Captivity is defined by “the condition of being imprisoned or confined.” Captivity is something two very strong women faced but in two different ways. Mary Rowlandson experienced Captivity in the literal sense of the word, she was taken and held against her will. Elizabeth Cady Stanton experienced captivity in a way that most people would overlook, she was held captive by society.
Mary Rowlandson was born in 1637 and moved to Salem, Massachusetts from Somerset, England. Mary Rowlandson was held captive by Native Americans and wrote about her trials and tribulations. Mary wrote about the loss of her child while being held captive and how it changed her. Mary was held captive for three months along with twenty-four other people and her three children. “Rowlandson was kept a prisoner for three months, during which time she was treated poorly. With her captors, she traveled as far as the Connecticut River to the west and moved north into what is now New Hampshire” (WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica) While traveling her injuries healed and she fought to get used to the diet. Mary Rowlandson learned how to sew and knit which luckily helped her get special treatment.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a well known abolitionist and women’s rights activist. During The Civil War
She worked to abolish slavery and later moved onto women’s rights. Elizabeth was present for the Seneca Falls convention and spoke her own version of the Declaration Of Independence and named it the “Declaration of Sentiments”. In 1869 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B, Anthony created the Nation Women’s Suffrage Association and Elizabeth was the president. Elizabeth did not just fight for women’s rights when it came to the government, but also when it came to religion. She argued that religion was also unfair to women and wrote two books titled The Woman’s Bible.
These two women struggled very differently, but all their struggles were at the hands of someone else. Mary Rowlandson was held captive in the literal sense of the word, but Elizabeth Cady Stanton was held captive by men’s expectations and society. Both these women tried their best to roll with punches and the cards they were dealt. Mary Rowlandson worked her way out of captivity by holding onto the idea of mercy and God, whereas Elizabeth fought her way out. Both these women faced something and had to find a way out without losing themselves and their morals.
Captivity isn’t only being held against their will literally, but also being held against their will metaphorically. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was held captive by society and its ideas of what role she should play and why. Mary Rowlandson was held captive literally and against her will. Captivity is defined by “the condition of being imprisoned or confined.” Captivity is something two very strong women faced but in two different ways