12/2/09

British Literature

ID: 810-82-1373

Traveling Trials

Throughout The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, author and narrator Olaudah Equiano learns a tremendous amount about himself and his identity through his travels as a slave and as a free man. From being kidnapped from his home village in Africa, to being sold between multiple masters in numerous countries, to earning his freedom and pursing his aspirations, Equiano develops into a smart, strong, and confident free man. Interestingly, there are very specific instances throughout his life that Equiano purposely places more emphasis upon in his narrative. Most of these emphasized incidents occur while Equiano is a slave. This is because, while a slave, Equiano’s hardships provide him with the information that is pivotal to his ability to survive the difficulties of both free and slave life. It is during his times of forced travel, and not his free travel, that Equiano grows the most. He clearly depicts this in his writing and shows the reader that people discover the most about themselves while fighting through hardships and trials. In this essay, I will argue that Equiano makes his experiences as a slave look so valuable because his narrative reveals that those experiences, help him grow the most intellectually, morally, and religiously.

Although Equiano learns a vast amount of information during his time spent in England and America as a free man, it is when he is first forced to travel as a slave that he ascertains an understanding of the new world around him. With each new experience, his knowledge of the world, and the people in it, grows dramatically. By personally seeing different countries, cultures, and societies, he is able to learn more than any book could ever describe. His learning through experience can be seen when he talks about his initial fear of white men: “That fear, however, which was the effect of my ignorance, wore away as I began to know them. I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood every thing that was said. I no longer looked upon them as spirits” (Equiano 56). As he is forced to spend more time with Europeans, he gradually removes the false superstitions surrounding them. This is extremely important to the growth of Equiano as a person because, through his experience with the European sailors, he begins to think more rationally and discount the superstitious ways of his African culture according to European standards. This is a giant step towards European intellectual growth for Equiano because he is only able to expand his knowledge of the world by first ridding himself of the “false” beliefs he learned during childhood.

Another example of Equiano’s intellectual growth as a slave can be seen when he learns about, and begins to understand, business. Throughout much of his life as a slave he is forced to work on transatlantic cargo ships. It is from his time spent on these ships that he learns how to make money in modern society: “I bought a glass tumbler with my half bit, and when I came to Montserrat I sold it for a bit. Finding my tumbler so profitable, with this one bit I bought two tumblers more; and sold them for two bits” (Equiano 86). This simple understanding of economics is one of the biggest intellectual stepping-stones for Equiano because it gives him the knowledge he needs to obtain freedom. Starting with almost no money, he is able to slowly accumulate enough capital to buy his freedom with just this basic understanding of business transactions and profit. Equiano stresses the great importance of this accomplishment by continuing to discuss his ability to buy and sell various goods for profit throughout most of the novel.

Because he is captured as a young boy, Equiano is forced to develop his moral beliefs while growing up as a slave. While traveling as a slave between countries he often faces many moral and ethical decisions. It is by watching, experiencing, and comparing the terrible actions of the white sailors and settlers to the moral character of some of his captains that he is able to form his own moral views. Seeing the immorality of many of the white slave owners, politicians, and even clergymen and analyzing it against the morality of others allows Equiano to clearly see right from wrong. An example of his moral growth can be seen when Equiano and another slave have their fruits stolen from them by two white men in Santa Cruz. After begging and pleading with the two men, Equiano is given his fruits. However, the two men refuse to give back the fruits to the other slave: “The poor old man, wringing his hands, cried bitterly for his loss; and, indeed, he then did look up to God on high, which so moved me with pity for him, that I gave him nearly one third of my fruits” (Equiano 87). This scene clearly depicts Equiano’s moral fiber. Although the fruits are one of his sole possessions and the only way of buying his freedom, he still is able to part with them in order to help the plight of another. This story shows how, through being a slave, Equiano learns to respect the dignity of each and every human being. Believing in the dignity of all men is the foundation for Equiano’s fight against slavery. It could be further assumed that by learning this while a slave, Equiano was inspired to write his narrative. By watching many of the white men around him while he is an enslaved seaman, he forms the moral values that will guide him for the rest of his life.

