The book describes equianos time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. The young olaudah equiano was captured in 1756, and thrust down into the stinking hold of a slave ship. Main article primary sources 1 olaudah equiano, letter to gordon turnbull after the publication of his book apology for negro slavery, in the public advertiser published on 5th february, 1788 to kidnap our fellow creatures, however they may differ in complexion, to degrade them into beasts of burthen, to deny them every right but those, and scarcely those we allow to a horse, to keep them. Journey of olaudah equiano and frederick douglass to freedom. Olaudah equiano 1745 1797 was an 18thcentury african writer and antislavery campaigner. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of. Abolition, ethnicity, and identity in the interesting narrative. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Equianos narrative is often considered the prototypical slave narrative, even though it doesnt perfectly fit into the structure of slavery, escape, and freedom that tends to encapsulate the form. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. As well as helping the abolitionist cause, it made equiano a wealthy man.
This extract, taken from chapter twelve of the interesting narrative, contains equiano s arguments against the slave trade, in particular, his argument that the trade did not make sound economic sense. Kidnapped from his african village at the age of eleven, and sold as a slave to a virginia planter. Olaudah equiano describes the horrors of the middle passage, 1780s. In an adventurous and extraordinary life, equiano c. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano became involved in the movement to abolish slavery which led to the publication in 1789 of his book the interesting narrative of. The journey from africa to america was called the middle passage. This african chant mourns the loss of olaudah equiano, an 11yearold. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. Religious roles in the narrative of the life of olaudah equiano the narrative of olaudah equiano is truly a magnificent one. Books by olaudah equiano author of the interesting.
Olaudiah equianos 1789 narrative tells the remarkable story of his childhood in africa, his kidnapping and subsequent years as a slave and seaman, and his eventual road to freedom in the caribbean and in england. This enabled him to become a british citizen and he began writing about his experiences. Africans in americapart 1equianos autobiography pbs. In this autobiography, the author, olaudah equiano, detailed his life journey from african captivity to atlantic slavery to british freedom. Not only does the reader get to see the world through equianos own personal experiences, we get to read a major autobiography that combined the form of a slave narrative with that of a spiritual conversion autobiography.
While an autobiography from a captured slave may seem as not credible, he wrote it at a time in his life where he could look at these terrible things and make peace. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. But, eventually one of his master gave him his freedom. Olaudah equiano 16 october 1745 31 march 1797, known in his lifetime as gustavus vassa. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano was an autobiography published in 1789 as he settled in england as a freed man as the spread of abolition consumed america. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the free ebook project gutenberg. The book details equianos time spent in slavery, and documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own. What did the autobiography of olaudah equiano reveal about. Edited and with notes by shelly eversley introduction by robert reidpharr in this truly astonishing eighteenthcentury memoir. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Olaudah equiano, was a former enslaved african, seaman and merchant who wrote an autobiography depicting the horrors of slavery and lobbied parliament for its abolition. The interesting life of olaudah equiano describes his life as. Equiano s narrative spurred nine english editions through 1794 and was published in dutch, french, and russian. Equiano s multilayered appeal for abolition of slavery.
The book describes equiano s time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. Equiano is the son of one of the largest nigerian ethnic groups, igbo family ibo. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that. His interesting narrative served as the foremost abolitionist writing of the day because he was an african voice that described the violence and degradation of the slave trade and of slavery itself.
Feb 01, 2007 sold as a slave is taken from his autobiography, the interesting slave, which is considered by some to be one of the greatest documents on the nature of slavery. Nov 08, 2017 buy exclusive journey of olaudah equiano and frederick douglass to freedom essay or use for free. Olaudah equiano life on board international slavery museum, liverpool museums the first object which saluted my eyes when i arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor and waiting for its cargo. Analysis of the depiction of slavery in the caribbean in olaudah equiano s interesting narrative book. Project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent english abolitionists of the 18th century. In twelve chapters, equiano presented a body of evidence that helped to support the cause of abolition and the end of transatlantic slaving by britain and others. Religious roles in the narrative of the life of olaudah. In 1788, equiano led a delegation to support william dolbergs bill on improving conditions for slave ships by limiting the number of africans ships could carry. Understanding gustavus vassa, or olaudah equiano, was the first successful professional author of african descent in the englishspeaking world. Why do you think it was so successful at capturing the publics interest. After that, equiano published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano in 1789 as a twovolume work as an argument against slavery. The life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa the african.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano was born into a rich west african family in 1745. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written by himself. From an early age, olaudah equiano experienced the horrors of slavery first hand. Equiano moved in high social circles, wrote and spoke frequently in various public media on abolition issues, and petitioned the british parliament on the evils of slavery.
