Differences Between Rowlandson And Benjamin Franklin

To begin with, one of the main differences between the two descriptions is when Franklin portrays the Indians as kind, whereas Rowlandson disproves his claim. On page 220, he writes “ The politeness of these savages in conversation … does not permit them to contradict or deny the truth of what is asserted in their presence.” He wants the audience to see how kind they are by listing one of the Indians’ rules. However, Rowlandson tells a different story when she describes her experiences with the Indians. On page 197, she writes “All was gone, my Husband gone … and to add to my grief, the Indians told me they would kill him as he returned home.” She tells the audience that they wanted to murdering everything dear to her just to make her feel worse. She also describes them as merciless when she witnesses them butchering …show more content…
On page 222, Franklin tells the audience “... [The Americans] are only to contrive the cheating of Indians in the price of a beaver” He attempts to show the audience that the Americans treat the Indians unequally by cheating them out of their money. On the other hand, the Americans who were captured by the Indians in the late 1600’s did not have a choice but work as their slaves. Rowlandson explains the heartbreaking moment on page 196. In her description, she narrates “Now away we must go with those Barbarous Creatures, with our bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no less than our bodies.” How does murdering and capturing people translate to equality? The Americans were attacked, forcefully captured, and taken as slaves. After that they were commanded to walk many miles, in their weak conditions, and live through harsh weathers without the necessities needed to survive. They were not properly fed; therefore, they had to look through the garbage for little scraps of food. This quotation shows the hypocrisy hidden in Franklin’s