The following autumn I ventured upon a college career against my mother's will. I had written for her approval, but in her reply I found no encouragement.
This passage exemplifies the theme of Zitkala Sa's despondent longing for her mother's encouragement and support. Zitkala Sa expresses this theme more as she moves farther away from her mother and continually discriminated against for being different.
While I thus went on, filled with the thoughts of freedom, and resisting oppression as well as I was able, my life hung daily in suspense, particularly in the surfs I have formerly mentioned, as I could not swim. These are extremely violent throughout the West Indies, and I was ever exposed to their howling rage and devouring fury in all the islands.
The use of imagery inspires fear and exemplifies Equiano's challenges.
"—No peace is given To us enslav'd, but custody severe; And stripes and arbitrary punishment Inflicted—What peace can we return? But to our power, hostility and hate; Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though slow, Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suffering feel."
This poem expresses the emotion and sensory experience of perseverance through brutality.
those many instances of oppression, extortion, and cruelty, which I have been a witness to in the West Indies: but, were I to enumerate them all, the catalogue would be tedious and disgusting. The punishments of the slaves on every trifling occasion are so frequent, and so well known, together with the different instruments with which they are tortured, that it cannot any longer afford novelty to recite them; and they are too shocking to yield delight either to the writer or the reader. I shall therefore hereafter only mention such as incidentally befel myself in the course of my adventures.
Equiano's use of emotion through the times that he is beaten is hard to read. Yet, the way he perseveres through his struggles is captivating.
This speech of the captain was like life to the dead to me, and instantly my soul glorified God; and still more so on hearing my master immediately say that I was a sensible fellow, and he never did intend to use me as a common slave; and that but for the entreaties of the captain, and his character of me, he would not have let me go from the stores about as I had done; that also, in so doing, he thought by carrying one little thing or other to different places to sell I might make money.
Equiano seems ecstatic that others are showing him compassion that most common slaves did not receive during this time period. This shift in tone could easily make the reader feel empathy and happiness for Equiano at the same time.
Had I wished to run away I did not want opportunities, which frequently presented themselves; and particularly at one time, soon after this. When we were at the island of Gaurdeloupe there was a large fleet of merchantmen bound for Old France; and, seamen then being very scarce, they gave from fifteen to twenty pounds a man for the run. Our mate, and all the white sailors, left our vessel on this account, and went on board of the French ships. They would have had me also to go with them, for they regarded me; and they swore to protect me, if I would go: and, as the fleet was to sail the next day, I really believe I could have got safe to Europe at that time.
Equiano is incredibly smart and he uses pathos to convince his readers of this. Even though there are a lot of opportunities for Equiano to leave and escape, he stays and through his servitude is able to gain freedom.
in the year 1765; and during the time we were loading her, and getting ready for the voyage, I worked with redoubled alacrity, from the hope of getting money enough by these voyages to buy my freedom in time, if it should please God; and also to see the town of Philadelphia, which I had heard a great deal about for some years past; besides which, I had always longed to prove my master's promise the first day I came to him.
During this time period, many Europeans feared that the bible would lead to higher educated slaves. In addition they believed that these educated slaves would in turn revolt against the abuse of power displayed by landowning whites.
for one Sunday night, as I was with some negroes in their master's yard in the town of Savannah, it happened that their master, one Doctor Perkins, who was a very severe and cruel man, came in drunk; and, not liking to see any strange negroes in his yard, he and a ruffian of a white man he had in his service beset me in an instant, and both of them struck me with the first weapons they could get hold of. I cried out as long as I could for help and mercy; but, though I gave a good account of myself, and he knew my captain, who lodged hard by him, it was to no purpose. They beat and mangled me in a shameful manner, leaving me near dead. I lost so much blood from the wounds I received, that I lay quite motionless, and was so benumbed that I could not feel any thing for many hours. Early in the morning they took me away to the jail.
The injustices committed by white landowning males demonstrates the destructiveness of the slave trade. Through abusing and dehumanizing slaves such as Equiano's slave owners and powerful white males were able to strip slaves of their identity and in Equiano's case even his family.
When we were safe arrived at Montserrat, and I had got ashore, I forgot my former resolutions.—Alas! how prone is the heart to leave that God it wishes to love! and how strongly do the things of this world strike the senses and captivate the soul!—After our vessel was discharged, we soon got her ready, and took in, as usual, some of the poor oppressed natives of Africa, and other negroes; we then set off again for Georgia and Charlestown.
Equiano sympathizes with African Americans as he was from Africa. Even though this is not proven, "Equiano must surely have known that the most intensive search would be made to discredit his work and, through it, the abolition movement. To invent a childhood that could at any time be publicly revealed as a fraud would be such a potentially damaging maneuver that Equiano, who was clearly deeply committed to the cause, would not have risked it. Under such circumstances, Equiano's account of his African origins must surely be reliable."
Carey, Brycchan. "OLAUDAH EQUIANO African or American?" Ideas, iEsthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era: 229-46. Print.
