https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/443

Oroonoko sees the suffering of his current position as an opportunity to learn the truth about the Christians. The relationship between suffering and truth has been established for a very long time. In Robinson Crusoe, the first time he was able to seriously think about what he has done and what he will do, was when he was confronted by the ocean, and was suffering on the boat from the barrage of the wind and waves. Life is a tragedy and seeing it without filters is painful and difficult, but it is the only way to find truth. This idea can be traced back to the biblical story of the garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve learned about truth, but had to venture into the world with the suffering in it. When Oroonoko says he knows the truth about "the gods by whom [they] swear," he is saying their lies and tricks will send them to hell, while his truth and honor will bless him and the fellow slaves in "the next world". This remark is unchallenged because the Christians there knows it is true, and that they do not live according to the principles they swear.

http://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/113

Oroonoko sees Banister as someone worthy of killing him, so he does not resist and decides it is his time to die honorably as a martyr. Earlier in the novel, Imoinda embraced Oroonoko killing her, because if she was going to be killed, she wanted to be killed by a honest man, and Oroonoko felt the same way about his own death. Oroonoko acknowledges Banister as a man of his word, someone who's name has value. Oroonoko would not accept being killed by someone dishonest in their intentions driving him to live past the failed revolt and the loss of Imoinda and his son. But when Banister is about to kill Oroonoko, he smiles because he can now die an honorable death.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/128

Its ironic that while Oroonoko wants no part in Caesar's history, and he hates the "empire of the world", he was forced to go by the name Caesar. The catholic church is essentially the roman empire of this time, and by giving him the name Caesar, Mr. Trefry forces the responsibility for his current position and the state of the world onto Oroonoko. He is shackled to the destiny of Caesar, to be brutally murdered in the end, but he faces it head on, unlike Caesar who was stabbed in the back by dishonest men.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/264

Mr. Trefry are attempting to erase Oroonoko's identity by replacing his name with Caesar. Locke says a persons mind and their identity are defined by their experiences. By giving Oroonoko the new name of Caesar, Mr. Trefry is cutting him off from his past experiences and replacing them with those of Caesar. Everything that Oroonoko experienced has been placed under a different person that Caesar has a barrier identifying with.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/264

Oroonoko when leading the slave revolt, reclaims his name by refusing to accept the indignity of slavery. Oroonoko refers to caesar and the indignities that happened to him as a separate person. In the same way Mr. Trefry cut Oroonoko off from his past by changing his name, Oroonoko cut himself off of Mr. Trefry's control by rejecting that name. Locke says we are defined by our experiences, but this means by changing how we interpret our past through reflection, we can become a new person, or in Oroonoko's case return to who he truly is.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/425

The name Clemene could be a reference to Clymene from Greek Mythology. Clymene is the Titan of Fame and Infamy who was cast into Tartarus, and in another myth Clymene is the daughter of Catreus, who was sold into slavery, after a prophecy said she could be the one to kill Catreus (it was someone else in the end). In both myths Clymene was punished for the nature of her birth. Imoinda's story is similar to both these myths. Her virtues were corrupted by the world into fame, then she was punished for that fame, and sold into slavery. This name was chosen for her as an insult to injury and a reminder of the tragedy she experienced and lived.

Upbraid means to reproach, reprove, or censure a person.

"upbraid, v." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, oed.com/view/Entry/219836. Accessed 8 February 2020.

The use of this word demonstrates the effect of the comparison between the comparison made between Oroonoko and the captain in that look. Even though the captain has all the power, Oroonoko is looking down on him, and he is cowering from this glare. In spite of the physical circumstances of Oroonoko's position, he holds all the power over the mental part of this encounter.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/420

Oroonoko's name and reputation carries with it the honor and truth that he has lived his life with. According to Hume, "Our reputation, our character, our name are considerations of vast weight and importance," and Oroonoko leverages this weight to compare his honor with that of the captain. Oroonoko has lived without telling a lie, and stood up to the world around him by telling the truth about what he thinks in every circumstance. The captain's name is of so little value it is not even mentioned in the book, and his reputation is one of telling lies, so when this comparison is made, sympathy creates a feeling of pride in Oroonoko and shame in the captain.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/445

Since Oroonoko understands English it closes the distance between him and the Christians allowing for a sympathetic response between his passions and theirs. Hume says it is impossible for two disparate ideas to stay connected to influence each other. Oroonoko speaking in a language they can understand proves to the Christians that he can think forcing them to consider him as a person not just a slave. The shared language connects Oroonoko's idea of humanity to the Christians idea of humanity, and allows the events that follow to occur.

https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/133

He would rather die as Oroonoko a myrtr than live as Caesar a slave. This scene reminded me of the Budhist Monk who committed suicide in protest of the dictatorship of south Vietnam. Thích Quảng Đức set himself on fire in the middle of the street in Saigon, and was fixed like a rock until he died. Oroonoko and this Monk had the same stoicism as they died because dieing in this way on their own terms was the only way to live true to their principles, identity and name to the end.

When Caesar and Clemene are reunited, they reclaim their names of Oroonoko and Imoinda, as they remind each other of who they are and their purpose for living. Though after this moment passes they are once again Caeser and Clemene to the world.

Lighted up, having lustre or brilliancy; luminous, shining, bright, lustrous. Possessing lustre by reason of high birth or rank, noble or lofty action or qualities; distinguished, eminent; renowned, famous.

"illustrious, adj." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, oed.com/view/Entry/91591. Accessed 7 February 2020.

Lighted up, having lustre or brilliancy; luminous, shining, bright, lustrous. Possessing lustre by reason of high birth or rank, noble or lofty action or qualities; distinguished, eminent; renowned, famous.

From OED