The Promised Body: A Narrative Analysis

James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw related his narrative, A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an African Prince, as Related by Himself, in which he told his story of conversion; from being an African prince to becoming a servant of God. Like many African slaves, Gronniosaw tells the story of how he came to become a slave and later on a freeman. The interesting aspect is that there are multiple recounts of his narrative, some say he wrote it, while others describe that the related it and it was later written by a third person. This is important because Gronniosaw lacked a formal education and his writing skills were limited; thus making it hard for him to write alone his whole narrative …show more content…
Rather than a victim of hapless mischance” (Baker 345). Baker portrays Gronniosaw as a man that endured his circumstances because it was his destiny as a future servant of God. Gronniosaw depended on the mercy of his new Dutch master, but at the same time welcomed the change because it led him to Christian faith; he is shown as a man that relayed on God’s wisdom to live his life. From the very beginning, it was stated how God formed an important part of Gronniosaw’s life and this is seen in the famous talking book scene; both text portray it in the same way. In the related version, Gronniosaw …show more content…
An example being when he goes to the oak tree and stated “Here I often lamented my own wicked heart, and undone state; and found more comfort and consolation than I ever was sensible of before.--Whenever I was treated with ridicule or contempt, I used to come here and find peace” (Gronniosaw 17). Like any other man, Gronniosaw had feelings and felt neglected from time to time; it was not easy becoming a slave after years as being treated as a prince. As Baker stated, “his life is reduced, in fact, to a precarious social beggary where not even his bed can be called his own” (Baker 347). In this case, the play of words becomes important because of how it portrays his very existence; by saying he related it, he is being open of his sad times and how he overcame them through the help of God’s love; by saying he wrote it states that what impacted the most was the loneliness and not the path of God; showing he focused more on his pain and how it caused him suffering, instead of seeing it was all part of God’s plan for him.
In similar fashion, Paul Edwards’ article, “An African Literary Source for Blake's Little Black Boy”, compares the first scene in the narrative with William Blake’s The Little Black Boy; both texts display a child with his mother