The Interesting Narrative Of Olaudah Equiano Sparknotes

In 1789, Olaudah Equiano published his autobiography entitled, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African. The purpose of the book was to aid the abolitionists in their struggle to abolish slavery. From the beginning of the book, it is apparent that the intended audience of the book are Christians. A quote from the book of Isaiah, containing “Behold, God is my salvation ,” preluded Equiano’s narrative that detailed his life, beginning with his kidnapping as a young boy in Africa, the voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean Islands, and his adventures travelling the world as a slave aboard one of England’s warships. In fact, Equiano’s book established a large audience among Christians and some English royalty, which is clear by the attached list of subscribers to the narrative. Furthering the distribution of the book, Equiano travelled England, Scotland, and Ireland where he promoted the book and spoke against the establishment …show more content…
As depicted by Equiano, the slave trade on the west coast of Africa, was similar to a large scale livestock sale where human beings were the commodity. Equiano’s characterization of the slave trade, as he experienced it, outlined an experience that no human being should be placed in. Slaves were sized up as one does livestock prior to being slaughtered, which Equiano perceived as his fate. Furthermore, the African slaves were crowded below decks as cargo that afforded them no comfort. Not unlike livestock, food was forced down their throats so that they would not starve to death on the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Such were the ghastly conditions on board the slave ship that African slaves attempted suicide by jumping overboard. Equiano recounted such horrors of living on the slave ship that he prayed for death which was his only friend. Christians could not ignore such inhumane practices on fellow human