Compare/Contrast Writers Essay Example

or by Indians. Both Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano share similar experiences as captives in their respective narratives. While White men captured Olaudah Equiano, Mary Rowlandson was held captive by Indians during a period in her life.

Olaudah, Rowlandson, and Equiano all shared their personal stories. Olaudah recalls his experience on a slave ship and the journey across the ocean to the new world. The conditions aboard the ship were so unbearable that some passengers chose to commit suicide by jumping overboard. Rowlandson describes her time with a tribe and the indifference of the Indians towards her. Equiano briefly mentions his life before captivity, discussing his close relationship with his mother and how he was her favorite child.

Both Olaudah Equiano and Mary Rowlandson shared a strong bond with a family member. Equiano had a close relationship with his mother, however, he was taken away from her due to his captivity. On the other hand, Rowlandson cherished her child deeply as seen in her account, "About two hours in the night, my sweet babe like a lamb departed this life… I must and could lie down next to my dead babe, side by side all the night after." Although both writers did not end their stories with the loved ones they held dear, Rowlandson turned to prayer during her difficult times of captivity.

During challenging periods, Rowlandson used to read her bible and search for Psalms that pertained to her own problems. As a devout Puritan, she believed in God and relied on him for comfort. Unlike Rowlandson, Equiano never mentioned any higher power. Rowlandson believed that by asking for forgiveness and turning to God, she would

be absolved of her wrongdoings and that her enemies would suffer the consequences. She found reassurance in chapter 30 of the bible, specifically the first seven verses, which promised mercy to those who repented.

(3) Rowlandson exhibited an unwavering belief in the Lord when she cited Psalm 27 ver. ult. with the phrase "Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine Heart, wait I say, on the Lord." (3) This quote illustrated Rowlandson's spiritual connection with the Lord, which was absent in Equiano's experience.

Despite not having a relationship with God, Equiano and Rowlandson had different relationships with their communities and peers. Rowlandson's connection with the New England Wampanoag Indians was indifferent, as the tribe showed no compassion when her six-year-old daughter died. The Indians buried the child on a hill without allowing the mother to tend to the corpse or keep it with her, as they did not sympathize with Rowlandson's situation and believed she had to leave the child behind.

Rowlandson had a positive rapport with fellow female and child captives who shared her faith in God. She read a Psalm to a pregnant captive who wished to flee, in which God was described as a source of strength during trying times. Meanwhile, Olaudah interacted primarily with other Africans, forming relationships with them.

All of the Africans on the slave ship to America shared the same situation of being taken from their homes as slaves to white men. Olaudah's narrative revealed his poor relationship with his community as he did not speak to anyone. The authors' relationships with their communities provided insight into their personalities, highlighting Mary Rowlandson's extroverted nature compared to

Olaudah Equiano.

While Mary Rowlandson was communicative towards those around her and showed herself to be a caring individual who refused to abandon her child, Olaudah Equiano presented himself as more introverted through his story, offering no dialogue and solely commenting on the events he witnessed.

Mary was a caring and loving person who devoted time to help another woman find hope and guidance from their Lord by studying bible scriptures and Psalms together. Her main purpose in life was to follow the Lord. In her literature, Mary Rowlandson utilized the appeal to authority rhetoric device by portraying God as relevant to every aspect of her life. On the other hand, Equiano's work mainly employed the appeal to emotion rhetoric device. Olaudah described his experiences with slavery, as well as his apprehensions both on the slave ship and in the new world.

Mrs. used figurative language to describe the fearful and sorrowful atmosphere among them, as indicated by the quote, "..Much dread and trembling among us and nothing but bitter cries to be heard all the night.. ” (74).

Rowlandson's excerpt speaks of her child as being like a lamb - sweet, shy, pure and innocent. It is possible that Mary used this comparison to describe her child. This simile could also have a religious connotation, suggesting that we are all God's children and represented as His lambs because God is a Shepherd. Rowlandson and Mary both tell their stories in the first person and plain style, referring to themselves as "I".

Despite their different perspectives, Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano had somewhat similar attitudes and tones as captives. While both experienced captivity, Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano

did not feel happy during this time. Olaudah’s experience aboard the slave ship was particularly gloomy, to the extent that he did not feel like eating. He writes: “I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat.” (72).

Olaudah experienced fear and apprehension during the ship journey, particularly due to the repulsive odor and sounds of crying as quoted, ".With the loathsomeness of the stench and crying.."(72).

The situation was made even worse by the sound of chains, women's screams, and the groans of dying people. This terrifying scene was almost too much to bear. Mary Rowlandson experienced feelings of despair and hopefulness towards God, as evidenced by her quotes "This sorrowful world" (2) and Psalm 27 (3). These emotional elements serve to give meaning to the narratives.

Both A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America aim to entertain and educate readers about the authors' personal experiences. Mrs. Rowlandson's narrative offers hope and faith in God's love and mercy to overcome hardship, while Mr. Equiano's tale informs readers about the suffering African people endured due to the greed of white slave owners.

It can be argued that Olaudah's tale serves as a reminder that present-day individuals have it easier compared to when he lived. It is imperative for individuals not to take their privileges, like freedom, for granted. Today's population enjoys the highest degree of freedom ever experienced. Even though distinct authors penned A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America, both authors included comparable and varying elements in their literature. Comparing these stories is worthwhile because

they offer diverse aspects to analyze, differentiate, and comprehend, such as their attitude towards God, their encounters, and their writing styles.

Both Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were exceptional writers whose writings will forever be ingrained in America's history due to the diverse styles and objectives they presented to their readers.