Olaudah equiano biography sparknotes pride
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He presents his Narrative to them as evidence of how deleterious the slave trade has been to England. Religion thus permeated every aspect of his life and was crucial to his fashioning of his identity.
After a few more voyages, Equiano accepted his friend Doctor Irving’s proposal to work as an overseer on a new plantation in Jamaica.
It went through several editions in his lifetime, capturing the public’s attention and contributing significantly to the abolitionist movement in Britain.
- Equiano’s detailed account of the horrors of slavery and his journey from slavery to freedom brought a humanizing and compelling perspective to the abolitionist cause.
Here are some notable quotes from the book:
- "I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty; and this not only shown towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves."
- "O, ye nominal Christians! King allowed his friend, Captain Thomas Farmer, to take Equiano as sailor on several of his voyages, on which Equiano distinguished himself.
Many slaves (or former slaves) who attempted to tell their stories were expected to support the legitimacy and truthfulness of their books. Doran in turn sold Equiano to Robert King, a wealthy and benevolent Quaker merchant who worked out of Philadelphia. In it, he address himself to two types of countrymen. The note is followed by the signatures of several other men who recommend the work, and intend to bear "testimony to the good sense, intellectual improvements, and integrity of GUSTAVUS VASSA, lately of that injured and oppressed class of men, the injured Africans."
The next letter is from Thomas Digges, and is addressed to Mr.
O'Brien. This piece expresses its author's belief that Vassa writes truthfully, but that he may have been aided by an English writer. He also learned how to dress hair, an occupation he took up when he later lived in London.
After several near death experiences on the North Pole expedition, Equiano decided to seek God in a deeper way than he had previously done.
He realized that free blacks in some ways were worse off than slaves, since they had no master to look out for them, and no opportunities for legal redress of injury. While businessmen could buy and sell slaves for the colonies, there was no need to debate the actual merits of slavery itself to mainland English citizens, who did not live under such a system.
This letter to Parliament also reflects Equiano's split identity.
Equiano’s travels brought him to Turkey, Martinico, Georgia, Montserrat, Grenada, France, and even to the North Pole. As he was firmly indebted to the kindness of Farmer and King, he continued to sail with them, but now as a paid steward and sailor. Here is how it relates to and contrasts with other notable narratives:
- “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass: Like Equiano’s narrative, Douglass’s autobiography is a powerful account of the brutality of slavery and the quest for freedom.
Summary
The preface is comprised of several notes and letters.
In a note to the reader, Equiano explains that he has recently been accused of misrepresenting his birthplace in previous editions of the book. He sailed back to England and worked for Governor Macnamara for a time. See Wikipedia for more information.
Who Should Read This Book?
“Olaudah Equiano’s ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’ is a seminal work that transcends its era and speaks volumes to many readers today.
His work demonstrates the importance of storytelling in advocating for social change and the impact an individual voice can have on society.
Human Rights and Equality
At its core, Equiano’s narrative is a plea for justice, human rights, and equality. Ironically, there are current issues in the realm of Equiano scholarship addressing whether or not he was actually born in South Carolina (see other analyses from this study guide for more information).
The actual text of the Oracle article states, "It is a fact that the Public may depend on, that Gustavus Vasa [sic], who has publicly asserted that he was kidnapped in Africa, never was upon that Continent, but was born and bred up in the Danish island of Santa Cruz in the West Indies." Equiano also references another slander, which was printed in the Star.
Analysis
Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, faced a common dilemma in defending his work.
- “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass: Like Equiano’s narrative, Douglass’s autobiography is a powerful account of the brutality of slavery and the quest for freedom.