Towards the end of his time as a slave, the reader is truly able to see the extent to which Equiano has grown morally. This is especially true when looking at the scene in which Equiano is given the perfect opportunity to run away from his master and guarantee his safety. This occurs when the captain of a French boat is paying all of the white seamen on Equiano’s ship to abandon the English flag and sail for France. All of the white sailors happily accept the bribe while Equiano chooses to stay behind: “As my master was kind, I would not attempt to leave him; and, remembering the old maxim, that ‘honesty is the best policy,’ I suffered them to go without me” (Equiano 91). In this passage, Equiano portrays the incredible amount that he grows throughout his time as a slave. He refuses to leave and secure his freedom simply because it would be morally wrong. Even while his master is participating in a morally corrupt institution, Equiano refuses to leave him in such a manner. He refuses to lower his moral standards. He has learned, through all of his trials and hardships, the difference from right and wrong. But taking it one step further, he has learned to choose to do right in all situations (even if this means giving up a chance at freedom). It is during his time as a slave that he builds such a strong moral fiber that affects all his decisions as a free man. For this reason, Equiano places a great amount of emphasis on the previous scene.

Throughout the narrative, Equiano’s moral growth coincides with his religious growth. He continually stresses the importance of religion and the effect that it had on his life. And although Equiano is able to truly learn and live the gospel while a free man, it is during his life as a slave that he first begins to understand and strive to be a Christian. His religious experiences as a slave create the foundation for his strong spiritual beliefs later in his life. This can be seen when he first learns of God and Christianity: “I asked all I could about it; and they gave me to understand it was worshipping God, who made us and all things. I was still at a great loss, and soon got into an endless field of inquiries” (Equiano 48). As can be seen from this passage, the initial knowledge of God and the Church greatly intrigued Equiano. This scene, in which he attends his first church service, sparks the curiosity inside of him to know anything and everything about Christianity. Without this experience as a slave, he may have never learned about, or wished to pursue learning about, the Christian faith. It is after this moment that Equiano begins to see God in everyday life experiences and as a sign of hope throughout his many hardships. In several instances throughout his life, only the hope of life after death and the want to please God gave Equiano the will to go on. This can all be traced back to the previous scene in which he first learns about Christianity. It is the start of his religious growth as a slave and is extremely important in shaping him into the man that he would become.

One of the quintessential aspects of Christianity is baptism. It symbolizes the cleansing of original sin and is believed to be essential to obtain eternal life. For this reason, this religious practice was of extreme importance in Equiano’s religious growth as a slave. His knowledge of the importance of baptism can be seen when he states, “Their servants told me I could not go to Heaven unless I was baptized. This made me very uneasy; for I had now some faint idea of a future state: accordingly I communicated my anxiety to the eldest Miss Guerin… and pressed her to have me baptized” (Equiano 57). This passage shows Equiano’s tremendous religious growth throughout his time as a slave. It can be seen that he has obviously developed a greater understanding of Christianity and, even more importantly, that he believes in it. At this point in his narrative, he has accepted the Christian faith as truth and is doing all he can to better himself in the eyes of God. His baptism is very significant because, during this time, slaves were considered property. Many white people, including members of the Church, felt that slaves were not human and, therefore, had fewer religious rights most likely including access to baptism at a church. His baptism is a momentous occasion that breaks social norms and is a pivotal point in his religious life. Although he may not have realized it at the time, his baptism confirmed and strengthened his belief in the Christian faith, and, additionally, spurred his pursuit of a Christian life as a free man.

In addition to Equiano growing the most morally, spiritually, and intellectually according to European standards during his travels as a slave, it is also during this time that he is forced to grow the fastest. Throughout his slave life, he faces a tremendous amount of trials and hardships in which his life is in jeopardy. If Equiano hadn’t been able to adapt, learn, and grow so quickly, he may not have been able to survive. It is only through his great development intellectually, morally, and religiously during his time as a slave that Equiano lived to write his narrative. It is a testament to his strength and courage throughout his life, and provides hope to people of all races around the world.

Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative in the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Norton Critical Editions). Boston: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. Print.

Throughout “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,” author and narrator Olaudah Equiano learns a tremendous amount about himself and his identity through his travels as a slave and as a free man. From being kidnapped from his home village in Africa, to being sold between multiple masters in numerous countries, to earning his freedom and pursing his aspirations, Equiano develops into a smart, strong, and confident free man. However, there are very specific instances throughout his life that Equiano purposely places more emphasis upon. Most of these emphasized incidents occur while Equiano is a slave. This is because, while a slave, Equiano’s hardships provide him with the information that is pivotal in his ability to survive the difficulties of both a free and slave life. It is during his times of forced travel, and not his free travel, that Equiano grows the most. He clearly depicts this in his writing and shows the reader that people discover the most about themselves while fighting through hardships and trials. In this essay, I will argue that Equiano makes his experiences as a slave look so valuable because, through those experiences, he grows the most intellectually, morally, and religiously.