He lived mainly in the british colonies of america and the united kingdom. Olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life. His interesting narrative is a spiritual autobiography, captivity narrative, travel book, adventure tale, slavery narrative. Olaudah equiano, later to be known as gustavus vassa was born in eboe region of benin, what is today, nigeria. The life of olaudah equiano quotes and analysis gradesaver. Buy exclusive journey of olaudah equiano and frederick douglass to freedom essay or use for free.
Olaudah equiano has 80 books on goodreads with 32988 ratings. Aug 07, 2017 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano is published by norton critical edition. The theme of freedom and slavery in the life of olaudah. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that often agitate for the end of slavery through a personal story. Full text of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. This extract, taken from chapter twelve of the interesting narrative, contains equianos arguments against the slave trade, in particular, his argument that the trade did not make sound economic sense. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of olaudah equiano. These filled me with astonishment which was soon converted to terror.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. The clergyman, at the same time, gave me a book, called a guide to the indians. Olaudah equianos most popular book is the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equ. Relates the experiences of an african prince who was kidnapped into slavery in. Read ebook a critical analysis of the depiction of. Olaudah equiano about 17451797 was one of the most prominent people of african heritage involved in the british debate for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in what is today southern nigeria. Here equiano recounts the middle passage, the trip that slaves made from africa to the western hemisphere. He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer. He describes scenes of outrageous torture and made it clear to his readers how the institution of slavery dehumanized both owner and slave. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano.
Children and youth in history the interesting narrative. Mar 14, 2020 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. His account of his life is not only one of the great documents of the abolition. Gustavus vassa, baptized as olaudah equiano was a calvinist sailor, abolitionist and nigerian writer. Oct 09, 2004 the young olaudah equiano was captured in 1756, and thrust down into the stinking hold of a slave ship. Olaudah equiano life on board a slaves account black. Download a critical analysis of the depiction of slavery in the caribbean in olaudah equiano s interesting narrative pdf our solutions was released by using a hope to work as a complete on the internet electronic catalogue that. The author of the first internationally bestselling slave narrativethe interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the anglocaribbean, british west indies, and sold as a slave to a captain in the royal navy. After that, equiano published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano in 1789 as a. The theme of freedom and slavery in the life of olaudah equiano from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. 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.
Googles latest doodle marks what would have been the 272nd birthday of olaudah equiano 17461797, the african writer whose memoir gave. Get everything you need to know about freedom and slavery in the life of olaudah equiano. It also showed the victims of slavery to be human beings with the same right to dignity as other people. Equianos autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies. It played an important role in the english abolitionist movement in 1807. In his biography, he records he was born in what is now nigeria, kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child.
Equianos autobiography is in part a reaction against this type of prejudice. His pioneering narrative of the journey from slavery to freedom, a bestseller first published in. Sold as a slave by olaudah equiano nook book ebook. In 1789 he published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. Again, equiano seems to separate slav ery into different categories, even lessening his argument against slavery in england by comparing it with the west indies. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Equianos passionate denouncement of the hypocrisy of the socalled christians who, by tearing families and friends apart, go beyond greed to add fresh horrors even to the wretchedness of slavery. Odd to me given that we are warned in the introduction that the first portion of the book, the first of its 20 or so 111 pages, is in fact pure fabrication. My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which seven lived to. He had seven children and many slaves, so equiano grew up in a slave society. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the interesting narrative of the life of olauduh equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african by olaudah equiano.
Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. The american slavery is said to have been proclaimed to be a mans heritage, as it had been absorbed to their culture, as it was being seen in the slaves appearances. No sex marriage masturbation, loneliness, cheating and shame. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african tells the firstperson story of olaudah equiano, an elevenyearold boy from an eastern province of benin, who was introduced. Sold as a slave is taken from his autobiography, the interesting slave, which is considered by some to be one of the greatest documents on the nature of slavery. Not only does the reader get to see the world through equiano s own personal experiences, we get to read a major autobiography that combined the form of a slave narrative with that of a spiritual conversion autobiography. Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. But by far his most important contribution to the abolition movement was his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the. The book was a best seller, and is still in print today. As detailed in his narrative, olaudah was one of the igbo people and lived as such until he was kidnapped at the age of eleven while the adults of the village were out tending to the fields. Hebrew nugget olaudah equiano autobiography duration. His narrative is extremely valuable not only for the wealth of information it presents on childrens experiences in the slave trade, but also for those examining the abolitionist movement in england during this period of time. He travelled widely throughout britain promoting the book.
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