Cannibalism In Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative

Similar to the Dying Negro’s representation in Day and Bicknell’s poem, Olaudah Equiano casts himself as the sentimental hero in his Interesting Narrative. Mark Stein, in his article, ‘Who’s Afraid of Cannibals? Some Uses of the Cannibalism Trope in Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative’, remarks that ‘The Interesting Narrative can be read in the context of an array of genres: autobiography, spiritual, travelogue, testimonial/confession, ethnography, and economic treatise among them’. For this paper, I will be classifying Equiano’s Interesting Narrative’s genre as an autobiographical slave narrative. Slave narratives include works written by former slaves which reveal a common pattern of representation consisting of ‘the narrator’s experiences …show more content…
Equiano’s unassuming explanation of himself and his objective paints his character as unpretentious and ultimately fuels his modest traits as a sentimental hero. In his narrative, Equiano begins with detailing his origins as a way of inhabiting the role of the noble African. He writes, ‘My father was one of those elders or chiefs I have spoken of, and was styled Embrenché; a term, as I remember, importing the highest distinction, and signifying in …show more content…
A popular opinion concerning the inhabitants of Africa and supported by the pro-slavery population claimed ‘they were saving Africans from the hardship of their homeland by removing them to the West Indies.’ Day and Bicknell’s version of Africa, however, expresses an idealistic image of awe-inspiring potential, where the Dying Negro ‘in [his] youth’s first dawn [he] joyful stray’d.’ Day and Bicknell have the Dying Negro nostalgically remembering his days spent in Africa with a happiness by virtue of ultimate freedom. Moreover, the authors label Africans as ‘Man’s majestic race,’ as their survival in a barren space populated with predators is extraordinary. The poem also proclaims Africans commitment to nobility to be greater than the Europeans who resorted to petty trickery in order to kidnap Africans from their homes. Day and Bicknell’s depiction of Africans and Europeans is exceedingly different from society’s perception of the two races during the eighteenth century. During this time, Africans were considered primitive and ‘more truly savage than any nation.’ Day and Bicknell, however, subvert this ideology by labelling Europeans as the uncouth barbarians for the inhumane acts committed against Africans. Day and Bicknell present Africans as noble people who rely on their environment to survive, with a