essay about olaudah equiano

Search on OralHistory.ws Blog

Unveiling the Impact of Olaudah Equiano’s Life and Work on Abolitionism

Olaudah Equiano was an important historical figure since he significantly contributed to the struggle against slavery. An enslaved person, he was fortunate enough to obtain his freedom and join the abolitionist movement in Britain. Among his numerous efforts to inform the public about the misfortunes of enslaved people, his autobiography The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano made a remarkable difference. Even though Equiano as a free person, no longer suffered from such terrors of slavery as field work, brutal punishments, starvation, and so on, his narrative fueled the anti-slavery movement. Indeed, his experience as an enslaved person was extraordinary as his masters were mostly kind and reasonable men who encouraged him to attend school and church and valued him for his service and character. As the author remarked, his name meant fortune or change, and fortune was often on his side. Throughout the narrative, one can hardly find him offending his white enslavers or complaining. Equiano had always accepted his destiny; he had been loyal to his masters and appreciated them as people; he was curious about the world and strived for knowledge. Moreover, as a highly religious man, Equiano stayed true to his values and morality. His personality helped him acquire needed skills, such as the ability to read and write, work on the ship, and so on, and earn money, as well as become attractive to people who had owned his life and who could help him obtain his freedom by ensuring their support.

The narrative starts with describing the author’s native town and his family’s traditions. The way Equiano speaks of his family and his mother, as well as his respect for his father and the wisdom of his community, presents him as a loving and joyful person. His words of sadness when he and his sister were separated, the fact that he was so naive to believe anyone who claimed to know where his sister was, only proved this statement. His sympathy for the slaves in West Indies, whose suffering he had observed throughout his service for Mr. King, proved his empathy and compassion. Thus, Equiano had the right values to be loved by his masters, especially Mr. King, who later helped him gain his freedom.

While reading the chapters about Equiano’s early life, one could notice how important human connections were to him. When describing any new place he had visited, the author never missed mentioning who he had been able to speak to or how close or different the language spoken somewhere had been to his native language. Even on the slave ship, as Equiano wrote, the voyage was slightly less terrible when he met his countrymen. The author also remarked how hard it was for him to have no one to talk to when he just arrived in Virginia and did not know English yet. Still, Equiano’s desire to communicate did him a good service since he soon learned the languages and found friends at any stage.

Equiano was a loyal, loving and caring friend whenever he found someone he connected to. The story of his friendship with Richard Baker showed how sincerely attached he was to his first friend in a new unknown world. The way he was loved by children, who were often less prone to be prejudiced against others, described him as a friendly and agreeable companion. For instance, his first playmate, Marry, did not let him go away with the ship. His amicable character was why he was loved by Miss Guerin and his master, Mr. Pascal. This was also the reason why he was sold to the best master in America – Mr. King, who would play a crucial role in his life. Thanks to his character, Equiano also established good relations with the captain he was working with for Mr. King. This enabled him to earn income and gather money to buy his freedom. In such a way, his sailing experience for Mr. Pascal unexpectedly was quite fortunate.

Those who met Equiano were often fascinated by his curiosity and desire to learn. The author often described how amazed he was by the inventions of Europeans when he thought of these things as magic. He was interested in religion and asked Richard Baker, Ms. Guerin, and Daniel Queen to help him. Miss Guerin even insisted on him being baptized. Daniel Queen also became rather close with Equiano and taught him many useful skills, such as shaving and dressing; they even planned to become partners after Equiano had his freedom. Since he had a great interest in books, Equiano often followed Mr. Pascal and Richard, and eventually, he was sent to school to learn how to read and write. Those skills contributed greatly to his favorable position and attitude toward Mr. King. Hence, by demonstrating curiosity and desire to learn, Equiano obtained skills that not all free people had at the time, which made him a valuable enslaved person.

