Olaudah Equiano (ca. 1745-1797)
The Interesting Narrative of the Life
Things to Consider:
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Identity: Racial, Sexual, National
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Attitudes toward Slavery: Consistent or Contradictory?
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Religious Belief and the Formation of Attitudes toward Slavery
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Treatment of Slaves: Determining Factors in Africa and Elsewhere
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Relationships between Men & Women, Black & White
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Language: Appeals to God, Appeals to Logic
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Re-Socialization/Acculturation
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Dates:
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1772: Mansfield Case (No Slave could be forcibly removed from
England)
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1773: Wheatley's Poems on Various Subjects published (England)
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1775: American War for Independence begins
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1783: American War for Independence ends
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1789: French War for Independence begins
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Equiano's Narrative published (England)
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1791: Equiano's Narrative published (America)
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1793: France abolished slavery in St. Dominique
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1802: Slavery reestablished by French under Napoleon
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1804: Haitian Independence
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1807: Britain, U.S. abolish slave trade
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1833: Slavery in British territories "abolished"
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(As of Aug. 1, 1834, for those under six; others become unpaid "Apprentices"
for six year period)
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1838: July 1: All British slaves freed
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1863: Emancipation Proclamation in U.S.
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1865: Thirteenth Amendment to U.S. Constitution ratified, ending
slavery
** Homework Questions **
Chapter One: Apologia and Background:
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What is the purpose of this chapter?
197:
-
Which aspects of his native culture relate to aspects of other countries?
Why is he making these comparisons?
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What is libation? What does it involve? What is its purpose?
198:
-
Describe the system of slavery practiced by Equiano's community and
in the surrounding communities.
Chapter Two: Kidnapping, Middle Passage aboard African Snow:
206-9:
-
Describe Equiano's view of the Middle Passage. What does this
experience involve for him?
Chapter Three: To Virginia and England:
210:
-
Why is he called Jacob? Why is this significant?
211:
-
Why does he get renamed Gustavus Vassa? Why does he prefer to
be called Jacob?
215:
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What does Equiano mean when he mentions "our troops," "our men," and
"the enemy"?
Chapter Four
Web Site 
:
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What does Equiano mean when he says he has become "almost an Englishman"?
Why almost?
Chapter Five:
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Why does it appear "as if it were no crime in the whites to rob an innocent
African girl of her virtue, but most heinous in a black man only to gratify
a passion of nature, where the temptation was offered by one of a different
color, though the most abandoned woman of her species"?
Other Discussion Questions:
Chapter One:
196:
-
Explain: "What passes in one family or village may serve as a
specimen of the whole nation" (196).
-
What is Embrenche?
-
Marriage Ritual as Exchange of property: How is this portrayed in relation
to that in Othello?
199:
-
Where do they get their Slaves?
-
Describe their theological views. How do they relate to the theological
perspectives of other cultures?
200-1:
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How does this community compare to that of the Jews? Why is Equiano
making this comparison?
201:
-
How are snakes favorable omens?
Chapter Two:
202:
-
Why does he again begin with an apologia?
205:
-
What happens that makes him "forget" that he is a slave?
Chapter Three:
210:
-
What is an Iron Muzzle?
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Explain the significance of the Watch and the Picture.
211:
-
Who has a "mind superior to prejudice"? Explain.
212:
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What is a Grampus? Why is Equiano afraid of them?
213:
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Why does he try to wash his face to resemble the white girl?
214:
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Why is he induced to fight with a white boy?
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Why does he mention the story of the man who lost his eye?
216:
-
Explain what Equiano means when he says that, after the military campaign,
"my master and I soon followed with a press gang, as we wanted some hands
to complete our complement" (241). What is a press-gang? Who are
"we"?
Chapter Five:
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What is an overseer?
-
How many slaves were needed annually to maintain the original stock
in the West Indies? Why?
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Why doesn't God's judgment come down upon these cruel masters?
Questions for Chapters not Included
in this Edition (Page #s refer to 1st Ed.):
Chapter Four:
242:
-
What does Equiano mean when he says he has become "almost an Englishman"?
Why almost?
Chapter Seven:
269:
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How does Equiano secure his freedom?
Chapter Ten:
288:
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Why does Equiano "seek the Lord with full purpose of heart"?
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Why do Quakers, Catholics, and Jews not suffice for him?
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Although he had been freed in 1766, why is he still seeking "masters"?
290:
291:
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How, does he learn, is salvation to be found?
294:
-
Why does the Bible take on added meaning for him?
295-97:
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How would you characterize the verses he presents at the end of this
chapter? How has religion influenced his view of his enslavement?
Chapter Eleven:
299:
-
Why does he reject the offer to join the Catholic Church?
301:
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Why does Equiano help Doctor Irving buy slaves? Why does he pick
his own countrymen?
Chapter Twelve:
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Why is Equiano's life more settled after his return to London?
302:
-
How does the relationship between men and women in Central America compare
to
that in Africa?
304:
-
Explain: "All my poor countrymen, the slaves, when they heard
of my leaving them, were very sorry, as I had always treated them with
care and affection, and did everything I could to comfort the poor creatures,
and make their condition easy" (304).
304-7:
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How does Equiano keep getting "tricked" on his way to Jamaica?
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If he's not afraid of death, why does he bow to death threats?
308-9:
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Why does Equiano want to become a missionary to Africa? Why is
he unsuccessful?
311:
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Why are the poor blacks being sent to Sierre Leone?
313:
-
Why does the mission to send the poor blacks to Sierre Leone fail?
315:
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Why, according to Equiano, would ending slavery be in England's economic
best interest?
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