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essays on the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano
textual analysis of slavery
essays on the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano
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Liberty, can be defined as freedom from control, captivity, or restraint; where all are equal and have the ability to do whatever is in their will, that none can be hindered by race, class or sex. While freedom is mostly brought within the ideas of slavery, as is within the contexts of Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley's works, it can also be that of women from their husbands and places in life, as with Mary Astell's work. Equiano has a firsthand account on the effects of slavery and the necessity of freedom. While describing a childhood that was ended quickly by being snatched and placed into slavery, his story is a reflection of one within many stories that are no doubt similar in fashion. The most memorable, and possibly disturbing narration involves his experiences within the slave ship. "One day, when we had a smooth sea, and a moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen, who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings, and jumped into the sea: immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be out of irons, also followed their example; and I believe many more would soon have done the same, if they had not been prevented by the ship’s crew, who were instantly alarmed. Those of us that were the most active were, in a moment, put down under the deck; and there was such a noise and confusion amongst the people of the ship as I never heard before, to stop her, and get the boat to go out after the slaves. However, two of the wretches were drowned, but they got the other, and afterwards flogged him unmercifully, for thus attempting to prefer death to slavery." (Equiano 749) It is almost unbeliev... ... middle of paper ... ... and unsubstantiated. Works Cited Astell, Mary. "A Serious Proposal To The Ladies." The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Restoration And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black [et all]. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 291-296. Astell, Mary. "A Reflections Upon Marriage." The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Restoration And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black [et all]. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 297-301. Equiano, Olaudah. "Olaudah Equiano." Handout. Print. Equiano, Olaudah. "Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano." The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Restoration And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black [et all]. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 743-750. Wheatley, Phillis. "Poems On Various Subjects." Handout. Print.
Wolfson, Susan & Peter Manning. The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Romantics and Their Contemporaries. V. 2A. New York: Longman, 1999.
Published in 1789, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” tells the captivating life story of none other than Olaudah Equiano himself. Not only did this story contribute to British’s abolitionist movement but it also depicts the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The narrative, written by Equiano, told about his experience as a slave. For the majority of Equiano’s life he went by the name of Gustavus Vassa, which one of his masters Henry Pascal gave to him. Equiano goes through his memories as a child, in Eboe, better known today as Nigeria. Equiano was born in 1745 in a region named Essaka. At a young age the British kidnapped, sold, and separated both his sister and himself. Eventually, a slave trade bought Equiano. Equiano describes his journey from the Middle Passage to the West Indies on to Virginia. In Virginia, Henry Pascal, the Captain of a British trading vessel bought Equiano. Before King, a slave owner in Montserrat, bought him, Equiano spent many years at sea. In Montserrat, Equiano continually traveled the sea on trade routes. Along the way of the trade routes Equiano traded his own goods. Through doing this he earned enough money to buy his freedom back. King only made Equiano pay him 40 pounds for his freedom, which was the same amount he had bought Equiano for. Equiano then was able to live the life of a free man and later returned to England. Through Equiano’s life he experienced many different events that changed his views of race.
Damrosch, David, and Kevin J.H. Dettmar, eds. The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Romantics and Their Contemporaries. Comp. Susan Wolfson and Peter Manning. 3rd ed. Vol. 2A. New York: Longman, 2006. Print.
Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. London: Stationer's Hall, 1789. Rpt. in The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch, et al. Vol. 2. New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2003. 160-169.
Wolfson, Susan and Peter Manning (eds.). The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Romantics and Their Contemporaries. Volume 2A. New York: Longman, 1999.
"The Life of Olaudah Equiano” is a captivating story in which Equiano, the author, reflects on his life from becoming a slave to a freeman during the 19th century. Through his experiences and writing, Equiano paints a vivid picture of the atrocities and cruelties of European slavery. Ultimately through his narrative, Equiano intends to persuade his audience, the British government, to abolish the Atlantic slave trade as well as alert them of the harsh treatment of slaves. He successfully accomplishes his goal by subtly making arguments through the use of character, action, and setting.
Greenblatt, Stephan. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: the Major Authors. New York, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. Print.
Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Edited by Angelo Costanzo. Orchard Park, NY: Broadway Literary Texts, 2004.
The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Sixth Edition Volume1. Ed. M.H.Abrams. New York: W.W.Norton and Company, Inc., 1993.
What does freedom mean to you? Are you able to do the things you love or see the people you want to see? To me, freedom is the right to do as I please as long as I am following laws and rules. This means that my actions do not hurt or harm others in a negative way. To me, freedom means being able to play video games.
The meaning of freedom is in reference to what was considered free for the slaves after the 13 Amendment was passed. Most slave wanted to be able to own land and be able to be financially independent of white society. The most important part of being free is the right to vote salves wanted it the women’s movement demanded it. If you can’t change your plight through voting then are you free.
“Give me liberty or give me death,” (Henry). To some people- Patrick Henry in particular- liberty is a basic property of life; it’s not simply a luxury, but rather a right needed for survival. No matter how the word is defined, liberty has some sort of personal meaning to everyone. In any form, it is a state that is never truly guaranteed. Although it seems like an innate factor that belongs to every human, anyone could have their liberties violated. For thousands of years, humans in every society have been forced to look at what liberty really is, how it can be taken care of, and in what ways it can be violated. It means something entirely different than it did centuries or even decades ago, and its description
Liberty is an enchanted concept, which has inspired millions to revolt. “Liberty is important to Americans”, and “Liberty is another way to say freedoms”, as you stated. A life of liberty begins with being able to see the world as other people do, but being able to clarify the other person’s viewpoint, which then puts you in that person’s shoes. You may not agree and do not have to agree, but appreciating different outlooks frequently helps to evade fights. “Never judge a man until you have walked in his shoes.”
Greenblatt, Stephen, eds. The Norton Anthology English Literature. 9th ed. Crawfordsville: R.R. Donnelley & Sons, 2012. Print.
Reidhead, Julia, ed. Norton Anthology of English Literature vol. 7, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.