Various circumstances allowed Equiano to start rising in the world. The above-described qualities of his character made him a highly-valuable enslaved person. Thus, he repeatedly mentioned that he had saved Mr. King around one hundred pounds per year, and Mr. King refused to sell him several times. While doing different jobs for Mr. King, Equiano started sailing across the Caribbean islands at some point and became rather helpful to the ship’s captain. This allowed him to start his merchant activities. After an unfortunate event when two white people took away his goods, he obtained the captain’s protection and continued to pursue his deals more safely. Thus, the captain helped Equiano keep earning money to gain his freedom.

The friendship with the captain allowed Equiano to revive his hopes of freedom, born in the years of participation in the Seven Years’ War. Once, the author was called by his master and was told that Robert King had considered selling him as there were rumors that Equiano had wanted to escape. Upon being assured that it was not among Equiano’s intentions and after receiving excellent recommendations from his captain, Mr. King revealed that he was aware of Equiano’s merchant activities and was ready to support him, eventually allowing the slave to buy his freedom. Thus, the day Equiano built a connection with the captain saved him from being sold and helped him gain his freedom quicker since Mr. King was now ready to let him buy his freedom and help him earn money faster.

As one can see, Equiano had a unique personality and mindset that allowed him to accept his fortune. His values guided him; one could perceive as Providence, as the author thought, or luck he had due to his name. He was curious, empathic, and joyful since he took his duties responsibly, always looked for the best in people, and appreciated their help greatly. Equiano did not allow himself to judge or hate others. His emotional intelligence helped him gain the positive image and status of a valuable enslaved person and find friends who helped him overcome the challenges of slavery. Being hardworking and honest, he used his best qualities to earn money, become free, and succeed.

📎 References:

1. Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself. Cambridge University Press, 2013.

📎 Related Articles

1. Inevitable Conflict: The Strategic Japanese Assault on Pearl Harbor 2. Abydos Dynasty Revisited: Archaeological Evidence of Forgotten Pharaoh 3. Complexities and Continuities: The Religion of Ancient Egypt 4. An In-depth Look at the Evolution of US History 5. Parallels Between the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement

The Life of Olaudah Equiano

By olaudah equiano, the life of olaudah equiano essay questions.

What evidence does Equiano provide to support his claim that free blacks had more difficulties than slaves did?

Several times in the Narrative , Equiano presents his belief that free blacks often suffered worse than slaves. In the West Indies, he met a free black named Joseph Clipson whose story formed the basis for his realization. Clipson was free, but was accosted by a Bermuda captain who claimed Clipson was a slave and that he had orders to take him to Jamaica. Clipson protested virulently but was given no hearing and was forced onto the captain's ship despite his physical evidence of freedom. Equiano wrote that "hitherto I had thought only slavery dreadful; but the state of a free negro appeared to me now equally so at least" (122). Their freedom was only nominal, and they lived in fear of re-enslavement or constant abuses to their person and liberty. There were no courts that would hear them, and no law enforcement that would protect their assets. When Equiano achieves the status of a free black, he encounters the same thing. When white men refused to pay him for the goods they purchased of him, there was no way to find redress. In Georgia, a Mr. Read wanted to punish Equiano for getting into a fight with his slave; Equiano was shocked that the man did not respect his status as an independent individual, and that he was to be "flogged round the town, without judge or jury" (139). Free blacks lived in a precarious middle ground between slavery and freedom.

How does Equiano depict his African brethren? What is the reason for this depiction?

Equiano paints a very positive portrait of the Eboe people of whom he claims to be descended. He calls attention to their morals and their simple, unassuming manners. They only enslaved criminals or prisoners of war. They had strict gender roles that created social order. Their government was a council that decided things in a democratic fashion. The arts and music were important to them. Luxuries and decadence were eschewed. The most conspicuous trait of these Africans was their emphasis on cleanliness. This lifestyle produced healthy and hearty individuals, and "cheerfulness and affability are two of the leading characteristics of our nation" (38). They even believed in one Creator, although they countenanced the spirit world more than Europeans did. Equiano is also keen to compare them to the Jews, thus 'legitimizing' them in the eyes of his European readers. Indeed, these Europeans are whom Equiano is subtly contrasting his African brethren with; after comparing the heroic and moral Eboe with the bloodthirsty and power-hungry Europeans, it is no question which of the two is actually more civilized.

