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Olaudah Equiano Research Paper

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The Endeavors of Olaudah Equiano

Fiorella Ronchi

Advanced American Literature

Mrs. Deborah Phillips

14 May 2018

Not all slavery consists of working in agriculture or sweatshops. Olaudah Equiano is one of the many and first Africans to board a slave ship for trade. He was born in what is now Isseke, Nigeria in 1745. Olaudah was a son to a mother and chief, and a brother to five other siblings. He was exposed to slavery at a young age. Africans who owned slaves were at risk of becoming slaves themselves. At the age of eleven, he was kidnapped along with his sister by Nigerian criminals, and sold to European traders. It was not long until him and his sister were separated. He exchanged masters …show more content…

He was asked by Doran if he knew him and he did not. He then told him he is now his slave. Olaudah told him his master could not sell him to anyone else. Doran questioned him because he knew Pascal had purchased him. Doran replied saying he spoke “too much” English, and if he did not follow orders and quiet down, he would suppress him. Equiano began to think his new circumstances were God's punishments for his sins.
He was taken back to the West Indies, where he was frightened at the glimpse of Montserrat. The thought of fear arose in his mind displaying nothing but misery, stripes, and chains. He did not know what to expect with his new master, considering his first conversation with him, and he was not eager to experience more of his cruelty and arrogance. Following Pascal’s orders, Doran sold Olaudah to Mr. Robert King, a "generous and sympathetic" Quaker trader who hired him to work a variety of occupations. These included packing boats to accounting and assisting as a personal servant. In addition, King often hired out Equiano’s favors to other merchants. Thomas Farmer, a captain of King’s, counted on Equiano for voyages to North America from the West …show more content…

Although there is still forced labor in different parts around the world, there are more ways to help victims, and incarcerate those responsible. Today’s modern slavery consists of sexual exploitation and forced labor in drug cartels. We are lucky enough that we are not auctioned, and traded for goods we can get today at a grocery store. Olaudah’s journey to the New World, is one of the many stories that we have available to us today through the click of a button. Slavery in the British colonies could have still been a possibly if it weren’t for Olaudah

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Both Mary and Equiano suffered greatly upon their being taken. They both endured mental, physical, and emotional distress at being torn from their families and friends. Equiano was only a child when he was taken from his village, away from everything and everyone he had ever known, so the natural fear of parental separation would be terrifying in itself. Many years later, as he was being shipped overseas, he witnessed the cruel and inhumane treatment of innocent people. In describing the living conditions of the slave ship, Equiano states, “The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable” (Equiano 1279).

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According to PBS Africans in America, after Equinao bought his freedom he became an active abolitionist in England. Olaudah Equiano’s descriptions of the middle passage severed a purpose for

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Olaudah’s Autobiography states. ”;on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced anything of this kind before. . . . The crew used to watch us very closely chained down to the decks, in case we would ever leap into the water: and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners, most severely cut for attempting to do so.” This is evident that slaves were treated tempestuously because if he is a slave and sees other slaves being cut for trying to escape and knowing what happens to slaves when they refuse to eat and going through all the punishment.

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They had no rights or protections. Eventually, the captain of the ship convinced Mr. Read to leave Equiano alone. Even though Equiano was a free man, he was not treated like he was free. He was still subject to white man’s persecution with no protection except for friends.

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This is one of many examples on how lucky Equiano was. He realized that if he never obtained his freedom from his captain he would’ve never been freed. It is not often

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The gruesome account of Mittelberger aboard one of these ships was similar to the account of Olaudah Equiano, a freed slave. The journey across the Atlantic during the 17th century was one plagued with disease, hunger, and death. The perils of the journey were not restricted to those with white skin or those with black skin. Equiano’s account is filled with confusion since, like many other slaves, he did not know where he was going or why he was going there. As he entered the ship Equiano’s thoughts painted an imagine of a frightened and confused slave.

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The trade of African slaves in the 17th century was perceived as so commonplace that a good deal of the world's population gave it little or no thought. British involvement with slavery became unavoidable at the end of the 17th century, when abolitionist literature gained public attention. The first hand account of life as a slave in Olaudah Equiano's auto-biography was like no other piece of abolitionist literature at the time. The three methods of persuasion in his writing are ethical appealing ethos, logic engaging logos, and his most effective of emotional appealing pathos. Equiano's use of pathos in his auto-biography was effective in persuading the British that slavery is wrong, because of the emotional effects, such as misery, sympathy,

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Although the slaves were never released, the conditions on board the ship were uncomfortable. Equiano narrates the horrifying event as follows: "The proximity of the location, coupled with the warm temperature and a packed ship that left little space for people to turn around, nearly caused asphyxia" (Equiano 171). Equiano's story is that of a journey from ignorance to wisdom, another sees it as a journey from freedom into captivity and back

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The goal was only for the slaves to make it across the middle passage to be sold. They were beaten to keep them in line and make it easier for the slavers to manage the cargo. The slavers only wanted a sufficient return on their investment and to avoid losing money. Equiano, as well as the other Africans made slaves, obviously hated this treatment. They rightfully resented their fate and their captors.

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Many slaves weren't able to buy freedom, and life became something you had to fight for as times were at the peak for death of slaves. Readers of Equiano's account could only assume that slaves were treated as they were the bottom of the barrel. Slaves didn't always live to tell their tale as to what had really happened during the Middle Passage and slave life. Equiano pursues to tell us how easy it became to die as a slave. Whether it be not being able to eat from disease, or terrorized by slave owners, death almost became inevitable.

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His narrative is one of the few that discusses the difference between American and African forms of slavery. His autobiography discusses the religious practices of western Africans, compares these practices to Christianity and Judaism, and narrates his trials as a slave in Africa. The book to me is essentially the retelling of the story that focuses on Equiano life as a form slave through his experiences as a slave and how he develops over time through his experiences of capitalism and spirituality. This is the major point of my essay that I want to focus on. My hypothesis question is Did Equiano really believe in Christianity and that God would set him free or was he simply using religion as a way of manipulating the British and American readers.

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Equiano used his experiences from slavery to crusade and advise others to abolish the trading between African people. He understood that to make a change he would have to relate to his audience on a more enhanced level. He wanted to bring an end to the separation between the races. Equiano saw the cruelty the Caucasian men would show towards the Africans at Barbados. He talked about how families would be split up eternity, bringing an addition to the already built up fear and anguish among the slaves.

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Olaudah Equiano was one of the most famous black men in the history of slavery who was lucky enough to purchase his freedom by himself. Equiano was highly popular for his autobiography named The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African. This is an interesting autobiographywhich was published in 1789 and it emphasized various aspects of slavery throughout the entire book. In The Interesting Narrative, Olaudah Equiano uses poetic diction and tone ( sadistic) to illustrate his perspective as a slave by portraying the cruality and brutality of slavery. Equiano was very disappointed with his master’s betrayal.

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