The Masquerade Would you believe me if I told you that wearing a mask could save your life? For centuries slaves and captives had to mask their real feelings to survive in their new environment. They had to pretend that things were ok and life was good to survive their circumstances. While reading the books Night and Olaudah Equiano there is a reoccurring theme of being in denial and content, during their horrific experiences. Both books tell the personal and tragic stories of the captivation and enslavement of Jews (Night) and Africans (Olaudah Equiano) written by men that were taken captive themselves as children. Despite the fact that both Elie and Equiano wear masks of denial, and contentment these masks help them survive their harsh condition, as they try to obtain the ultimate goal of freedom.
In the beginning, before both Elie and Equiano are being taken captive they learn to wear the mask of denial from their communities. People were coming into their communities just to capture them and no one was saying anything, …show more content…
There are so many horrible things happening around them the simplest good things makes them content in their situation. In Equiano’s story, he talks about the experience he had when he found his sister; after being taken away from his family and everything he knew in Guinea, Africa; brought to the Americas, and sold to multiple slave owners. Equiano writes “Our meeting affected all who saw us… When these people knew, we were brother and sister they indulged us together; and the man, to whom I supposed we belonged, lay with us, he in the middle, while she and I held one another by the hands across his breast all night; and thus, for a while we forgot our misfortunes in the joy of being together” (Equiano 60). There are moments like these where happiness amid the chaos allows Equiano the chance to wear the mask of contentment and gain his strength to
In the beginning, before both Elie and Equiano are being taken captive they learn to wear the mask of denial from their communities. People were coming into their communities just to capture them and no one was saying anything, …show more content…
There are so many horrible things happening around them the simplest good things makes them content in their situation. In Equiano’s story, he talks about the experience he had when he found his sister; after being taken away from his family and everything he knew in Guinea, Africa; brought to the Americas, and sold to multiple slave owners. Equiano writes “Our meeting affected all who saw us… When these people knew, we were brother and sister they indulged us together; and the man, to whom I supposed we belonged, lay with us, he in the middle, while she and I held one another by the hands across his breast all night; and thus, for a while we forgot our misfortunes in the joy of being together” (Equiano 60). There are moments like these where happiness amid the chaos allows Equiano the chance to wear the mask of contentment and gain his strength to