What role does Equiano's religion play in his life? How do his beliefs shift throughout his life?

Religion is central to Equiano's life and construction of identity. He explains what his African brethren believed, but came to embrace the idea of the Christian God after hearing about that faith while still a youth. Until he was converted, he believed that good works were most important, and so he was diligent in keeping the Commandments, only really failing to avoiding blasphemy. This God watched over mankind, and Equiano believed the the good things that happened to him were God's praise, while the bad things were rebukes to be learned from. Equiano spoke often of being favored by Providence. He also called himself a predestinarian, explaining that he believed that his life's course was already ordained, and so it was his responsibility to accept this. After a deadly and dangerous voyage to the North Pole, Equiano feels convicted and searches for faith on a deeper level. He eventually embraces Methodism and the idea of the free gift of salvation as central to the Christian message. This faith shapes and molds his life from then on. He has difficulty working with men who are irreligious, and makes ardent efforts to convert men who were not Christian. His religion allows him to enter into the European culture and establish his credentials for his readers. In essence, he makes himself more familiar and less 'other' by his embrace of Christianity. Thus, his religion is deep and personal, but it is also a way for him to become part of the cultural mainstream and more effectively disseminate his abolitionist views.

What is the importance of names in the work?

Equiano is actually given multiple names throughout the course of his life, which is a testament to the power of slaveowners, and the nature of the system to tear down any sense of personal identity that a slave might possess. Even their names were not their own. When the young Equiano arrives in Virginia, his name was Jacob, but "on board the African snow I was called Michael" (63). When Michael Henry Pascal purchases him, he was named Gustavus Vassa. Equiano remembered, "I at that time began to understand him a little, and refused to be called so, and told him as well as I could that I would be called Jacob; but he said I should not, and still called me Gustavus; and when I refused to answer to my new name, which at first I did, it gained me many a cuff; so at length I submitted, and by which I have been known ever since" (64). The slaveowner's ability to change a slave's name whenever he wanted reinforced the fact that the slave was property. The slave had no autonomy and no identity. It was not surprising that many slaves, once freed, changed their names back to old ones or choose new ones that were not part of their slave life. For Equiano, who kept his slaveowner name, it was perhaps more important to keep this badge of European-ness with its connotations of greatness, especially as he was a public citizen and was active in the abolitionist movement. Further, the recognizable name - Vasa had been a great Swedish leader known for inspiring freedom - would have helped him achieve his political purpose by appealing to his readers.

In what ways does Equiano both condemn and exalt the British people and their morals, values, and culture?

Equiano is a Briton and an African, and has a particularly complicated relationship with his adopted country, which had been responsible for his enslavement. He condemns Britons by calling attention to their complicity in the slave trade. He details: the cruel slave traders on the Middle Passage; the laxity and perversion of Christianity; the terrible conditions for slaves in the West Indies; the destruction of virtue and morality; and, of course, the fact that one as intelligent and heroic as himself had languished in bondage. This was all meant to strike the consciences of his readers. However, he also praises British society, and adopted its religion, manners, morals, and customs. In the last chapter, he lauds the country for liberty, dignity, and nobility. He praises the British government, hoping they will agree to abolish the slave trade. If this were to happen, the Africans, rather than ignore their former oppressors, would be quick to "adopt the British fashions, manners, customs, &c" and would readily trade with the empire (233). Since he is effectively a Briton himself and expects his Narrative to be influential in securing abolition, it is no surprise that he expresses acclaim for the British government and people. However, it appears that he honestly admires his adopted country, and that his love for it reflects his complicated character.

How is Equiano able to conjure the horrors of slavery? Be specific with details.

