Fred Heath
Eng 48A
Journal on Equiano
November 11th 2009
Eng 48A
Journal on Equiano
November 11th 2009
Olaudah Equiano
1745-1797
1745-1797
'From The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African, Written by Himself'
"Hitherto I had thought slavery only dreadful, but the state of a free negro appeared to me now equally so at least, and in some respects worse, for they live in constant alarm for their liberty; which is but nominal, for they are universally insulted and plundered, without the possibility of redress." (Norton Pg. 702)
"The book is directed not to the reason, an abstract quantity, but seeks rather to register its effect in the very bodies of its readers—at their feet, in their hearts, and in their minds. It represents individual experience to them—both the author's and their own—creating for them an isolate, intimate space through which they can respond sympathetically to its argument. It operates from the inside out, self-referentially, narrowing its focus in order to universalize its appeal." (Daniel O'Quinn, University of Guelph)
The first quote is part of Equiano's response after seeing a young mulatto man, and boat builder by the name of Joseph Clipson seized, and forced into slavery even though he was born a free man. It didn't matter that he had a certificate of being born free in St. Kitts, or that most of the people aboard the ship knew him not to be a slave, the color of his skin marked him a 'son of cain', and with the knowledge that they could take advantage of him without fear of justice, or retribution, they took everything from him. Realizing even a 'free' black man, is never truly free in the presence of racism, this quote exemplifies Equiano's understanding that there is no true escape from the injustices inflicted upon those of color until racism itself is abolished. Slavery was just the beginning of the suffering of the black man that would continue on to this very day, and as Equiano first realized hiding in the bushes in Africa: "If possibly I could escape all other animals, I could not those of the human kind." (Norton Pg. 679)
The Second quote is from Daniel O'Quinn's analysis of Equiano's narrative. In this quote, Daniel O'Quinn demonstrates Equiano's deliberate use of real life suffering to elicit a powerful response
from the reader. Provoking reader-response empathy, Equiano's narrative is obviously seen as a story aimed at provoking a political change. By describing first hand the pain of losing his family, the horror of the slave ship voyages, and the mistreatment faced throughout his life, Equiano brings the reader to a place where they can sympathize with his plight, and the plight of all colored men. Through the use of his passionate exclamations, christian rhetoric, and real life suffering, he allows the reader to sympathize with him through the passage of their own memories and experiences. The same sympathy would be difficult to attain, if at all possible through reason, because there is no reason to the inhumanities of slavery. Reason is a language of right and wrong, principles and theories, and these can't represent the true wickedness of slavery. As O'Quinn says; 'the method (Equiano's) operates from the inside out, self-referencially' -thus bringing the reader a level of empathy otherwise unattainable because it allows them to truly feel how he felt as a slave.
Another interesting point that Equiano brings across through his narrative, is the manner of slavery in Africa, versus that in America, and Europe. As Equiano points out, African slavery was much more civilized and tolerable than European slavery. This can be observed through his first experiences of being subject to 'White' slavery versus that of African slavery:
"The White people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty." (Norton Pg. 683)
"I must acknowledge, in honor of those sable destroyers of human rights, that I never met with any ill treatment, or saw any offered to their slaves, except tying them, when necessary, to keep them from running away." (Norton Pg. 680)
As can be seen from both quotations, there is a thick contrast between European and African slavery. Where European slavery depended upon fear, physical abuse, ignorance and ultimate hopelessness, the African slavery Equiano experienced depended solely on fear, and a minimum amount of physical abuse. A stark contrast to European slavery, in both the house of the smith, and the Widow, he isn't beaten or mistreated, but instead is cared for, and housed, while being forced to work. It makes one wonder how the 'civilized' Europeans came to resort to such brutality. Does the rise of civilization inevitably perpetuate violence? Will society always need a lower class to take advantage of, be it in the form of slavery, or poverty?
"Hitherto I had thought slavery only dreadful, but the state of a free negro appeared to me now equally so at least, and in some respects worse, for they live in constant alarm for their liberty; which is but nominal, for they are universally insulted and plundered, without the possibility of redress." (Norton Pg. 702)
"The book is directed not to the reason, an abstract quantity, but seeks rather to register its effect in the very bodies of its readers—at their feet, in their hearts, and in their minds. It represents individual experience to them—both the author's and their own—creating for them an isolate, intimate space through which they can respond sympathetically to its argument. It operates from the inside out, self-referentially, narrowing its focus in order to universalize its appeal." (Daniel O'Quinn, University of Guelph)
The first quote is part of Equiano's response after seeing a young mulatto man, and boat builder by the name of Joseph Clipson seized, and forced into slavery even though he was born a free man. It didn't matter that he had a certificate of being born free in St. Kitts, or that most of the people aboard the ship knew him not to be a slave, the color of his skin marked him a 'son of cain', and with the knowledge that they could take advantage of him without fear of justice, or retribution, they took everything from him. Realizing even a 'free' black man, is never truly free in the presence of racism, this quote exemplifies Equiano's understanding that there is no true escape from the injustices inflicted upon those of color until racism itself is abolished. Slavery was just the beginning of the suffering of the black man that would continue on to this very day, and as Equiano first realized hiding in the bushes in Africa: "If possibly I could escape all other animals, I could not those of the human kind." (Norton Pg. 679)
The Second quote is from Daniel O'Quinn's analysis of Equiano's narrative. In this quote, Daniel O'Quinn demonstrates Equiano's deliberate use of real life suffering to elicit a powerful response
from the reader. Provoking reader-response empathy, Equiano's narrative is obviously seen as a story aimed at provoking a political change. By describing first hand the pain of losing his family, the horror of the slave ship voyages, and the mistreatment faced throughout his life, Equiano brings the reader to a place where they can sympathize with his plight, and the plight of all colored men. Through the use of his passionate exclamations, christian rhetoric, and real life suffering, he allows the reader to sympathize with him through the passage of their own memories and experiences. The same sympathy would be difficult to attain, if at all possible through reason, because there is no reason to the inhumanities of slavery. Reason is a language of right and wrong, principles and theories, and these can't represent the true wickedness of slavery. As O'Quinn says; 'the method (Equiano's) operates from the inside out, self-referencially' -thus bringing the reader a level of empathy otherwise unattainable because it allows them to truly feel how he felt as a slave.Another interesting point that Equiano brings across through his narrative, is the manner of slavery in Africa, versus that in America, and Europe. As Equiano points out, African slavery was much more civilized and tolerable than European slavery. This can be observed through his first experiences of being subject to 'White' slavery versus that of African slavery:
"The White people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty." (Norton Pg. 683)
"I must acknowledge, in honor of those sable destroyers of human rights, that I never met with any ill treatment, or saw any offered to their slaves, except tying them, when necessary, to keep them from running away." (Norton Pg. 680)
As can be seen from both quotations, there is a thick contrast between European and African slavery. Where European slavery depended upon fear, physical abuse, ignorance and ultimate hopelessness, the African slavery Equiano experienced depended solely on fear, and a minimum amount of physical abuse. A stark contrast to European slavery, in both the house of the smith, and the Widow, he isn't beaten or mistreated, but instead is cared for, and housed, while being forced to work. It makes one wonder how the 'civilized' Europeans came to resort to such brutality. Does the rise of civilization inevitably perpetuate violence? Will society always need a lower class to take advantage of, be it in the form of slavery, or poverty?
20 points. "As can be seen from both quotations, there is a thick contrast between European and African slavery. Where European slavery depended upon fear, physical abuse, ignorance and ultimate hopelessness, the African slavery Equiano experienced depended solely on fear, and a minimum amount of physical abuse." Intersting contrast.
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