Although Equiano learns a vast amount of information during his time spent in England and America as a free man, it is when he is first forced to travel as a slave that he ascertains an understanding of the new world around him. With each new experience, his knowledge of the world, and the people in it, grows dramatically. By personally seeing different countries, cultures, and societies, he is able to learn more than any book could ever describe. His learning through experience can be seen when he talks about his initial fear of white men. “That fear, however, which was the effect of my ignorance, wore away as I began to know them. I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood every thing that was said. I no longer looked upon them as spirits” (Equiano 56). As he is forced to spend more time with Europeans, he gradually removes the false superstitions surrounding them. This is extremely important to the growth of Equiano as a person because, through his experience with the European sailors, he is beginning to think more rationally and discount the superstitious ways of his African culture. This is a giant step towards intellectual growth for Equiano because he is only able to expand his knowledge of the world by first ridding himself of the false beliefs he learned during childhood.

Another example of Equiano’s intellectual growth as a slave can be seen when he learns about, and begins to understand, business. Throughout much of his life as a slave he is forced to work on transatlantic cargo ships. It is from his time spent on these ships that he learns how to make money in modern society. “I bought a glass tumbler with my half bit, and when I came to Montserrat I sold it for a bit. Finding my tumbler so profitable, with this one bit I bought two tumblers more; and sold them for two bits” (Equiano 86). This simple understanding of economics is one of the biggest intellectual stepping-stones for Equiano because it gives him the possibility of freedom. Starting from nearly nothing, he is able to buy his freedom only because he is able to gain a slight understanding of business. Equiano stresses the great importance of this accomplishment by continuing to discuss his ability to buy and sell various goods for profit throughout most of the novel. This is significant because, throughout the book, Equiano is quick to move from story to story. The fact that he continually brings up his “business savvy” shows how pivotal Equiano considers this skill in helping him earn his freedom and aiding in his survival as a free man.

Because he is captured as a young boy, Equiano is forced to develop his moral beliefs while growing up as a slave. While traveling between countries he often faces many moral and ethical decisions. It is by watching and experiencing the terrible actions of the white sailors and settlers that he is able to form his own moral views. Seeing the immorality of many of the white slave owners, politicians, and even clergymen allows Equiano to clearly see right from wrong. An example of his moral growth can be seen when Equiano and another slave have their fruits stolen from them by two white men in Santa Cruz. After begging and pleading with the two men, Equiano is given his fruits. However, the two men refuse to give back the fruits to the other slave. “The poor old man, wringing his hands, cried bitterly for his loss; and, indeed, he then did look up to God on high, which so moved me with pity for him, that I gave him nearly one third of my fruits” (Equiano 87). This scene clearly depicts Equiano’s moral fiber. Although the fruits are one of his sole possessions and the only way of buying his freedom, he still is able to part with them in order to help the plight of another. This story shows how, through being a slave, Equiano learns to respect the dignity of each and every human being. Believing in the dignity of all men is the foundation for Equiano’s fight against slavery. It could be further assumed that by learning this while a slave, Equiano was inspired to write his narrative. By watching many of the white men around him while he is an enslaved seaman, he forms the moral values that will guide him for the rest of his life.

Towards the end of his time as a slave, the reader is truly able to see the extent to which Equiano has grown morally. This is especially true when looking at the scene in which Equiano is given the perfect opportunity to run away from his master and guarantee his safety. This occurs when the captain of a French boat is paying all of the white seamen on Equiano’s ship to abandon the English flag and sail for France. All of the white sailors happily accept the bribe while Equiano chooses to stay behind. “As my master was kind, I would not attempt to leave him; and, remembering the old maxim, that ‘honesty is the best policy,’ I suffered them to go without me” (Equiano 91). In this passage, Equiano portrays the incredible amount that he grows throughout his time as a slave. He refuses to leave and secure his freedom simply because it would be morally wrong. Even while his master is participating in a morally corrupt institution, Equiano refuses to leave him in such a manner. He refuses to lower his moral standards. He has learned, through all of his trials and hardships, the difference from right and wrong. But taking it one step further, he has learned to choose to do right in all situations (even if this means giving up a chance at freedom). It is during his time as a slave that he builds such a strong moral fiber that affects all his decisions as a free man. For this reason, Equiano places a great amount of emphasis on the previous scene.

