The word freedom has many meanings and comes in a variety of forms. Whether one’s freedom is earned or given, sacrifices must be made and hardships faced; it is the inevitable. Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desire.” Where one man is free, others are enslaved. Olaudah Equiano, being enslaved for years, faced horrors beyond the descriptions of words as well as played a part in history, such as the French and Indian War. Travelling from Africa to England and from England to the New World, Equiano’s endured what we only envision through the telling of his narrative. Beginning …show more content…
Equiano explains that after many days of travelling, during which he continuously switched owners, he got into the hands of chieftain in a pleasant country. This family was an example of less severe circumstances in which Equiano had not yet encountered. The reader can see this when Equiano tells about his first “unlucky event” occurring while he was projecting his plan of escape. Equiano reflects back on the time where he unintentionally killed a chicken, which belonged to his master and was tended to by an elderly woman slave, whom Equiano assisted. He talks about his moment of honesty, for his mother would’ve never approved of lying, and continued with the elderly woman slave’s violent retaliation of how she threatened to tell the master and make Equiano suffer for what he had done. This terrified Equiano and so he fled, but with nowhere to go he simply hid away. Eventually he came out and went back to the elderly lady; what other choice did he have. The elderly lady was shocked, but more than appreciated and because of that, the elderly slave stuck up for him. Equiano’s consequences were nothing more than slight reprimanding, but not ill-treated. From that master, Equiano was sold again after hardships hit the family. After being sold multiple times, Equiano wound up in Tinmah, sold to another …show more content…
Here, Equiano says that on the passage, he was better treated than when coming from Africa. Instead of physical pain, he felt more emotional distress than anything because at this point he was lonely. Even those who were in worse positions than he had someone to talk to, so Equiano felt exceedingly miserable. After adjusting to the ship he resided on, Equiano made a couple of companions and became more accepting of his situation. To the extent of being introduced to God, an entity he yet did not understand but certainly considered and became curious about. Equiano and his current master once lodged at a gentleman’s house in Falmouth and the tides turned for Equiano yet again unexpectedly. He expresses to the reader that this family was fond of him, so much that when it was time for him to leave, the daughter of the family cried to such a great extent that Equiano stayed to pacify her. Even this moment ended though when one night he was sent on board the ship once more, where he next lodged with the family of one of his master’s mates. Equiano was fond of the wife and daughter and vice versa. Equiano spoke of the woman behaving with a great kindness and attention towards him, while also teaching him everything in the same manner that she taught her own child. This lasted until the summer of 1757, when Equiano was paced on board the ship, heading for London. When
Equiano's graphic account of the conditions on board the slave ship pained me as I read. I could only imagine the suffering as he described "the heat," "the air...unfit for respiration" and the "shrieks...and the groans of the dying" (481). While Equiano was luckier than most, if it can be considered luck. He reports the general treatment of slaves by their owners following their arrival in America. Equiano tells of sexual assaults against the slave women to include young children, the maiming and torture as punishment for a myriad o...
Document One The Journey to Slavery is about the life of Olaudah Equiano. Equiano was born in what is now Nigeria in 1745. At the age of 11 Equiano and his younger sister were taken from their home, drug though the woods, sold, and was then separated from one another. Equiano’s experience was considered very rare. Throughout his life as a slave he had three different owners. Equiano went from one master to the other till he ended up in a pleasant country in the hands of a leader with children and two wives. He describes how his owners treated him like he was part of the family. They spoke he same
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 throughout the entirety of the novel is Equiano’s construction of the idea of the value and worth of the African slaves, as opposed to the view of the African slaves as simply commodities or objects to be purchased and traded. Equiano argues and presses the reader and his audience to recognize that the African slave and the white slave owner are not as different as his audience may believe. In order to proclaim and showcase this idea of the value and worth of African slaves, Equiano uses the Christian religion to develop and sustain his argument. In many cases during Equiano’s time period, and for a while afterwards, Christianity and the Bible were used in defense of slavery, and this fact makes Equiano’s claim more powerful and groundbreaking. One of the key attributes of the novel is Equiano’s spiritual conversion and religious revelations. I believe that Equiano’s Christianity serves to connect him with his audience, increases his credibility as an author, and ultimately proclaims the disparity ...
He was trade to another master by the name of Mr. Robert King, a Quaker. Just when Equiano lost hope and prefer being dead than to be a slave due to his mistreatment by masters and the hypocrisy he encounter, he gains faith again when he saw that Mr. King was very different than other masters, Mr. King was kind, patient and did not mistreat his slaves. As Equiano travels with Mr. King he came across masters that brutally mistreat slaves, some were cut into pieces and some were burned with wax. Nevertheless Equiano came across many places where slaves were treated nicely for instance in West Indies where slave treated lenity and proper care. Equiano saw that in these lands Negroes were cheerful and healthy due to the treatment they receive. However, in Barbados it was not a very nice place for African slaves. Equiano meet other Negroes that share their stories and experiences in Barbados, they face many injustice and mistreatment from white people specially females slaves that were raped including children. Besides of these actions slaves did not have control of their property or possession, there were no rights towards slaves. They explain that they felt worthless, when they encounter a situation where they felt like they were being taken advantage by other whites, they turn to their master to fight for their right in which turn out to be not so great, the poor negro turn to god every time he was mistreated to find
The fact that he gained his literacy while still acting as a slave, adds authority and authenticity to his narrative. The literature of Equiano considered the social conditions of the time therefore empowering his insight on the history he had. His book focuses majorly on the social structure during the slave trade period. As a result his narrative an abolition movement is revealed in which it was well described through his personal experience (Equiano 104).