Equiano's Narrative is one of the best primary sources for what slavery was like for both slave and master. He does not shy away from cataloging the horrors of the "peculiar institution," starting with his own kidnapping, and his severance from his family. He details the terrible conditions of the Middle Passage, dwelling on the loathsome smells, mournful cries, and fetid climate of the ship's hull. He describes how many slaves tried to throw themselves into the ocean, but were prevented from doing so by the crew and then beaten mercilessly. In Virgina, Equiano meets an elderly slave woman who actually had to wear an iron muzzle on her face. In the West Indies, he saw how women were raped, and how pregnant women were treated callously. Slaves were beaten for nonexistent reasons, never knowing when their overseer might take offense to their behavior. They were forced to build their huts on unhealthy land, and contracted diseases. Their property was taken from them. They could be sold at a moment's notice and thus be deprived of friends and family. They were kept in ignorance, and only exposed to vice and depravity; thus, their own minds and consciences were adversely molded by the slave system. What defines his work as much as anything is the detail he uses in depicting slavery.

What are the most salient characteristics of Equiano's personality? Do a character analysis for him.

After completing Equiano's autobiography, the reader has an understanding of the mind, character, and abilities of the former slave. His narrative voice is strong and articulate; his prose is lucid. Except for a few rhetorical flourishes, it is straightforward and allows the work to flow easily. He comes across as a highly intelligent and thoughtful man, albeit a rather emotional one. He is prone to explaining his state of mind just as often as the state of affairs, giving readers a very personal insight into how he was affected by his trials. He expresses righteous indignation on multiple occasions, which reveals his passion. It was this quality that made him an effective abolitionist later in life. He experiences religion in a very personal, intimate way, and seems to verge on the dramatic in regard to this aspect of his life. For example, when he is onboard a ship where the men blaspheme and carouse, he nearly commits suicide in his despair. He also shows a touch of hubris, tending to inflate the importance of his actions, and to fashion episodes in the book around his own heroic deeds and character. He also comes across as a man who must mediate between the binaries of his existence: slave/free, British/African, object/subject. By the end of the work, it appears that he has done just that - he is assured in an identity that is fully his own, and not beholden to any particular creed.

How is Equiano both inside and outside of the cultural mainstream?

The most interesting aspect of Equiano's character is that he is both a mainstream citizen of Britain, and an outsider to it. Equiano was born in Africa (although recent scholarship suggests he was born in South Carolina, he is still of African descent), but considered himself a Londoner. After all, he spent most of his adult life in the British empire. He retained a sense of his African heritage, culture, history, and value system but wholeheartedly embraced those of the Britons as well. He even converted to Christianity, and joined the Methodist church. He was a slave for many years, but earned his manumission by committing to capitalist ideals of business. While free, he even took the position of overseer on a Jamaica plantation, a position that implicitly supports slavery. However, his race precluded his full immersion into European society, and denied him a true identity. Throughout his narrative, he asserts his multicultural voice and perspective, which embraces both of those sides. He takes pains to avoid insulting or too harshly criticizing his readers, but makes sure they are aware of the true horrors in which they are complicit. Overall, Equiano straddles his two worlds as best as he can in a century that was keen on reinforcing boundaries in the areas of religion, gender, and race.

How does Equiano establish his credentials for his readers? Why does he do this?

Equiano, like Frederick Douglass nearly a century after him, took pains to establish his credentials as a truthful, Christian, and reputable man. The first way he does this is by including letters and documentation in the front of the Narrative , all of which attest to his veracity and morals. Further, a frontispiece was fashioned by a renowned artist, showing Equiano holding an open Bible. Lastly, he included in several editions of the book a list of its subscribers, a list that included some of the most well-known and influential men and women of the day. In subsequent editions of his work, he explicitly confronts some of the accusations the press had leveled against him, revealing how important it is that he be taken as honest. His reasons for doing this were two-fold. First, it often proved necessary for slaves or former slaves to gain the support and affirmation of prominent white society figures in order to get their works published and popularized. The included letters are important because they in essence legitimize the text for his contemporary British readers. However, he also stresses his honesty because if his readers accept him as virtuous, they will be more likely to hear his plea for abolition. Equiano's Christianity plays an important role here, for it would have recommended his morality to British society, and hence furthered his chances of success.

