Olaudah Equiano

A detailed Summary of Olaudah Equiano

Book Critique on The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano's initial paragraph from his autobiography clearly states the intentions of the ensuing narrative and is perhaps the most important paragraph in the book. It sets the tone for his account, describes his attitude toward the book and gives and overall impression of Equiano himself. His work not meant merely for entertainment but for the purpose promoting the inhumanity and torments of slavery:

"I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity. . . People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity; all others they consign to contempt or oblivion. It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public, especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my s

Equiano begins by slyly juxtaposing American slavery with the more civil form of African servitude; introducing the African version of slavery that allows the reader to distinguish the differences. His first true appeal to pathos begins with the description of the disjointing of him and his sister "my sister and I were then separated, while we lay clasp in each others arms." Other, stronger, appeals to emotion follow later in the book during accounts of horror against slaves who received severe beatings or had body parts removed. Equiano then begins his numerous tales of ocean adventures with stories of fighting under the British flag against Spanish and French vessels. By fighting along side Englishman and experiencing the same dangers, these chronicles help personify himself as a typical European and not as a slave (who many considered less than human). It is after witnessing the barbarisms of slavery and the cruelty Africans face everyday where Equiano makes a strong plea to logos: "By changing your conduct, and treating your slaves as men, every cause of fear would be banished. They would be faithful, honest, intelligent, and vigorous; and peace, prosperity, and happiness would attend you." He argues that a well-treated man would work more efficiently than the slaves of current. After Equiano purchases his freedom he continues his exploits on the sea, but the focus of the final chapters is his conversion to and service for Christianity. Al

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Approximate Word count = 979
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People