The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is an autobiography by a former slave Olaudah Equiano first published in 1789 by abolitionists who wanted to end slavery. It is also one of the first slave narratives to reach a wide audience and be translated to German and Dutch. The book not only gives a detailed account of Olaudah’s life as a slave and then a free man, but also presents a first-hand viewpoint on slavery in America, Africa and West Indies by someone who has gone through it. The essay is going to focus on Equiano’s path to freedom, surprising experiences he had along the way, and his relationship with religion.
Olaudah had a happy childhood, being the youngest in the family of seven children and, therefore, being his mother’s favorite. It is interesting that while his parents made sure he received a good upbringing, they also taught him “the art of war”: daily exercise which included shooting and fighting (Equiano 47). It means that the life of the Equiano family was far from safe and peaceful, and the children needed to be taught self-defense. The reason for this becomes clear as one reads on: in the absence of adults, slave traders would often try to kidnap the children. It happened to Olaudah and his sister when he was only eleven; they never saw their family again. More than that, Equiano’s sister was soon taken away from him, which caused him a great sorrow, since she was his last connection to his family. They met only once after that, and then were separated again, this time forever. The grief which Olaudah felt was described in great detail to express the depth of feeling black people can experience and to point out how cruel it was of slave owners to separate families.
Being sold from one master to another, Olaudah traveled through Africa to the sea cost. In the book he does not describe everything he saw on his way, but it is clear that he encountered many different people and cultures. However, often he was able to communicate with them, as their language was not so different from his mother tongue. He also learned several new languages while traveling through Africa and, thus, could more or less understand any African person he encountered. It shows that, while all the inhabitants of Africa had their own cultures and lifestyles, they, nevertheless, had much in common with Equiano. It is remarkable, because it shows that different African tribes and settlements had the same origins and could communicate with each other. In comparison, Olaudah could not understand white crewmates when he was traveling to West Indies by sea. They were so different from them that the Africans on the ship did not understand their behavior and manners and could not imagine what to expect from them.
Olaudah’s further adventures included sailing, and it became his field of expertise. He was lucky to have kind and understanding masters who appreciated his knowledge and good behavior; however, few slave-owners were like that. Chapter 5 is mostly devoted to describing the mistreatment other black people faced from their masters. Obviously, it was important for him to present his every memory of that kind to the audience, so that people would realize how widespread and normalized was the abuse of black people at those times. The cruel treatment was so unbearable that some slaves chose death over life in chains and escaped or jumped overboard of a ship. Olaudah also spoke on taboo subjects such as white slave-owners raping their female slaves and then treating the children these women bore from them with the same cruelty. It was incredibly brave of him to talk about in his book and for this reason he deserves even more respect.
Despite the fact that compared to other slaves Olaudah’s life was quite good, freedom was hard to be earned even for him. He had to work on ships for 10-15 pence a day, while his own freedom cost him 70 pounds. Equiano was in a privileged position due to his knowledge, and other slaves who worked with him received about 6 pence a day and never more than 9, which he also mentioned in his book. To reach this goal he had to work hard for a few years. He was very useful to Robert King, his master, and he was reluctant to give Olaudah his freedom, but the captain of the ship Equiano used to go on helped him make a decision. Thus, Equiano received his freedom and became a free man in his own right. It is important to note, however, that to receive his freedom he had to change tens of masters, work since he was eleven years old, acquire all the knowledge he had through his own effort. It was not easy for him, but, working hard, he managed to do it.
It is worth noting, however, that no person should be working for their freedom. Freedom is a human right, and it was inhumane of white people to own slaves, however well they treated them. The fact that even Robert King, described by Olaudah as the best master he has ever had, was reluctant to give him his freedom and owned slaves, no matter his kindness, is showing how normal and legal white people considered slavery. It was pure xenophobia to assume that black people do not deserve freedom just by existing; that they worked better when chained and flogged; that the children of white men and black women did not deserve to be treated as children of the same men but from white women. White people’s superiority complex and their assumption that anyone who looks different is inferior to them remain popular viewpoints even in modern times. But so many black people were born into slavery and died enslaved and never had a chance, as Olaudah, to express their opinions and present their feelings about their lives. So many voices and minds were lost to slavery that every first-head account of it becomes valuable.
In his book Olaudah also writes a lot about his relationship with Christianity. From the offered chapters it is unknown when and how he was baptized, and whether it was his own decision or a desire of his owner. However, religion seems to be very important for Equiano, and it is clear that he studied the Bible extensively, since he often used quotes from it in the text. God is present in every Olaudah’s decision: for example, he contemplated suicide a few times but did not follow through with it because it is a sin. He also often relied on Bible to describe his feelings and explain his motivations. He did not blame his sufferings on others but only on himself, thinking it was the punishment for his sins and striving to correct his mistakes to please the Lord.
However, while watching other black people being abused, hurt and murdered, he questioned the existence of God because he was sure that God would put an end to the slaves’ misery if He could see it. He often wondered how God allows white people to commit such atrocities against black people. It is understandable, because it is against God’s nature to leave innocent people to be hurt and killed without mercy. Many slaves were also Christian, and Olaudah could not understand why God would allow such bad treatment of His own children. This made Equiano doubt his beliefs, but he always stayed true to them and to his ideals and behaved as a true Christian. Olaudah always remained faithful to his religion and it influenced his every decision.
Apart from presenting a detailed narrative of Equiano’s life, the book also provides the reader with valuable knowledge of the life in the 18th century and the worldviews of many people in different social positions. Since Equiano traveled much, the book also contains information about different countries he was in and the people who lived there at the time. It also shares professional knowledge Olaudah gathered during his work for different masters and on ships. The book allows the readers to learn about numerous different people and cultures and broaden their horizons.
In conclusion, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is a book which is a must-read for everyone interested in the American history. The descriptions of the lives of Equiano and other black people he encountered present an appalling picture of slavery in America. It is an honest, detailed narrative which not only tells the story of an extremely knowledgeable and hardworking man who earned his success himself, but also shows all the terrors of slavery and condemns it. It is also a good example of the viewpoints and attitudes which existed in America in the 18th century and paints a convincing picture of a life at those times. This book presents many questions and deserves to be read by everyone.
Work Cited
Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Floating Press, 2009.