Why did the mission to Sierra Leon fail, and what was Equiano's role within that endeavor? What does he learn from it?

The brainchild of a British philanthropist, the British government's endeavor to recolonize Sierra Leone ultimately failed and caused damage to Equiano's reputation. The mission seemed doomed from the beginning; Equiano was almost immediately struck by the ineptitude of the government agent he was working with. He remarked that this man ignored his wishes to prudently limit the number of passengers, and instead brought more onboard. The black people lived in miserable accommodations, and lacked basic necessities. Equiano suggests that this was due to waste or corruption, since the provisions had been paid for, but were not available. When they arrived at Sierra Leone, "at that season of the year it is impossible to cultivate the lands; their provisions therefore were exhausted before they could reap any benefit from agriculture," and many of them died (229). Equiano does not entirely blame the government for the failure, but does see a great deal of mismanagement and poor planning. Unfortunately for him, he was the victim of aspersions because of its failure. He even wrote a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury explaining that he acted with "the most perfect fidelity and the greatest assiduity" in discharging his duties (23). He asked to be compensated for the money he personally invested in the plan, and was thankfully awarded a large sum. It is important that Equiano did not allow himself to be taken advantage of; his inclusion of this episode is a testament to his firm conviction in his own intelligence, capabilities, and manhood. He learned through this episode the limits of government intervention, which perhaps explains why he is bringing his case to the general public through a book.

The Life of Olaudah Equiano Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Life of Olaudah Equiano is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What does Olaudah mean by "a stickado?"

I think he is meaning an instrument consisting of small bars of wood, flat at the bottom and rounded at the top, and resting on the edges of a kind of open box.

what does the reading mean by cargo

I don't know what you mean "by cargo".

The life of Olaudah Equiano

Emotional apples? I'm not sure what you mean here.

Study Guide for The Life of Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano study guide contains a biography of Olaudah Equiano, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Life of Olaudah Equiano
• The Life of Olaudah Equiano Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Life of Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano.

• Abolition, Ethnicity, and Identity in The Interesting Narrative
• Equiano's Multilayered Appeal for Abolition of Slavery
• Comparison of Conversion Narratives: Olaudah Equiano and John Marrant
• Olaudah Equiano Book Report
• Passive vs. Oppressive Appropriation in Equiano and Get Out

Lesson Plan for The Life of Olaudah Equiano

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Life of Olaudah Equiano
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Life of Olaudah Equiano Bibliography

E-Text of The Life of Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano e-text contains the full text of Olaudah Equiano's autobiography.

• Introductory Letter
• List of Subscribers
• Chapter III

Wikipedia Entries for The Life of Olaudah Equiano

• Introduction
• Main themes
• Controversy about origins

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano Essay

Thesis statement.

There is no doubt that Black slavery will go down in history as one of the most shameful periods in European and American history. Just if they were soulless animals, Black Africans used to be rounded up and shipped over to various locations, throughout the world, where they would be required to perform a heavy physical labour, while being often subjected to physical abuse, on the part of their masters. At the time, it was very little known about what it felt like being a slave, among White people, because the overwhelming majority of Black slaves were illiterate, which meant that they simply could not relate their life experiences in the form of literary works.

In fact, these slaves were not even considered being humans, in the full sense of this word. Christianity was there to provide an ideological legitimacy for such state of affairs, with Blacks being considered to be the descendants of Ham – cursed to have dark skin and doomed to remain servants forever. Yet, as time went by, more and more Black slaves began to question the moral soundness of the very concept of slavery. Some of them were able to get an education, due to their owners’ progressive socio-political attitudes. It is namely these ‘privileged slaves’, which had provided White people with internal insight onto slavery, for the first time in history.

