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THE LIFE OFOLAUDAH EQUIANO
A SLAVE NARRATIVE
SLAVERYBrought by the Dutch, the first African slaves inNorth America arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, in1619.
As the plantations grew, so did the slave trade.
The details about people who are so different from the people with whom he is familiar emphasize his confusion and fear.
The description of so many people chained together and of their expressions creates a horrific image.
In Equiano’s experience, slavery in Africa was farless brutal than slavery in the New World.
Seeing slavery through Equiano’s eyes captures the experience vividly.
Such a perspective can be far more powerful than reading facts or statistics.
Equiano creates a mood of confusion, fear, and despair.
By describing how he felt, Equiano shows the confusion of the situation and the horror of being held captive by cruel strangers.
Equiano describes the ship’s cargo hold as so crowded that each slave “had scarcely room toturn himself.”
In 1845, the British ship Albatross captured the Brazilian slave ship Albaroz.
Francis Meynell was a mate on the Albatross. Meynell later became a famous painter. His work is exhibited in the National Maritime Museum, London, England.
Equiano exposes the brutality of the white people on the ship.
The white people are cruel not only to the Africans, but also to each other, suggesting that they have no regard for people in general.
Equiano includes himself and all the other Africans on the ship as cargo.
Instead of being treated like human beings, theyare treated like cargo, or objects to be transported and sold.
WRITER’S TECHNIQUE
The writer of this narrative wanted to expose the horrors of slavery in order to support itsabolition.
PUNISHMENTSEquiano states that previously he was beaten
forNOT eating.
Now people ARE being beaten for trying to eat.
CHARACTERIZATION
Through Equiano’s actions, comments, and descriptions his personality is revealed.
Equiano is
1.Observant: he can remember in vivid details events that happened to him long ago.
2.Curious: he is very curious when he watches the sailors use their strange instrument.
3. Resilient: he remains resilient despite the staggering hardships of the journey.
In addition to brutal treatment onboard, slaveshad to deal with the threats of bad weatherand being thrown overboard.
Equiano describes the Africans as sheep.
Reinforcing the idea that they are still being treated as cargo or as animals, not as humans.
LITERARY ELEMENT
The writer’s tone changes from a first-person account to direct address—an appeal to makechanges.
LITERARY ELEMENT
Equiano appeals to these people’s own religiousbeliefs by quoting the Bible, to emphasizethe importance of abolishing slavery.
INTERNET CONNECTIONFor more information on first-hand accounts ofslave narratives go to the Library of Congress’shome page at www.loc.gov.
Search for the “African American History and Culture” page.
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