Olaudah Equiano
Much like that of Mary Rowlandson's writing, Olaudah Equiano's writing shares the qualities of the captivity narrative. The goals behind his writing are for excitement, pity, and admiration as he states in the beginning: "People generally thing those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events; those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity" (748). This is essential, because his audience is Anglo-American and Euro-American people. Without their support in reading his work, nothing will be gained. The general European views of the slaves are: that they are not educated, that they are incapable of forming a coherent society, that they are inhuman, that they have no familial attachments, and that they do not have a religion. Equiano disproves most of these theories in his first chapter, where he says that his father was a chief and judge, and that his people do have an organized society with a complete political structure. Therefore it is easily seen that his goal in his writing is to improve the humanity of the Caucasians, and also to promote the interest of humanity by improving the lot of slaves and other Africans. In this
It was a change indeed, from a state of bliss to a scene which is inexpressible by me, as it discovered to me an element I had never before beheld, and till then had no idea of, and wherein such instances of hardship and cruelty continually occurred, as I can never reflect on but with horror. Not once does Equiano mention any abuse or ill treatment given to him. Much like that of Benjamin Franklin, Equiano uses this section of his story to tell the American Dream-Rags to Riches. Yet he describes the treatment of one mulatto man and gains doubts about being free. They pay no attention to the situation of pregnant women, nor the least attention to the lodging of the field Negroes. Pascal shows Equiano the European culture through his many trips to England. (751)Later, he is sold to a widow, where he is taken in as more of a companion to a young master than as a slave. After being bought by his first master Mr. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable. Yet with a closer read, he is not that much different than any other slave owners, just more tolerant and forgiving. Daniel Queen also teaches him how to shave and dress hair, as well as, read the Bible. His captain's clerk teaches him to write and perform arithmetic. Equiano, in his own way, does the same. Therefore, he will only continue to discuss further his treatment as a slave. This made them afraid of disobliging him; and as he treated his slaves better than nay other man o the island, so he was better and more faithfully served by them in return.
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Acceptance Essays