The earliest first-hand account of slavery, written by a former slave in 1789, is assumed to be Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa , in which author does not simply describe his life experiences of a person who had been bought and sold numerous times, but also refers to slavery as utterly immoral practice. Even though that many contemporary literary critics point out to the fact that Equiano could not possibly had been born in Africa, as he claims in his book, there can be very little doubt as to his autobiography’s overall authenticity.

In its turn, this allows us to refer to The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa as a book of not only a great literary, but also a philosophical value, because in it, author does not simply describe his life experiences, but also analyses them from a truly unique prospective of someone whose mentality has dual subtleties – while being Black on the outside, Equiano considered himself being White on the inside: “I believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, do I consider myself an European” (p. 6).

Therefore, we can only agree with Thomas (2000), who in her book suggested that Equiano’s autobiographical book cannot be thought of as being solely the intellectual by-product of Black mentality, simply because, while criticizing the practice of slavery, Equiano never ceases praising European civilization, thus proving its own worldview as being utterly euro-centric.

In its turn, this provides us with the insight onto the essence of the foremost message, Equiano wanted to deliver to his readers. This message can be formulated as follows: freedom can only be fully appreciated by educated and open-minded individuals, whose broadened intellectual horizons allow them to think outside of their racial affiliation.

As one of greatest African-American writers, Booker T. Washington (1901) had put it in his book Up from Slavery : “The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race” (Ch. X). In the next part of this paper, we will aim to substantiate the validity of an earlier statement, while pointing out at particulars of how Equiano strived to reduce any negative perception of himself, on part of the audience – namely, by emphasizing the fact that he was born to the family of African nobility and by confirming the strength of his determination to become an educated individual.

As we have suggested earlier, the reading of Equiano’s book leaves very little doubt as to author’s perceptional euro-centrism. In its turn, this explains why, throughout his book, author had made a point in mentioning the fact of his noble birth, whenever opportunity presented itself – hence, confirming his ‘otherness’ from the rest of Blacks in the eyes of readers: “My father was one of those elders or chiefs I have spoken of, and was styled Embrenche; a term, as I remember, importing the highest distinction, and signifying in our language a ‘mark’ of grandeur” (p. 14).

Given the fact that Equiano wrote his book in time when Europe was still being ruled by the members of Europe’s aristocratic families, it was only natural for him to end up praising the virtues of ‘noblesnesness’, while expecting to win favour with the reading audience, many members of which were affiliated with aristocracy, and therefore – literate. In its turn, this also explains another remarkable feature of Equiano’s book – throughout its entirety; author strived to promote his view on education as the only virtue worthy of praising: “I thought of nothing but being freed, and working for myself, and thereby getting money to enable me to get a good education; for I always had a great desire to be able at least to read and write” (p. 54).

Apparently, Equiano strived to attune the motifs of his book with what represented existential anxieties, on the part of great many White people, he had met during the course of his life. By the end of 18 th century, Western civilization was only beginning to free itself out of intellectual imprisonment of Christianity, which is why, just as it was the case with the author, intellectually advanced people of the era experienced an overwhelming desire to indulge in secular educational pursuits.

Thus, by confirming his dedication to studies, Equiano was able to kill two rabbits with one shot: to increase his book’s literary and philosophical value – hence, increasing its appeal to the public, and to promote the cause of abolitionism, because book’s narrator is being represented as someone who, just as Whites, appreciates education and intellectual finesse above all.

This is also the reason why, unlike what it is the case with the novels of many contemporary Black writers, who grew up among Whites, the themes contained in The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, are being the least concerned with author’s intention to talk about his ‘ethnic uniqueness’ as something worthy of exploring. Apparently, Equiano aimed at referring to the specifics of one’s racial affiliation as such that have very little role in defining the social worth of a particular person.

While criticising the practice of slavery, Equiano never ceased being aware of the fact that being a Black slave among Whites was still better than being a Black slave among Blacks, because in Western countries, even the people affiliated with lowest social classes, are still being given the chance of social advancement – Equiano’s own biography substantiates the validity of this suggestion better than anything else does.