Once forced into slavery, Equiano was introduced to a master. He had to abide by his master’s rules, for as long as he was with him, if he wanted to continue living. Equiano could be considered as a privileged slave because his masters were also on his side. His master favored him and sent him to his sister-in-law, Miss Guerin, in Great Britain to learn to read. Equiano accounts for his favoritism when he wrote, “Sometimes when a white man take away my fish I go to my master, and he get me my right; and when my master by strength take away my fishes, what me must do? I can’t go to anybody to be righted; then…I must look up to God Mighty in the top for right” (65). Equiano also stated that when nepotism was not in his favor, he just looked to God for his rights.
Equiano’s fortune landed him in the hands of a wealthy widow who purchased him from the traders who had kidnapped him. He lived the life as a companion to the widow and her son. Luck was on his side in this transaction, many slave owners frowned upon educating and assisting slaves. “Masters” typically feared an educated slave would take measures to make a change. He explains, though, how he held status above other slave under the widow’s ownership, “There were likewise slaves daily to attend us, while my young master and I,...
The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, first published in 1789, is the first example of a slave narrative. Unlike most of the class, I took it upon myself to read the entire story of Equiano’s Travels, abridged and edited by Paul Edwards. In that version, as in the version represented in The Norton Anthology American Literature Shorter Fifth Edition, the journey of Olaudah Equiano is expressed in his own words, from his own point of view. That makes this writing a truly unique piece of literature. It is not only the first slave narrative but also one of the only ones written pre-civil war by a former slave, and someone seized from Africa. These facts give the writing a unique feel, for it is the words of a man that was born a free man, raised to be a ruler of his tribe, kidnapped and made into a slave as a young child, and then journeying through life to become once again free as a mature adult. Equiano experienced almost all parts of a slave’s existence. He was a slave throughout Africa, England, and the New World.
In comparison to other slaves that are discussed over time, Olaudah Equiano truly does lead an ‘interesting’ life. While his time as a slave was very poor there are certainly other slaves that he mentions that received far more damaging treatment than he did. In turn this inspires him to fight for the abolishment of slavery. By pointing out both negative and positive events that occurred, the treatment he received from all of his masters, the impact that religion had on his life and how abolishing slavery could benefit the future of everyone as a whole; Equiano develops a compelling argument that does help aid the battle against slavery. For Olaudah Equiano’s life journey expressed an array of cruelties that came with living the life of an
In conclusion, at an interpretive level, the remainder of The Life of Olaudah Equiano is the story of a Christian convert who finds solace from bondage in the ministerings of a kind divine intervention. I believe he perceives his past through the eyes of a religious man, and through his Christian faith, he composes a narrative that is significantly colored with Christian ideals, including, forgiveness, gratitude, and acceptance. As a civilized, Christian subject, he is able to survive with equanimity the vagaries of servitude, the whims of fortune, and the cruelties of fate. Clearly he sees the evils that he has suffered as part of a larger plan; furthermore, he attributes good fortune and punishment to the work of God and in my opinion, he sees God using him for a much greater purpose.
The most popular account, during the era, of the slave experience was captured by the son of a West African village Chief, who was captured and made his way through the passage of the New world. Olaudah Equiano’s life was underscored as “[…] the greatest contradiction in the history of the eighteenth century-the simultaneous expansion of freedom and slavery.” (“Voices of Freedom” 63) Before being captured, the boy talks about daily life in the West African village and how the children lived in constant fear. “Generally, when the grown people in the neighborhood were gone far in the fields to labor, the children assembled together in some of the neighbours’ premises to play; and commonly some of us used to get up a tree to look out for any assailant,
"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.
Olaudah Equiano’s spiritual autobiography follows him across his remarkable journey. His narrative follows his spiritual and physical period of enslavement, conversion to Christianity and ultimate escape from the life as a slave. Also, it succeeds with a spiritual rebirth and ultimately, his physical freedom and independence. Equiano finally gains his liberty and begins to develop his character as he converts his religion and becomes a faithful man. Equiano immerses himself and is allowed to blend into Western society.
Olaudah Equiano in his Interesting Narrative is taken from his African home and thrown into a Western world completely foreign to him. Equiano is a slave for a total of ten years and endeavors to take on certain traits and customs of Western thinking. He takes great pains to improve himself, learn religion, and adopt Western mercantilism. However, Equiano holds on to a great deal of his African heritage. Throughout the narrative, the author keeps his African innocence and purity of intent; two qualities he finds sorely lacking in the Europeans. This compromise leaves him in a volatile middle ground between his adapted West and his native Africa. Olaudah Equiano takes on Western ideals while keeping several of his African values; this makes him a man associated with two cultures but a member of neither.
Undeniably there is no doubt that religion played a major role in Equiano's own life and in his Narrative. No matter what you believe about Equiano's own Christian piety, there is no question that his religious conversion (at the very least) gave him a type of freedom of tranquility that was as vital to his heart, as his own manumission from slavery brought him. Just as Equiano himself mentions about his life and all the events that occurred in it; " what makes any event important, unless by its observation we become better and wiser, and learn to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God?'" (Equiano, 253)