Throughout the narrative, Equiano continually stresses the importance of religion and the effect that it had on his life. And although Equiano is able to truly learn and live the gospel while a free man, it is during his life as a slave that he first begins to understand and strive to be a Christian. His religious experiences as a slave create the foundation for his strong spiritual beliefs later in his life. This can be seen when he first learns of God and Christianity. “I asked all I could about it; and they gave me to understand it was worshipping God, who made us and all things. I was still at a great loss, and soon got into an endless field of inquiries” (Equiano 48). As can be seen from this passage, the initial knowledge of God and the Church greatly intrigued Equiano. This scene, in which he attends his first church service, sparks the curiosity inside of him to know anything and everything about Christianity. Without this experience as a slave, he may have never learned about, or wished to pursue learning about, the Christian faith. It is after this moment that Equiano begins to see God in everyday life experiences and as a sign of hope throughout his many hardships. In several instances throughout his life, only the hope of life after death and the want to please God gave Equiano the will to go on. This can all be traced back to the previous scene in which he first learns about Christianity. It is the start of his religious growth as a slave and is extremely important in shaping him into the man that he would become.

One of the quintessential aspects of Christianity is baptism. It symbolizes the cleansing of original sin and is believed to be essential to obtain eternal life. For this reason, this religious practice was of extreme importance in Equiano’s religious growth as a slave. His knowledge of the importance of baptism can be seen when he states, “Their servants told me I could not go to Heaven unless I was baptized. This made me very uneasy; for I had now some faint idea of a future state: accordingly I communicated my anxiety to the eldest Miss Guerin… and pressed her to have me baptized” (Equiano 57). This passage shows Equiano’s tremendous religious growth throughout his time as a slave. It can be seen that he has obviously developed a greater understanding of Christianity and, even more importantly, that he believes in it. At this point in his narrative, he has accepted the Christian faith as truth and is doing all he can to better himself in the eyes of God. His baptism is very significant because, during this time, slaves were considered property. Many white people, including members of the Church, did not believe that slaves had the opportunity to achieve eternal life. His baptism is a momentous occasion that breaks social norms and is a pivotal point in his religious life. Although he may not have realized it at the time, his baptism confirmed and strengthened his belief in the Christian faith, and, additionally, spurred his pursuit of a Christian life as a free man.

In addition to Equiano growing the most during his travels as a slave, it is also during this time that he is forced to grow the fastest. Throughout his slave life, he faces a tremendous amount of trials and hardships in which his life is in jeopardy. If Equiano hadn’t been able to adapt, learn, and grow so quickly, he may not have been able to survive. It is only through his great development intellectually, morally, and religiously as his time as a slave that Equiano lived to write his narrative. It is a testament to his strength and courage throughout his life, and provides hope to people of all races around the world.

Ross Menachof

Project Option You Choose:

I will be doing option 1 (writing a 5-7 page essay).

Describe, in detail, what your project will do. (This should be a 1-2 page response.)

-       What do you think your topic will be?

In my paper, I will argue that Equiano, due to his involvement in forced travel, learned more about himself and his identity while as a slave. I will depict scenes from when Equiano traveled as a freeman and as a slave, and will show the massive internal growth that he experiences while traveling as a slave while simultaneously depicting his limited growth as a freeman.

-       What questions will your project answer?

My paper will answer questions regarding what Equiano learned throughout the novel and especially throughout his trials as a slave. It will also answer questions about the various types of information (religious, mathematical, life lessons, etc) and which specific types of information aided Equiano the most throughout his life.

-       What do you hypothesize your thesis statement might be (go ahead and guess)?

In this essay I will argue that Equiano, due to his involvement in forced travel, learned more about his true identity and self as a slave than he did while he was a freeman.

-       What challenges do you anticipate and what steps can you take to tackle them?

My biggest challenge will be to find specific passages from the book to be used in my paper. Equiano doesn’t directly talk about the things that he learned throughout his life experiences and finding specific quotes could prove troublesome. I will have to be diligent and patient in sorting through the various stories until I find evidence that directly relates to my thesis. Another challenge will be to prove that the information that Equiano learned while as a slave was more pertinent to his overall growth as a person. I will have to, once again, find strong evidence to support my claim and could also ask my blog team for their advice or suggestions.

-       Why do you think this is a good project?

I think this is a good project because my topic is rather interesting and ironic in my opinion. The claim that Equiano may have learned more about himself as a slave than as a freeman is a difficult statement to comprehend. However, I feel that this claim extends the belief that we learn the most about ourselves as we go through our hardest times. I will be able to write an essay on this topic that will be clear, interesting, and backed by textual evidence.