This passage shows Oroonoko’s contempt with the idea of dying over becoming a slave. Pleased is defined as “To be agreeable to; to gratify, satisfy, delight.”. By being pleased with his idea of starvation his rage and indignation resolves and he lays himself down to die by refusing the food brought to him rather than continue on into a life of slavery. This again emphasizes how Oroonoko would rather die than be a slave.

"please, v." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/145560. Accessed 11 February 2020.

In this passage, Oroonoko resolves to die from starvation rather than continue to live and be sold into slavery. The Oxford English Dictionary defines want as “Not to have, to be without; to be deficient in; to lack” and defines perish as “Of a person, animal, or plant: to suffer a violent, sudden, or untimely death; to die; to be killed.” In this case, Oroonoko would deprive himself of food until his death and on many occasions throughout the text is more contempt with dying than being a slave.

"want, v." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/225527. Accessed 11 February 2020.

This passage is talking about how the slave traders feared and prevented Oroonoko from committing suicide. Furnished is defined as “Possessed of one's faculties physical and mental”. In this case furnished is in regards to the ideas about suicide in Oroonoko’s head. This passage specifically shows Oroonoko’s suicidal thoughts and even alludes to his later murder suicide attempt of himself and his beloved Imoinda.

"furnished, adj." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/75679. Accessed 11 February 2020.

This passage shows a glimpse into how Oroonoko feels about being enslaved. The slave traders had to tie Oroonoko to where he was unable to move for fear that he would kill himself by banging his head repeatedly and or retaliate for being captured. Oroonoko later attempts to lead a rebellion and that it is more honorable to die than continue being enslaved (https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/102). Thus this passage alludes to future slave rebellion and Oroonoko’s discontempt with a life of slavery even before he had been sold into slavery.

Aphra Behn, “Passage from Oroonoko on the Collective Consciousness of Slaves and the Notion of Honor over Death,” Enlightenmens, accessed February 11, 2020, https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/102

This passage alludes to the inhumane treatment of Oroonoko as well as the extra care and effort the slave traders put into subduing him for fear of rebellion. Fetters are defined as A chain or shackle for the feet of a human being or animal; hence gen. a bond, shackle. In this instance the slave traders used the restraints to hold his hands so that he could not resist or start a rebllion. This is a precaution that proves effective and is in direct contrast to later in Oroonoko, where he is given free range and goes crazy (as shown here in the gallery https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/129) .

Alphra Behn, “Oroonoko goes crazy.,” Enlightenmens, accessed February 11, 2020, https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/129.

"fetter, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/69626. Accessed 11 February 2020.

This passage shows the narrator's struggle between what she thinks about Oroonoko and how she feels about him.The Oxford English Dictionary notes that lion can mean “a person of note or celebrity who is sought after” and “Things of note, celebrity, or curiosity (in a town, etc.); sights worth seeing”. It appears as if the narrator struggles to see Oroonoko as a slave and thinks of him to be better than slavery. Oroonoko being idealized by the narrator is a frequent theme throughout the text and is seen here, (https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/411) another enlightenmens gallery post.

Aphra Behn, “Description of Oroonoko,” Enlightenmens, accessed February 11, 2020, https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/411.

"lion, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/108800. Accessed 11 February 2020.

This passage shows how the narrator is uncomfortable with the thought of Oroonoko being enslaved as well as Oroonoko’s personal feelings about becoming a slave. The narrator speaks of how “easily guessed” Oroonoko “resented this indignity”. The narrator also refers to Oroonoko as a prince, which is true in the literal sense, however prince is also defined as “A person who or thing which is pre-eminent in a specified class or sphere; the chief; the greatest or best.” This is related to a point later in the text, (https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/94), where Oroonoko speaks on the mistreatment and loss of identity that slaves are exposed to. The specific language used to describe Oroonoko’s resentment to “this indignity” and calling him a prince, clearly shows that the narrator feels that he is of a higher class and worthiness than that of someone who should be sold into slavery. This language also shows the reader how unhappy the narrator perceives Oroonoko to be.

Aphra Behn, “Passage from Oroonoko on the Mistreatment of Slaves and their Loss of Identity,” Enlightenmens, accessed February 11, 2020, https://enlightenmens.lmc.gatech.edu/items/show/94.

"prince, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/151403. Accessed 11 February 2020.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "obdurate" as "Hardened against persuasion, entreaty, the feeling of pity, etc.; obstinate, unyielding, relentless, hard-hearted."

"obdurate, adj. and n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/129531. Accessed 7 February 2020.