The context of Equiano’s book implies that its author actually thought of the hardships, he experienced throughout his life, as having been proven beneficial, in the end. As it was pointed out by Washington, in the book from which we have already quoted: “Negro boy’s birth and connection with an unpopular race is an advantage, so far as real life is concerned.

With few exceptions, the Negro youth must work harder and must perform his tasks even better than a white youth in order to secure recognition” (Ch. II). According to Doyle (2008), Equiano can be best referred to as the classical ‘Nietzschean character’, as his book does promote an idea that ‘whatever does not kill us, makes us stronger’: “His (Equiano’s) African identity, furthermore, fundamentally changes the meaning of his experience: what Europeans would consider disastrous he must consider fortunate” (p. 198).

It is needless to say, of course, that such Equiano’s stoic attitude towards facing life’s challenges resonated rather well, with what represented the essence of colonial era’s socio-political discourse. At that time, it is namely European explorers’ industriousness, courageousness and the sheer strength of their will power, which were believed to have contributed to the process of Whites imposing their undisputed dominance over the Earth. Therefore, after having been published in 1789, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa was bound to become popular with White readers, as book’s motifs corresponded rather well with the unconscious workings of their psyche.

Evidently enough, it was not simply by an accident that Equiano was able to turn from lowly slave into a respectable member of London’s society. One’s strong commitment to intellectual pursuits, regardless of his or her racial affiliation, has always been known as utterly self-rewarding, because it is specifically this commitment which allows a concerned individual to act as the agent of social, cultural and scientific progress – hence, wining the hearts of those who benefit from such a progress.

Doyle, Laura. Freedom’s Empire . Durham & London: Duke University Press, 2008. Print.

Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa . London: Kessinger Publishing, (1789) 2004. Print.

Thomas, Helen. Romanticism and Slave Narratives: Transatlantic Testimonies . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.

Washington, Booker “Up from Slavery”. (1901) 2000. Project Guttenberg Ebook . Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, January 17). The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano/

"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano." IvyPanda , 17 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano'. 17 January.

IvyPanda . 2024. "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano." January 17, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano." January 17, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano." January 17, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano/.

• The Problem of a Sense of "Selfhood", Human Interactions
• Slave Trade History: “The Life of Olaudah Equiano”
• Olaudah Equiano’s Travels in the Autobiography
• Olaudah Equiano as a Fighter Against Slavery
• “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”: Analysis of the Literary Devices
• Warfare in the Age of Gustavus Adolphus Through the Lens of the Western Way of War
• Interpretation of Olaudah Equiano's Narrative
• Olaudah Equiano's Life and Depiction of Igbo People
• The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings by Olaudah, Equiano
• The Horrors of a Slave Ship by Olaudah Equiano
• Understanding the Biography and History Link
• "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose
• Silence versus Articulation in "Obasan" by Joy Kogawa
• "The Myth of the Wild West" by Hamid Dabashi
• The “Ragtime” Novel by E. L. Doctorow

The Life of Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah equiano, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

• Authentic custom writing service
• Confidential and secure
• Only custom written work
• Sample essay on The Life of Olaudah Equiano

Essay on The Life of Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano (also known as Gustavus Vassa) suffered the horrors of slavery as an African slave. Olaudah in the author's native language means "fortunate" or "one favored, and having a loud voice and well spoken" (Equiano 18). The life of Olaudah Equiano offers an interesting and in-depth account of slave trade and how it operated. The author offers his personal account during his days in slavery which are instances of oppression, cruelty, and extortion that he saw practiced upon the slaves in West-Indies during his captivity.

