narrative of the life of olaudah equiano

He realized that free blacks in some ways were worse off than slaves, since they had no master to look out for them, and no opportunities for legal redress of injury. Even though he still hoped to one day purchase freedom, Equiano's strong moral code precluded him from simply running away unless he was abused.Įquiano traveled to America and the West Indies with King, noting the terrible punishments and treatment inflicted upon the Africans who toiled on the plantations there. King was a kind master, and Equiano worked diligently and cheerfully for him.

Doran in turn sold Equiano to Robert King, a wealthy and benevolent Quaker merchant who worked out of Philadelphia. Equiano was devastated, but tried to resign himself to God’s will. Unfortunately, Pascal learning of Equiano's ambition, and cruelly sold him to Captain Doran of the Charming Sally. Through his ability at sea, he became indispensable to Pascal and became accustomed to his situation.Įquiano began to think of freedom, and hoped that Pascal might one day allow it. During this time, Equiano heard about the Christian God and started learning to read and write. Pascal had intended him as a gift for friends in London, but instead kept Equiano as an aid towards his naval endeavors during the Seven Years’ War. He was purchased quickly enough by Michael Henry Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. After being brought across Africa to the coast, he was sent to the West Indies via the horrific Middle Passage. While young children, he and his sister were seized by kidnappers and sold to slave traders.

He was born in the Eboe province of Africa, and provides cultural detail on those people. This work was produced to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain.Equiano begins his first-person narrative by including several letters that attest to both the veracity of his text and his good character. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is also one of the first widely read slave narratives. The book contains an interesting discussion of slavery in West Africa and illustrates how the experience differs from the dehumanising slavery of the Americas.

It discusses his time spent in slavery, serving primarily on galleys, documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the Bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano. Download cover art Download CD case insert The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Narrative of the life of olaudah equiano