Oroonoko, by Aphra Behn

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Recommended: American literature has many ethnic groups

Aphra Behn’s novel, Oroonoko, gives a very different perspective on a slave narrative. Her characters embody various characteristics not usually given to those genders and races. Imoinda’s character represents both the modern feminist, as well as the subservient and mental characteristics of the typical eighteenth-century English woman. Oroonoko becomes an embodiment of what is normally a white man’s characteristic; he is the noble, princely, and sympathetic character that is not usually attributed to black men in general throughout most novels of slavery. The complete opposite character style is given to the slavers; the English are viewed as the barbaric, cunning, brutal characters that are usually portrayed in opposite and more generous fashion. Behn’s romantic tragedy comes full circle, from Oroonoko fighting a war, falling in love and being tricked into slavery, to Oroonoko in battle against his captors, to killing his love and dying in slavery.

Imoinda’s character, like that of Oroonoko, is given English ideals of beauty and personality. Described as “the beautiful Black Venus to [Oroonoko’s] Mars” (9), Imoinda is given the Roman white goddess features and the virtues that English women can relate to. Her beauty, like that of Helen of Troy, is what sparks the entire ordeal and eventual demise that our heroic Prince Oroonoko suffers. Rather than to dwell on any type of inner qualities, like that of her bravery and strength, Imoinda is reduced to a beautiful eye-candy for black and white men alike, regardless of rank: from the lowliest slave, to the white slavers and Governor, as well as the Coramantien king.

Imoinda is a mix of feminist Amazonian strength, as well as an English delicate flower that is subservient to her hu...

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...s, stood by and watched this, none daring to save him or stop the lengthy and inhumane way that Oroonoko was being killed.

Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko portrays the slave in a new light, in a form meant to entice the English reader to believe and sympathize with an otherwise understated subject. She makes her usually simple characters into great beings beyond English views and brings to light a cruel and otherwise inhumane view of slavery. Her courtly love portrayal of exotic African characters humanizes the men and women who are meant to be considered nothing more than a work horse in an era of utmost indignity towards those of non-Christian beliefs. Oroonoko and Imoinda’s love become a Romeo and Juliet tragedy as slaves, African and beautiful.

Works Cited

Behn, Aphra. Oroonoko or, The Royal Slave. A TRUE HISTORY. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, INC, 1973. Print.

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