Olaudah Equiano Narrative

Although Olaudah Equiano was not directly involved in American slavery, several aspects of The Life of Olaudah Equiano can be used to understand why the institution lasted so long. A major part of the novel was dedicated to counter one of the major propagating ideas of slavery: the widespread myth that Africans were either not fully human or were of a less developed branch of humanity so enslaving them was moral. Equiano spends the first section of the book

"I believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my sufferings were great; but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life." Olaudah Equiano lived the life as a slave like many black people of the 18th century. He was born free but soon was forced into slavery which took him all around the world. From his accounts he has written down, he shows his life as a slave. Equiano had been bought and sold throughout the Americas and Europe; he showed the

The narrative of Olaudah Equiano is truly a magnificent one. Not only does the reader get to see the world through Equiano's own personal experiences, we get to read a major autobiography that combined the form of a slave narrative with that of a spiritual conversion autobiography. Religion may be viewed as at the heart of the matter in Equiano's long, remarkable journey. Through Equiano's own experiences, the reader uncovers just how massive a role religion played in the part of his Narrative and in that of his own life. More specifically, we learn of how his religious conversion meant a type of freedom as momentous as his own independence from slavery. As one reads

If it were not for the stories past down from generation to generation or the documentations in historical books, the history of the twelve million African slaves that traveled the “Middle Passage” in miserable conditions would not exist. Olaudah Equiano contributes to this horrid history with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose of informing the world of the slave experience in this narrative. His use of unique style and rhetorical devices in this conveying narrative portray his imperative rhetorical purpose.

Through the eyes of the white plantation owner in the eighteenth century, Equiano is less than credible. During the late eighteenth century, Europeans viewed the world through eurocentric eyes; this caused them to view all Africans as heathens despite their intricate and complex societies. Equiano was born in Africa; because of this, his credibility was greatly diminished. His reputation sunk further the minute he was taken aboard a slave ship. Although he is clearly capable of critical thinking and has mastered the written word, Equiano needed to prove himself more than a white writer would.

Another detail that Equiano incorporated within his writing, is the meaning of his name. As he says in the text “I was named Olaudah, which, in our language, signifies vicissitude or fortune also, one favoured, and having a loud voice and well spoken” (Gates Jr. & Smith 121). Equiano was a man who was the youngest born son to village leaders who owned slaves, became a captive of slavery himself, briefly worked in the fields as a slave before following his master overseas and ultimately buying his own freedom. What’s most profound throughout that, is the fact that he used his voice to help others who are stuck where he was able to break free. PBS has an article where

In Olaudah Equiano narrative discusses the many obstacles, struggles which he has to overcome for his path to freedom. Equiano had many difficult problems in his life which many people have taken a special role in. I will discuss about the countless people that had both positive and negative impact in Equiano’s life. Equiano’s life was not an easy one, I will argue despite the many obstacles that came across his life he always remained strong which is why he was able to gain his freedom. I will discuss the major transitions that were made in in his. The unexpected journeys that came in his life and changed it entirely.

Captivity narratives were popular with readers in both America and the European continent during the era of North and South American discovery and colonization. They related the experiences of whites being enslaved by Native Americans and of Africans being enslaved by whites. Two captivity narratives that were widely read during the time are A Narrative of the Capture and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano. They relate the experiences of a married white Puritan woman captured by Native Americans and an African boy captured for the American slave trade at a young age respectively. They were often used as propaganda, Europeans during this time created stereotypes for Native Americans as being cruel and warlike and helped whites to start to see the slavery of African-Americans as wrong. The two narratives are similar in the use of diction to describe each author’s fear of their captors. Further examination reveals several other similarities and differences in the purposes of the narratives as well as in the experiences, reactions, comforts, and views about religion of these two captives.

Equiano’s luck soon shifted when he was once again kidnapped and sold as a slave, this time he would have to endure the notoriously dreadful journey across the sea to America. Knowing that this was a pivotal point in his life and that he would become a gudgeon to the harshness of slavery, Equiano attempted to prepare himself for what lay ahead. However, the sight of the inhumane acts he witnessed on the African coast, while being transported, were new to Equiano and instilled fear into his consciousness.

