Comparing Mary Rowlandson and Harriet Jacobs
It is interesting to stack these two narratives against each other. They use Bible verses to try and contextualize their plight and provide them with hope. They are captives that hope to be freed from their bonds. There are some interesting contrasts between the two pieces. One is the treatment they received from their captors. Mary Rowlandson was basically a domestic for the Native Americans she was owned by. She worked mostly for women and never wrote as if she was an object of sexual desire. Harriet Jacobs was a slave of white owners and was the object of sexual desire. The most striking difference is that When Mary Rowlandson is freed she has a home and husband to go back to. She has a life and it comes with some consistency. Harriet Jacobs has nothing to return to. She is on her own. She has no life to resume. She has a life to start. That comes with an enormous amount of uncertainty and fear. Mary Rowlandson was ransomed and returned. Nobody is coming after her. Everyone in her community knows and trusts her. Harriet Jacobs lives in fear of capture and retribution. Also, even though she is in the north, she is not trusted and accepted into the community. The after the release parts of these narratives are really what sets them apart.
Comments
I think the idea of comparing Mary Rowlandson and Harriet Jacobs narratives is an interesting idea. They are two very different women who are forced into very different situations. Although their narratives have some similarities their situations separate them entirely. Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery. Mary Rowlandson would be considered to be born in to a life of privledge. Despite the trials she endured during her captivation, as kelli022 mentioned she had a life to return to. The only real similarities that I see the two women shared were that they were mothers who cared considerably for the welfare of their children. Although I do believe that Harriet Jacobs was driven more as a mother than Mary Rowlandson. They also share the common thread that they survived their plight through strength they obtained by focusing on their faith and perservence.
Posted by: Erica | May 12, 2009 3:58 AM