as well. For several years she was unable to assume the traditional role of a mother as her children lived elsewhere; and even when she was within close proximity to her children, she was only able to hear the voices of her children and at times view their faces through a small peephole, all without them being aware.

Mary Rowlandson and Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl share is that both were written not as a journal but as a means to paint a picture of their enslavement. Rowlandson “wrote for her surviving children” (Gilbert and Gubar 175) and in turn illustrated the power and mercy of God. And Jacobs wrote for her “sisters who [were] still [suffering] in bondage” (Jacobs 620).

In the beginning of Rowlandson’s and Jacobs’ books the oppressors are painted as “merciless enemies” (Rowlandson 175) and as a “hoary-headed miscreant” (Jacobs 624). Over time Rowlandson did seem to develop some sort of empathy for her captors as they “were themselves starving and uprooted”. Additionally they paid small kindnesses to Rowlandson and never abused her (Gilbert and Gubar 175). Jacobs, however, never found any redeeming qualities in her master. Though her “life in slavery was comparatively devoid of hardships” she considered her master an immoral and wicked man (Jacobs