Oroonoko Sparknotes

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Recommended: Compare and contrast civilization and savagery

The end of the 17th century marked the beginning of a new age known as the Enlightenment. During this time many remarkable philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Spinoza emerged. They handled very many difficult topics and discussed the world around them. They doubted ideas that had been thought of as absolutes for centuries and began to think in new and inventive ways. While this was going on, Europeans were conquering the Americas. Explorers had to deal with the moral dilemma of how they would handle the people they came across. Aphra Behn dealt with this issue of colonialism by writing the book Oroonoko, a tale about a noble African man. Behn, in this book, contrasts the civilized Europeans with Africans, whom the Europeans deemed savage. …show more content…

They view him as uncivilized. They don’t have very much respect for him at all and because of this are willing to harm him for their own benefit, especially the captain. Oroonoko goes into detail about the captain, describing how, “To this captain he sold abundance of his slaves; and for the favour and esteem he had for him, made him many presents” (60). He is obviously on good terms with this man and has done business with him before, so he has built a trust up for him. This trust ends up backfiring when the captain lies to him. He falls for the captain’s initial trap and as a result becomes held captive. The captain continues to lie to him as the story progresses just so that he can get his way. By doing this, he is taking advantage of Oroonoko’s innocence. Oroonoko is a nobleman with honor. He would never betray the trust of one close to him and as a result is surprised when it happens to himself.
Once he arrives in Surinam, Oroonoko is made a slave. He is put to work, but is eventually promised freedom. However, while the promises keep coming, he is never actually freed. He is simply led on by these people to a point where he rebels. After being caught for his rebellion, Oroonoko is punished severely. He is lashed and sentenced to death by quartering, a punishment most likely reserved for savages like Oroonoko rather than

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