For many centuries, slavery was one of the common practices among many nations that affected many innocent individuals. As a result, it influenced writers to reveal the horrors of slavery despite the white-superiority society they lived in. In his autobiography, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African”, Olaudah Equiano focuses on his own experiences as a slave that motivated him to take a political stance in the abolition of slavery. Slavery had tragically affected Equiano’s childhood, as he was not able to escape from the new environment he was forced upon or return to his homeland to his family. At a young age, Equiano and his sister were kidnapped from their homes as “two men and
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Their lives were controlled by the white slave owners who forced them into labor and mistreated them to the point that they could not have a voice. When Equiano worked on a slave ship, not only was he required to do the tasks he was assigned by the white men without protest, but he also had to witness the the abuse and sufferings of other slaves on board. If any of the slaves were disobedient, they faced harsh punishments as they were “severely cut and hourly whipped” (Equiano 93). It was difficult and unfair for people like Equiano because of the European’s deemed superiority over the African race. For the most part, Africans were terrorized and instilled with fear in order to become compliant with their masters’ …show more content…
Later in the story, Oroonoko eventually started a revolt against the Europeans for the injustice of slavery. Despite his intentions, the revolt was disastrous because the slaves did not have enough resources compared to the whites. As a result, Oroonoko was made the prime example of the consequences that slaves would face if they dared to rise against their masters. He had to face a public whipping, which was a common and severe penalty for many slaves, in order for the whites to instill fear in the other Africans. “He saw every one of those slaves, who… now had a whip to give him some lashes” (Behn 240) — not only was he whipped by the hands of the whites, but also by the hands of the slaves who were his followers because the Europeans commanded them to do so. This furthers proves the strong authority of the whites.
In addition, Behn furthers displays the sacrifices slaves have made when Oroonoko decided to kill his wife. Oroonoko cared about his wife, and killing her was a way to protect her from the sufferings of the British as she was an important part of Oroonoko’s life and could have been tormented as a consequence of his revolt. Oroonoko also lost his own unborn child; however, it was best in his mind for him to ensure that child to not live in a brutal society. Overall, Behn has shown the truth of enslavement since many innocent blacks suffered both
Their lives were controlled by the white slave owners who forced them into labor and mistreated them to the point that they could not have a voice. When Equiano worked on a slave ship, not only was he required to do the tasks he was assigned by the white men without protest, but he also had to witness the the abuse and sufferings of other slaves on board. If any of the slaves were disobedient, they faced harsh punishments as they were “severely cut and hourly whipped” (Equiano 93). It was difficult and unfair for people like Equiano because of the European’s deemed superiority over the African race. For the most part, Africans were terrorized and instilled with fear in order to become compliant with their masters’ …show more content…
Later in the story, Oroonoko eventually started a revolt against the Europeans for the injustice of slavery. Despite his intentions, the revolt was disastrous because the slaves did not have enough resources compared to the whites. As a result, Oroonoko was made the prime example of the consequences that slaves would face if they dared to rise against their masters. He had to face a public whipping, which was a common and severe penalty for many slaves, in order for the whites to instill fear in the other Africans. “He saw every one of those slaves, who… now had a whip to give him some lashes” (Behn 240) — not only was he whipped by the hands of the whites, but also by the hands of the slaves who were his followers because the Europeans commanded them to do so. This furthers proves the strong authority of the whites.
In addition, Behn furthers displays the sacrifices slaves have made when Oroonoko decided to kill his wife. Oroonoko cared about his wife, and killing her was a way to protect her from the sufferings of the British as she was an important part of Oroonoko’s life and could have been tormented as a consequence of his revolt. Oroonoko also lost his own unborn child; however, it was best in his mind for him to ensure that child to not live in a brutal society. Overall, Behn has shown the truth of enslavement since many innocent blacks suffered both