Olaudah Equiano's the Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself

"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

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.

Olaudah Equiano was taken into slavery and was able to learn how to gain his freedom. He was given the education and guidance to write a narrative of his life and adventure through slavery. The education that he received from one the families he worked for became a very important tool that saved his life. Equiano was faced with many difficulties and was able to achieve his freedom. However, he was able to use his knowledge and desire to learn new things to buy his freedom from all of his owners. Equiano was very strong in his beliefs, not religion, but what he was taught by his family. The narrative was Equiano’s way of telling the people about his life and what he went through as a slave. His narrative was read by many others who wrote reviews about the manner in which he wrote his narrative. There are also commentaries from different writers. The writers were from different backgrounds many different beliefs.

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

Throughout the book The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Equiano tries to say that he is just an ordinary person, but this cannot be the case. He survives several ship wrecks, learns to read and write, and is able to buy his freedom. This is far from ordinary and borderlines with extraordinary. As he describes his adventures he starts by telling you a depressing story of how his sister got separated from him. This sets up the reader to know that there is plenty more tragedy to come. This is when he gets thrown into a life of slavery. From there he tries to wiggle his way out from the life of a slave and to create his own. Equiano uses anecdotes that he has experienced to prove to his readers that slavery is cruel and unforgiving, such as the time when he was being transported, to the treatment under his masters, and finally even when he was a free man.

Equiano, on a slave ship towards the West Indies, was on the verge of everlasting bondage. “In this manner we continued to undergo more hardships than I can now relate, hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade. Many a time we were near suffocation from the want of fresh air, which was often without for whole days together.” (57) The conditions for slaves on these transport ships was horrendous, as those in charge cared little for the well being of these Africans. Equiano was unaware of what was to come, and fear lingered in his memory of this unforgiving experience. He explains the process of the transaction, “We were not many days in the merchant’s custody, before we were sold after their usual manner, which was: On a signal given (as the beat of a drum), the buyers rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined, and make choice of that parcel they like best.” (58)

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was written in 1789 during the Middle Passage (Equiano, 1790). The Middle passage was a harrowing experience that described the terror and hardship of the transatlantic slave trade. The story was written by Olaudah Equiano himself at a time when slaves were being shipped across the Atlantic to work for the whites. They were transported in demeaning and dehumanizing conditions at the bottom of the deck overly crowded with little or no ventilation that prompted suffocation. The economic setting prevalent at that time was one that depended on waterways and water transportation to get goods from coast to coast. Slavery was also a booming business that was beneficial to both the African brokers who drove the natives to the conviction of a better life and opportunities across the Atlantic and stroke deals with their white bosses at almost no cost. It was like giving away their countrymen for free. The whites were accorded a ready market for the slaves whom they endowed for their manpower, resilience and their hard work and tendency to work well even when subjected to the harshest of conditions. The slaves were deported to Europe to offer cheap and affordable labor especially at a time when industrialization was dominating the European market. The writer is clearly from an unexposed background and has been groomed all his life to believe in their inferiority and their powerlessness before the white men, their masters. They

The novel The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano exists as an extremely important work in the abolitionist movement in England. As an 18th century narrative written by a former black slave the novel provides a glimpse into the lives of the African slaves involved in the slave trade as well as the slave traders themselves. Even with the controversy over the authenticity of Equiano’s claims on his origin in Africa and his subsequent voyage through the Middle Passage, this novel serves as a powerfully instructive piece of literature. Throughout the novel Equiano strives to impress upon the reader a certain set of moral standards or ideals that he desires to instruct the reader about. One such moral ideal that is prevalent

Olaudah Equiano was a slave that documented his whole experience of being a slave, including the gruesome and explicit details of the treatment he received. By the late 18th century, slaves have overcome this cruel and harsh conception. They were given citizenship and freedom

Equiano describes the relatively benevolent conditions of slavery in the small district of the Kingdom of Benin in Africa, where he was born. He was raised in an upper-class family that owned a large number of slaves. Therefore, Equiano was accustomed to the system of slavery. Even though they had their freedom take away from them, he believed that the slaves were treated humanely in Benin, which was entirely different

Olaudah Equiano, also known by the name of Gustavus Vassa which was given to him by his master on a slave ship, was born in the Eboe province of Africa in 1775-1776. Eboe was a part of the kingdom of Benin which is now present-day Nigeria. Equiano, like many others, lived in a village and was kidnapped and sold into slavery. From the chains of enslavement to the freedom in London, he believed that he and his countrymen deserved freedom and equality. Religion would have a huge impact on Equiano’s life as he converted to Christianity after having many near-death experiences on his voyages around the world. He also used religion to argue his case against slavery as he became involved in the abolitionist movement in London in the late 18th century. Later in life, Equiano would begin writing his autobiography “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself” and was published in 1789. The book would relive Equiano’s life in Eboe, he and his sister’s capture and enslavement, the Middle Passage and the horrors of slavery, his travels, and work as an abolitionist.

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is written by Olaudah Equiano himself. The narrative gives an autobiography of Equiano life during the 1700’s. Equiano gave his life story from his country’s manner, his birth and parentage, slave ship, and many more. Equiano had many misfortunes throughout his life. Equiano wrote this to protest against slavery in the time period where slave trade introduce in both England an America.

Olaudah Equiano who was known as Gustavus Vassa throughout his entire life was an popular African in London, a freed slave who was in support for the British Movement towards bringing to an end then slave trade. His memoirs in his own “The Interesting Narrative ofthe Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African” describes a young man captured and enslaved only at the tender age of eleven years. The journey of Equiano from captivity of being a slave to freedom, becoming a free man, commences for the next decade, and does not only take bodily turn but also intellectual and spiritual turns. Equiano as it comes out is a man full of contradiction and his perception of slavery is only complex but also often

“I was named Olaudah, which in our language signifies vicissitude, or fortunate; also, one favored, and having a loud voice and well spoken” (Equiano 23). This quote comes from the autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, which as the title states, illustrates the life of the eighteenth century African American writer, Olaudah Equiano. The quote mentioned foreshadows the more favorable slave life the author experienced in contrast to the average Atlantic serf in the eighteenth century. After reading the narrative, the reader can infer Equiano’s enslavement at a young age, paired with his upbringing away from the western European colonies, contributed to his uncommon fortune, which would later give him promising opportunities. Throughout his book, we can compare his fortune to the disparaging lifestyle of a common slave. Equiano’s experience should not be used to generalize typical Atlantic slavery during the eighteenth century, however through his eyes, we gain crucial insight into slavery and race relations at that point in history.

Looking at the narrative of Equiano and the many details it portrays, we have learned a lot about the Atlantic slave trade and its effect on Africa, its people and the world. According to the narrative, slaves were not only taken against their will, but were separated from their families, loved ones and friends. They were mistreated, beaten, burned, torture, and punish for trying to escape or being disobedient by their masters. In some cases, the torture and punishments were so severe, that they would