Fryer 1984, Hochschild 2005, and Brown 2006 recognize Equianos role in the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade. His story is an inspiration to all who read it, and his contributions to literature and to the fight against slavery are significant and lasting. Equiano's narrative plays a key role in such a narrative, and so his birth takes on special importance. LitCharts Teacher Editions. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, was published in 1791 . That license does not apply to third-party material. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. His famous autobiography can be considered to be one of the causes of the success of a British movement that wanted to end the slave trade. Equiano is even baptized in 1759, although his conversion later in his life was a more profoundly impactful event in his spiritual growth. Equiano switches the stereotypical terms of civilized and savage by calling an African tribe more civilized than English culture. The Interesting Narrative is an essential work because of Equianos vivid rendering of enslaved peoples experience of the slave trade, his picture of 18th-century Africa as a model of social harmony defiled by greed, and his eloquent argument in support of abolition. In 2009 a tablet memorializing Equiano was installed at Londons St. Margarets Church, where he was baptized in 1759. (6) At the end of Chapter 1, why does Equiano quote from Paul's speech to the Athenians? He was born into a local tribe and described the area he grew up in as a "nation of dancers, musicians and poets.". Equiano later recounted a conversation he had with a Mr. Drummond who boasted of selling 41,000 Africans into slavery. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. O'Brien, John. It was published in 1789, at a time IvyPanda. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. J.E. The word of God was sweet to my taste, yea sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. According to his own account, Equiano was captured in his Igbo village at age 11, sold into slavery, and taken to the West Indies. We will write a custom Essay on Equianos Influence and Narrative specifically for you for only 11.00 9.35/page. His constantly evolving views on Christianity paired with varied interactions with Europeans changed his perception of the new culture he found himself thrust into and played an important role in the development of Equianos self identification as an ex-slave or an Englishman. It went through nine editions in his lifetime and helped gain passage of the British Slave Trade Act 1807, which abolished the slave trade. Carretta 2005 is the authoritative study. In 1792 Equiano married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen, with whom he had two daughters. To Tell a Free Story: The First Century of Afro-American Autobiography, 17601865. These two positions are incompatible. [10] Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, 160. Your email address will not be published. Social scientists begin with Equiano. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Secondly, while many slaves of the following generations were born in captivity and not in the countries of their nations, it did not affect the way slave sellers and buyers treated them. Important account of the intellectual and political origins of the rise of the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade, noting Equianos role in that movement.
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