Olaudah Equianos Autobiography - 650 Words

Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography moves beyond being a personal document. It provides the reader with important historical background about the slavery system and Guinea. In the first three chapter, Equiano tells us a lot about his native country, early years, and his kidnapping. The people of Eboe, where Equiano is born, are very civilized. They have their own laws and traditions. For example, the chiefs or elders of the place usually conduct the governmental proceedings. Their laws are built on democratic basis. They hold meeting to decide upon any dispute and punish crimes. They natives are very cooperative and organized. They all labor and fight together from their early years. In addition, whenever a new bridegroom want to build his house, everyone helps him and expect nothing in return. One of the natives’ best traits is being pragmatic. They could make drinks, clothes, and perfumes out of simple materials. They are not only good at manufacturing, but also trading a nd they even have their own currency. Unfortunately, the natives are not perfect as Equiano tries to portray them. Even though women and men almost wear the same clothes, which symbolizes equality, women are not considered equal to men. When a couple marry, everything that the girls own becomes the bridegroom’s property. Similarly, if a woman cheats on her husband, she is punished severely. While it is so common to find husbands cheating on their wives. Before moving on, it should be pointed out that inShow MoreRelatedBenjamin Franklin And Olaudah Equiano1127 Words   |  5 Pages Benjamin Franklin and Olaudah Equiano lived during the same time period. Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the Untied States, and his commitment to making his country better was remarkable. Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography from 1771- 1791. Franklin passed away before he was able to see his autobiography published in 1791. Olaudah Equiano was a young boy when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He was forced to work on naval vessels and on plantations in Virginia. EquianoRead More Jessica Rodriguez Essay1364 Words   |  6 PagesParadise Historical Accuracy in Equiano’s Novel Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself, has become a very important piece of literature. Equiano established a new type of literature with this novel. It was the first autobiography/slave narrative ever written. Many other slaves, such as Fredrick Douglass, followed his example in writing autobiographies or slave narratives. Equiano notRead MoreThe Life Of Frederick Douglass And Olaudah Equiano1398 Words   |  6 Pagesinto the past. There are two slaves in particular that give people a way to see life through their eyes. Frederick Douglass and Olaudah Equiano were two slaves during those times that were forced into the world of slavery. Frederick Douglass’s â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave† and Olaudah Equiano’s â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano† are literary pieces that talk about their views, experiences, and ideas in relation to slavery. The narratives of DouglassRead MoreThe Narrative Of Olaudah Equiano1123 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Parrill Christopher McBride LITR220 July 2, 2017 Does It Matter Where Olaudah Equiano Was Born? The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, by Olaudah Equiano, can be described as one of the most successful literary prose written by an African-American up to the start of the Civil War. Autobiographies were not considered a form genre in the literary field at the time it was published in 1789 and few books that had been produced in America gaveRead MoreOlaudah Equiano s Life Of The Nineteenth Century African American Writers1362 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I was named Olaudah, which in our language signifies vicissitude, or fortunate; also, one favored, and having a loud voice and well spoken† (Equiano 23). This quote comes from the autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, which as the title states, illustrates the life of the eighteenth century African American writer, Olaudah Equiano. The quote mentioned foreshadows the more favorable slave life the author experienced in contrast to the average Atlantic serf in theRead More Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa Essay1022 Words   |  5 PagesOlaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa It was in 1758 when Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped from his home in Southeastern Nigeria and sold into slavery. Equiano was just eleven years old at the time and was forced to leave his Ibo religion, his family, and all else familiar. His account of being introduced to the Europeans which forced him into slavery is especially powerful, for Equiano had never laid sight on a white man before. ...I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed upRead MoreOlaudah Equiano, A Reliable Source For Historians, Educators, And Students1140 Words   |  5 Pagessame this individual fights for freedom. This autobiography is a reliable source for historians, educators, and students. After analyzing the literature, I concluded that the autobiography’s main criteria included content, tone, perspective, and the structure of his writing. The authors ability to manipulate this criterion, allows for the successful creation of an environment that builds a connection between the audience and his journey. The author, Olaudah Equiano, was born in African Providence ofRead More Olaudah Equiano Essay1230 Words   |  5 Pagesnavigator, amateur scientist, and even a hairdresser. These are all jobs that Olaudah Equiano held during his lifetime. He has been called the quot;most influential African writer in both Africa, America and Britain before the Civil Warquot;, and was born in Essaka, Nigeria sometime during 1745 (ONeale, 153). His family was part of the Ibo tribe, which was located in the North Ika Ibo region of Essaka. In his earliest years, Olaudah Equiano was trained in the art of war. His daily exercises included shootingRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence Analysis1364 Words   |  6 Pagesthe unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and lists grievances why the American Colonies are seceding from Great Britain. Olaudah Equianos autobiography â€Å"The Interesting Narrative† is about his experience as a slave and the violations of their unali enable rights that are stated in Jeffersons Declaration. Olaudah Equiano’s book â€Å"The Interesting Narrative† should be required by all Americans to read so that history doesnt repeat itself and so our posterity knows that theRead MoreThe Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano806 Words   |  4 PagesOlaudah Equiano, born in 1745, was a prominent member of the british movement for ending the slave trade and wrote an autobiography entitled, â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano†. Equiano s main purpose within writing this excerpt from chapter two of his autobiography was to convince his audience to support the anti-Slave Trade movement, this is evident in his tone switching by the paragraph, his switch of style from a narrative to rhetorical questioning, and his liberal use