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Early American Captivity Narratives

Both tales had political outcomes: Equiano's tale was written as anti-slavery propaganda while Rowlandson's story and its "mass of imitations" resulted in a bias against Native Americans by the British (Rowlandson).
             Both narratives reveal fascinating similarities and differences. Both Equiano and Rowlandson were captured for the financial gain of the captors: Equiano was sold as a slave for financial gain by his captors and owners while the Native Americans held Rowlandson for ransom to be able to obtain much-need food and supplies (Rowlandson) Both were sold to a series of owners: Mary Rowlandson to various "husbands" and Olaudah Equiano through a chain of owners taking him from his home to other countries. Both captives were separated from their families; interestingly, both had a female relative (a daughter for Mary Rowlandson and a sister for Olaudah Equiano) who was also a captive and later reunited. Both captives suffered from shortages of food: Rowlandson's situation seem to be the result of the hardships suffered by her captors ,the Native Americans, in contrast Equiano's issue seem to be the result of cruelty as when his captors on the ship threw food overboard rather than share it with the slaves. .
             (Equiano). Rowlandson's situation and her attitude toward her captors improve as she becomes better acquainted with the women in the Native American tribe and as she realizes that the Indians do not have food to share. In contrast, Aquino's situation and attitude worsen as he is moved into even stranger and more dehumanizing circumstances. In the end both captives were allowed to earn money: as a result Equiano eventually earned enough to buy his freedom and Mary was eventually freed when her ransom was paid.
             In both Equiano and Rowlandson experiences; religion played a significant role in both accounts of their captivity. In Equiano's endeavors he began to take on certain traits and customs of Western thinking.


Essays Related to Early American Captivity Narratives

1. The Trials of Mary Rowlandson

Mary Rowlandson allowed her Puritan beliefs to shape her response to Native Americans and the way she understood and interpreted her captivity. For example, she referred to various Bible passages in her narrative, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God. ... The Native Americans were her enemies and she wanted revenge. ... By the ending of the narrative, Rowlandson viewed her captivity as a spiritual experience. ... In the early days of her captivity, Rowlandson received a Bible from an Indian. ...

  • Word Count: 660
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. American Sense of Self Reflected in Literary Movements

One of the more famous literary works from the Puritan age was A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. ... She blamed herself for her captivity, as if it were a means of punishment administered by God for an evil deed she did not recall committing; but acknowledged that God may have considered something a sin when she did not. ... Seeing her captivity as a test of faith, she in no way considers the events or her captors as being a force independent from God. ... It was during the early 1800's and lasted through the early 1860's and America was still striving for a...

  • Word Count: 1835
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. How the American sense of self and the change thereof is ref

One of the more famous literary works from the Puritan age was A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. ... She blamed herself for her captivity, as if it were a means of punishment administered by God for an evil deed she did not recall committing; but acknowledged that God may have considered something a sin when she did not. ... Seeing her captivity as a test of faith, she in no way considers the events or her captors as being a force independent from God. ... It was during the early 1800's and lasted through the early 1860's and America was still striving for a...

  • Word Count: 1778
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

4. burning infero

I would like to discuss in the publications of Anne Bradstreet's "Upon the Burning of Our House" and Mary Rowlandson's, "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. ... Her narrative was published then soon after it became famous by giving us "pictures of native American life" (216). ... Mary Rowlandson relied on her faith in the providence of God to sustain herself during her period of captivity. ... Early American Writing. ... "A Narrative of Captivity and Restauration" Gunn 217-230 ...

  • Word Count: 1466
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Orgination of our values

Our society was shaped from these ideals in the early beginnings of this country. ... The Native American myths and Indian captivity narratives show how our society's values were shaped. ... Rowlandson is perhaps one of the first and best-known Indian captivity narratives. ... Rowlandson turned to the scriptures for solace during her captivity. ... Rowlandson's narratives show us this. ...

  • Word Count: 1038
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Unredeemed Captive

These times were tough for the Reverend, and eventually, after approximately two and a half years, the Reverend was finally released from captivity. ... Reverend Williams wrote a narrative titled "The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion", describing his experience in captivity. ... It gave people who had relatives in captivity hope. ... The Puritans had emigrated earlier away from persecution in Europe, but some may have felt that this new settlement was almost as harsh. ... This could be compared to the modern day John Walker Lindh, who was an American boy who became an Al Qaeda soldier. ...

  • Word Count: 792
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Women Who Defied Restrictions

The great nation today known as the United States of America, has not always existed in its current state of glory. ... These women are Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson, who were the authors of some of the most prestigious Early American Literature works referred to today. ... During her captivity she faced many hardships, including the death of her youngest daughter. Rowlandson discusses all of her hardships and struggles in her literary work, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. ... In order to understand Mary Rowlandson, we must understand the reality of the hardships t...

  • Word Count: 1702
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl - Feminism

Many feminist during the early nineteenth century fought for the abolition of slavery around the world. The slave narrative became a powerful feminist tool in the nineteenth century. Black and white women are fictionalized and objectified in the slave narrative. ... Linda is denying society's firm position for women by refusing to be owned, refusing to submit , and refusing to be bought out of her captivity. ... Integrity and agency are ideals that Americans have fought for over the years. ...

  • Word Count: 1319
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girls Literary Impacts on f

America was founded on the belief that "all men were created equal". ... Immigrants from all parts of the world came to America to be free from persecution and terror; unfortunately, people were not free in America's own backyard. ... Many feminist during the early nineteenth century fought for the abolition of slavery around the world. ... Linda is denying society's firm position for women by refusing to be owned, refusing to submit, and refusing to be bought out of her captivity. ... Integrity and agency are ideals that Americans have fought for over the years. ...

  • Word Count: 1722
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

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