In Behn’s “Oroonoko” and Haywood’s “Fantomina”, they both display a significant challenge to the reader. Though they are both thrilling and stirring stories about both love and tragedy, there are many similarities and differences within them. “Fantomina” leaves the reader really questioning whether or not Fantomina is really exercising her freedom, even though she has the consequences of her presumably different affair(s), and “Oroonoko” leaves the readers wondering if Oroonoko can be perused as an arraignment of slavery if he himself has slaves to call his own.
For instance, I experienced issues accepting the very end of "Fantomina" with the confirmation that Haywood's hero is practicing an abnormal measure of freedom. As a result of Fantomina's affairs with Beuplaisir, she is left with a “dishonest” child. Doubtlessly to me, the reader, that notwithstanding the questionable "freedom" she had delighted in, it is …show more content…
Behn's Oroonoko gave me the same difficulty. How am I, the reader, supposed to accommodate Behn's portrayal of Oroonoko as apparently having both the best traits of European and "savage" societies, with the way that he himself brought on the oppression of huge numbers of the characters presented later in the story?
In the character of Oroonoko, it appears that Behn has made a cross breed of what she sees to be the best characteristics of both of the cultures. Oroonoko is all around educated and well-spoken, with dignified behavior, additionally has a kind of endemic quality that Behn credits to those living in the "state of nature" that she spots the natives in. Indeed, even his appearance, as depicted by Behn, has a kind of hybridity to it, mixing charming European features with a "perfect ebony or polished jet" (Behn
For instance, I experienced issues accepting the very end of "Fantomina" with the confirmation that Haywood's hero is practicing an abnormal measure of freedom. As a result of Fantomina's affairs with Beuplaisir, she is left with a “dishonest” child. Doubtlessly to me, the reader, that notwithstanding the questionable "freedom" she had delighted in, it is …show more content…
Behn's Oroonoko gave me the same difficulty. How am I, the reader, supposed to accommodate Behn's portrayal of Oroonoko as apparently having both the best traits of European and "savage" societies, with the way that he himself brought on the oppression of huge numbers of the characters presented later in the story?
In the character of Oroonoko, it appears that Behn has made a cross breed of what she sees to be the best characteristics of both of the cultures. Oroonoko is all around educated and well-spoken, with dignified behavior, additionally has a kind of endemic quality that Behn credits to those living in the "state of nature" that she spots the natives in. Indeed, even his appearance, as depicted by Behn, has a kind of hybridity to it, mixing charming European features with a "perfect ebony or polished jet" (Behn