The Age Of Enlightenment : The Interesting Life Of Olaudah Equiano

Equiano's Travels reveals a European mind state far removed from philosophe theory. From the outset of his narrative, Equiano's description of his short-lived childhood is filled with cultural detail giving insight into the life of his people. His words also convey his naivety, as Equiano claims to have at one time never even heard of Europeans. When he recounts the day he and his sister were kidnapped from their own yard by greedy countrymen, the reader gets a sense of the inhumanity that exists even in the earliest stages of slavery. Being torn from his sister is a similarly gut-wrenching detail that plagues the reader with a sense of guilt that refuses to leave even after the excerpt has ended. The narration between that takes the reader from the shore of Equiano's homeland to the interior of the putrid-smelling slave ship and across a seemingly endless ocean drives the point of slavery's evils home. The conditions of such enslavement stand in direct violation of the philosophe's theory of human freedom. While their beliefs deny authority, Equiano's account tells the story of a place where these laws are permanently suspended, and man is made beast before his master.

Equiano felt the Christian God’s omnipresent power in times of oppression and in times of success. Thus, his narrative is akin to the typical Christian journey of finding salvation through trials and tribulations. He began his journey in slavery, blind to the existence of God. His eyes were opened when he gained knowledge of Christianity and read the scriptures. Equiano was led by God through the horrors of the slave trade and into the light of

"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

For Equiano, Christianity becomes a cornerstone to his identity as a free man. In his work he talks about the beliefs of the African people, but explains how he became a Christian after learning about the faith in his youth. It was his belief that the good things that had happened to him were part of God’s plan for him, and that bad things were just experiences that allowed him to learn more about life. Believing in predestination, he thought his life course was already set, and therefore he should have accepted whichever changes or vicissitudes life brought to him. Rather than becoming a slave to contemporary Christian doctrine, Equiano uses same to defend his stand against slavery and in support of abolitionism. Religion serves as a bridge that allows him to cross the cultural and social gap that existed between races. Christianity makes of him, to his audience, a fellow human being. Although Equiano’s beliefs were personal and sincere, he also makes use of them to become part of society and to help others embrace his cause.

Equiano was able to utilize his life experiences and expose the true story behind a slaves journey (from the capturing to the day the slave is placed with an owner), which allowed him to be an influential opponent against the enslavement of Africans. Equiano stated that, “[t]ourtures, murder, and every other imaginable barbarity and iniquity are practiced

Initially, Equiano had a tremendous amount of worry related to the appearance of the slave traders and that initial discomfort was based upon racial differences. "Their complexions too differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke, (which was very different from any I had ever

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

Equiano was very smart and intelligence he used his good mannerism to impress and navigate through many situations and because he was well behaved people found him to be very charming. He was liked by many people and even though it doesn’t appear that he used it to his advantage purposely. He had to have known it benefited him like when he mentions “Mr. King, my new master, then made a reply, and said the reason he had bought me was on the account of my good character; and as he had not least doubt of my good behavior, I should be very well off with him” (Equiano pg103). He knew it was because of his obedience that he had in some ways gained his masters trust and that his master might not be as hard on him as he would be towards any of the other slaves that appeared disobedient. He good mannerism was so intriguing that even other slave owners acknowledged his behavior and wished to own him. All the slave owners that would visited his master’s house wanted to buy him because he seemed as if he posed no threat which proved him to be a good boy and less of a threat. Equiano has mentions about a rich widow and her son that wanted to purchase him as well. He was a hard worker and his mannerism was unlike any other slave and most slave owners valued that. It seems as if his good behavior

Equiano then travels to America and the West Indies with King Robert. The King allows his friend, Captain Thomas Farmer, to take Equiano as sailor on several of his voyages. On his voyage both King and Farmer accused Equiano of making plan to escape. With time King starts to see trustworthiness and loyalty in Equiano, and promises Equiano money towards his freedom. Equiano makes money by trading goods between ports on the sea. King

Equiano is then sold to another master, a wealthy widow who had a son. Equiano then states, “The next day I was washed and perfumed, and when mealtime came, I was led into the presence of my mistress, and ate and drank before her and her son. This filled me with astonishment; and I could scarcely avoid expressing my surprise that the young gentlemen should suffer me, who was bound, to eat with him who was free; and not only so, but that he would not at any time either eat or drink till I had taken first, because I was the eldest, which was agreeable to our custom.” (Equiano 29) Up to this point, Equiano had it comparatively easy when compared to the experiences of others who had been enslaved. As The Slave Ship illustrated for us,

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.

The placement of slaves throughout different regions of the world shaped individual experiences, allowing for the growth of varied slave institutions. The life of Olaudah Equiano, a slave sent primarily to Britain and its colonies, in contrast with the lives of American slaves, defines this clear difference. While enslaved, Equiano was taught how to read and write, and was baptized as a Christian. These events marked the bridging of the wide gap between African slaves and their European slave owners, as slaves in Britain participated in aspects of society traditionally associated with Europeans. Equiano’s “apprehensions and alarms...among the Europeans” began to decrease, as he was continually being integrated into society and was

The story of Equiano was a very interesting look into the life of a slave. This narrative was particularly interesting because he told his story all the way from the beginning. The reader gets to follow his journey from when he was a small boy who is kidnapped all the way up to adulthood. I don’t think anyone can really imagine what his life must have been like during these events. He does paint a picture of the harshness and how scary many things he encountered were for him. Being a young child with no one to turn to thrust into the world of a rough and harrowing sea voyage is horrible, but add the cruelty and the inhuman conditions that the slaves were faced with and the narrative becomes a down right atrocity. It is amazing to me that

In Olaudah Equiano’s life there were three ways a person became a slave. Either by one 's tribe losing a battle against another, and being forced to serve them, committing a horrendous crime, or being abducted by kidnappers, and purely sold for weaponry or money. Equiano’s journey through his life as a slave, started as just that, by being kidnapped. At a young age Equiano