INTERESTING NARRATIVE Flashcards
What attitude does Equiano take to his “masters”? Comment. Provide examples.
Equiano takes the attitude of seeing his masters as more kind than others. Captain Pascall he believes to be a kind man but the second that Equiano asks for his freedom he is on the very next ship to be sold to another slave owner. Mr. King is now in possession of him and Equiano sees Mr. King in the highest regard because he has seen how the other slaves are treated on other plantations of the island and he is most grateful for the opportunity to work for Mr. King. For instance, he is overjoyed when Mr. King lets him free and says he holds him with the highest disposition.
How does Equiano gain his freedom? Comment.
- Hardwork, determination and luck
- Cant leave masters service and has to work long hours
- Determined to gain freedom and start life on his own
- Purchased freedom from permission by new owner Mr King
- Stroke of luck; sailor on ship
Equiano gains his freedom through a combination of hard work, determination, and luck. As a slave, he is not allowed to leave his masters’ service without permission, and he must work for long hours without pay or rights. However, he is determined to gain his freedom and uses his intelligence and resourcefulness to save money from his wages and buy his freedom. He is able to purchase his freedom with the help of a kind and generous master who allows him to keep a portion of his wages, and he uses this money to buy his freedom papers. Equiano also benefits from a stroke of luck. He is offered the opportunity to serve as a sailor on a ship, and he is able to use this job to save money and gain valuable skills. He is able to travel to different places and see the world, and he is able to learn about different cultures and ways of life. This experience broadens his horizons and helps him to gain a deeper understanding of the world, which ultimately allows him to gain his freedom and build a new life for himself.
In the last analysis, does Equiano comply with, or defy, the institution of slavery? Provide examples.
In the last analysis, it can be argued that Olaudah Equiano both complied with and defied the institution of slavery. On one hand, as a slave, Equiano was forced to comply with the demands of his masters and to work without pay or rights. For example, he was forced to serve on a ship and to perform hard labor in the sugar plantations, and he was not allowed to leave his masters’ service without permission. He had no choice in the matter and was treated as property rather than as a human being. In this sense, he complied with the institution of slavery and was subject to its rules and regulations.
On the other hand, despite his lack of freedom and autonomy, Equiano refused to accept his status as a slave and worked tirelessly to gain his freedom. He used his intelligence and resourcefulness to escape from slavery and to build a new life for himself as a free man. For example, he saved money from his wages and bought his freedom, and he used his writing and speaking skills to advocate for the abolition of slavery. He wrote his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, to tell his story and to expose the horrors of slavery, and he became an active member of the abolitionist movement. In this sense, Equiano defied the institution of slavery by refusing to be defined by it and by fighting against it.