Equiano describes slavery in his native village. The chiefs have their slaves that are prisoners of war or offenders that have committed crimes. He also speaks of European traders that lure the chiefs with wares to obtain slaves (Equiano 15-16). "When a trader wants slave, he applies to a chief for them, and tempts him with his wares. It is not extraordinary if on this occasion he yields to the temptation with as little firmness, and accepts the price of fellow-creature's liberty with as little reluctance as the enlightened merchant (Equiano 16). So the chief initiates a battle against his neighbor to procure slaves and sell the at a profit but if he loses the battle, the price is his death. However, the native slavery that Equiano speaks of is benevolent compared to those of Europeans. Slaves were treated well and at the most tied only when they attempted to escape (27). The slavery that was prevalent in the west, according to Equiano was horrendous, as he says, "Indeed such were the horrors of my views and fears at the moment, that if ten thousand worlds had been my own, I would have freely parted with them all to have exchanged my condition with the meanest slave in my own country" (31), and further, "I now wished my last friend, death to relieve me..." (32).

This autobiographical work offers us a great insight into African slavery, slave trade, oppressions and cruelties that slaves were subjected to while being shipped across to the west and at the hands of their masters through his personal accounts. The life of Olaudah Equiano was however unique and extraordinary in that he experienced both cruelties and oppressions as a slave as well as great personal success as a freeman. He was able to achieve his personal freedom after he came in contact with Robert King, a Quaker merchant from Philadelphia. During the seven years war he was a personal servant to Admiral Pascal. This association was a turning point in his life even as it did not bring about his freedom as promised but he learned to read and write under Ms Guerin, Pascal's sister. He converted to Christianity. He was involved in abolitionist movement and became well known as a powerful speaker against slavery. Eventually, he came into contact with influential people that supported him financially.

It is through his description that we learn early slave trade primarily operated for profit. The slaves were put to varied tasks under oppressive conditions and sold from one master to the other. But his campaign against slavery was largely instrumental in creating a favorable climate for the abolition of slave trade under the Slave Trade Act of 1807. In May 1787, the London Abolition Committee was formed to agitate against the slave trade. They denounced the trade as 'impolitick and unjust'. The aimed to end the Atlantic slave trade, not to emancipate slaves in the West Indies, however, many members wanted to privately see full slave emancipation. Granville Sharp chaired the committee. "In their first correspondence, the largest group of potential sympathizers across the country was Quakers (Walvin 155).

The Atlantic slave trade was a highly profitable enterprise for the Europeans. The enslaved Negroes of West and Central Africa were taken to work unpaid in plantations, mines as well as to perform various other kinds of labor. The Europeans profited from the supply of slaves that captured or kidnapped.

Equiano opposed slave trade primarily on religious grounds. He believed in the freedom of trade, conscience, and wage contracts. According to him slave trade was contrary both to the word of God and to individual human dignity. Man has God given right in his opinion to dispose of his labor to his best advantage. The abolitionists received much support in their efforts from Baptists and Quakers. Equiano further argues that slave trade does not make an economic sense. He urged in favor of a commercial enterprise with Africa that would be highly beneficial to the manufacturing interests of Great Britain. The abolition of slavery could give rapid extension of manufactures. Africa, according to him was a virgin territory full of natural wealth and manpower that Britain could profitably exploit. "In a word, it lays open an endless field of commerce to the British manufacturers and merchant adventurers. The manufacturing interest and the general interest are synonymous. The abolition of slavery would be in reality an universal good" (Equiano 2003).

Conclusion: Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped along with his sister when he was barely a child of eleven. For the initial few months, he remained a slave to several native African masters but later he was shipped off to distant lands as a slave to European masters. The nature of slavery among the Africans and Europeans is a contrast in horror and brutality. The African slaves aboard European vessels were treated mercilessly and many of them died of horror, brutality and disease. Equiano's was lucky to have finally won his freedom and made a fortune. He voiced his opinion against slavery and was quite active in the contemporary abolitionist movement in England.

Equiano, Olaudah.The life of Olaudah Equiano, New York : Cosimo Classics, 2007.

Equiano, Olaudah. Chapter 12 "The Case Against the Slave Trade" Interesting Narrative. 27 Jan. 2003. Accessed 5 October 2009 from http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/extract5.htm

Walvin, James. An African's life : the life and times of Olaudah Equiano, 1745 - 1797 New York : Continuum, 2000.