Slavery for many was a time of despair and anguish, it felt like hell not only by the heat of the sun, but, by the treatment many received from their owners as well. Despite written almost 100 years apart, two of the most famous and well known slave narratives that give the modern day reader just an idea of what slavery was like are, Aphra Behn’s “Oroonoko, or, The Royal Slave” and Olaudah Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”. The journey of these two young men, although in many ways are similar, from a larger perspective could not be more different. For Oroonoko a somewhat established young man who comes from royalty, optimizes what it means to be a noble savage. As for a young Equiano who seems to spend most of his childhood in slavery, must find a way to overcome the hand he has been dealt and work hard to earn his freedom. Throughout both of these stories there are similarities and there are differences as well. Some of the most interesting aspects that might stand out to the reader are, the aspect of slavery and or the lack of it, suicide and how both characters go about it in their own way and points of view and how the reader is influenced by it.

Identity meant a lot to Equiano. This man who is allowed no identity early in his life, but he preservers to shape one in spite of the world. As an African and a slave Equiano had no identity. He was invisible, erased. He had no control over his own movements, his property, or even his name. Equiano endeavored from early to discover who he was, but slavery limited his opportunity for self-discovery. But after he was freed, he was able to show himself to a true identity and discovers a sense of self. He made his own decisions regarding where he went and what sort of employment he discovered. He proved that he can be someone, and it just amazes me. He truly represents Africans this way he showed everyone he can and that he had the right to be someone.

clearly dramatized what was typically true for many slaves. It has been argued that his writings

Equiano conjured the horrors of slavery in ways that no one else would be able to. He had firsthand experience and was more educated on the occurrence. In the Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, it tells about his life and what he went through as a slave. A few things were trading between white slave owners, along with very harsh treatment. The people who transported the slaves ignored the fact that they were humans, too. The journey being labeled as horrific would be an understatement and would not give it justice.

In an attempt to persuade the reader of the Englishmen evil actions, Equiano reveals the hypocrisy of European ideas of enlightenment and the dehumanizing nature of slavery. Equiano Olauduah's autobiography, The Interesting Narrative Life of Equiano Olauduah is a unique and intriguing story which includes vivid and great detailed descriptions of the author's life both as a slave and a free black man. Throughout Equiano's life he encounters many hardships and misery. In the beginning of the narrative, he explains his experience on a slave ship when he was sent away: “These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried aboard” (38). He explains his amazement of the new advances throughout the ship but also explains the terror of being on the ship and watching the miserable slaves upon the ship. He has come in contact with many people of different races, religion and intelligence. Equiano was a well-rounded intelligent black male which many people admired. Although Equiano purchased his freedom and now considered a free man, he still endured man hardships.

In Hotel California, the Eagles sing “We are all just prisoners here, of our own device”, meaning most human beings feel somehow trapped by their circumstances, situations, or habits . Change is hard and often doesn’t provide the happiness that the person seeking the change thought that it would provide, leading to frustration and discontentment. Everyone dreams of changing aspects of their life, its human nature to think “If I was just more attractive”, “If my child just wasn’t handicapped”, or in the case of Equiano “ If I could just be free” then I would be happy. What stands out in the book The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, is that Equiano does appreciates the changes, learns all that can, embraces a new culture, and is happy and fulfilled. Equiano argues the evils of slavery, and desperately wishes slavery didn’t exist, but he is not concerned with righting the wrongs of the past and obtaining restitution for his time as a slave. This is in direct contrast with the civil rights leaders of today who seem very focused on reminding the population that African Americans were and continue to be mistreated. They need the mistreatment to continue, in a way, because that is how they have built their careers’. Equiano does not seek retribution and dwell on the negative past. He moves on. Throughout the book, Equiano’s situation changes, but more importantly he changes on the inside, and this allows him to continue to learn new skills, adjust to