I had been told one evening of a wise woman, a Mrs. Davis, who revealed secrets, foretold events, &c. I put little faith in this story at first, as I could not conceive that any mortal could foresee the future disposals of Providence, nor did I believe in any other revelation than that of the Holy Scriptures; however, I was greatly astonished at seeing this woman in a dream that night, though a person I never before beheld in my life; this made such an impression on me, that I could not get the idea the next day out of my mind, and I then became as anxious to see her as I was before indifferent; accordingly in the evening, after we left off working, I inquired where she lived, and being directed to her, to my inexpressible surprise, beheld the very woman in the very same dress she appeared to me to wear in the vision. She immediately told me I had dreamed of her the preceding night; related to me many things that had happened with a correctness that astonished me; and finally told me I should not be long a slave: this was the more agreeable news, as I believed it the more readily from her having so faithfully related the past incidents of my life. She said I should be twice in very great danger of my life within eighteen months, which, if I escaped, I should afterwards go on well; so, giving me her blessing, we parted.
This vision that Equiano encounters exemplifies his religious faith. Through this religious faith Equiano is able to think about the future in different settings. This particular vision foreshadows Equiano's plans and journey in the near future.
When I left the room I immediately went, or rather flew, to the vessel, which being loaded, my master, as good as his word, trusted me with a tierce of rum, and another of sugar, when we sailed, and arrived safe at the elegant town of Philadelphia. I soon sold my goods here pretty well; and in this charming place I found every thing plentiful and cheap.
Equiano continues to invest his good fortunes for greater profits in the future. His frugality and ability to understand a capitalistic system eventually leads Equiano to purchasing his freedom.
but as I thought that if it were God's will I ever should be freed it would be so, and, on the contrary, if it was not his will it would not happen; so I hoped, if ever I were freed, whilst I was used well, it should be by honest means; but, as I could not help myself, he must do as he pleased; I could only hope and trust to the God of Heaven; and at that instant my mind was big with inventions and full of schemes to escape.
In the scholarly article titled, "The Poetics of Belonging in the Age of Enlightenment: Spiritual Metaphors of Being in Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative," author Rebecka Fisher argues that, "Equiano uses onto-theological metaphors of being to resist the realities and politics of empire, a politics that ensured that polities could never smoothly transition from empires to states, that upheaval and shifting allegiances would consistently characterize an individual’s existence, and that the character of modern human being would always be of a fractured but navigable nature."
Fisher, Rebecka Rutledge. "The Poetics of Belonging in the Age of Enlightenment: Spiritual Metaphors of Being in Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative." Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal: 72-97. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.
'I must sell you again: you cost me a great deal of money, no less than forty pounds sterling; and it will not do to lose so much. You are a valuable fellow,' continued he; 'and I can get any day for you one hundred guineas, from many gentlemen in this island.' And then he told me of Captain Doran's brother-in-law, a severe master, who ever wanted to buy me to make me his overseer. My captain also said he could get much more than a hundred guineas for me in Carolina.
This is a common theme of separation from friends and family. Most slaves were dehumanized through being separated from their loved ones.
I went with him into this vessel, and we took a load of new slaves for Georgia and Charles Town. My master now left me entirely to the captain, though he still wished for me to be with him; but I, who always much wished to lose sight of the West Indies, was not a little rejoiced at the thoughts of seeing any other country.
This quote exemplifies Equiano's servitude but it also shows that he is partaking in some of the same cruelties that brought him to America. Instead of practicing civil disobedience Equiano is looking out for himself instead of a group of mistreated slaves.
is it surprising that slaves, when mildly treated, should prefer even the misery of slavery to such a mockery of freedom? I was now completely disgusted with the West Indies, and thought I never should be entirely free until I had left them.
Equiano expresses his opinions about slavery and being free. He laments that supposedly free blacks could be mistreated just as slaves are. In most cases legal documents that free blacks obtained were ignored and their liberties were basically non existent. This mockery of freedom is basically another form of slavery and with freedom came a lack of protection from one's master.
These things opened my mind to a new scene of horror to which I had been before a stranger. Hitherto I had thought only slavery dreadful; but the state of a free negro appeared to me now equally so at least, and in some respects even worse, for they live in constant alarm for their liberty; and even this is but nominal, for they are universally insulted and plundered without the possibility of redress; for such is the equity of the West Indian laws, that no free negro's evidence will be admitted in their courts of justice.
In the article titled,"Equiano's Nativity: Negative Birthright, Indigenous Ethic, and Universal Human Rights," author Yael Ben-Zvi argues that ""Equiano’s decision is not bound by English law but is enabled by a foundational indigenous liberty. Within a couple of weeks, Equiano experiences Blackstone’s qualifications of the “liberty” of the “free negro,” which, especially in the colonies. By contrast, his “original free African state” is an unambiguous alternative that had failed him only when the logic of affirmative communal attachment on which it rests was violated, at his initial kidnapping in Africa."
Ben-Zvi, Yael. "Equiano's Nativity: Negative Birthright, Indigenous Ethic, and Universal Human Rights." Early American Literature: 399-423. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.
Joseph Clipson, he told him he was not free, and that he had orders from his master to bring him to Bermudas. The poor man could not believe the captain to be in earnest; but he was very soon undeceived, his men laying violent hands on him: and although he shewed a certificate of his being born free in St. Kitt's, and most people on board knew that he served his time to boat building, and always passed for a free man, yet he was taken forcibly out of our vessel. He then asked to be carried ashore before the secretary or magistrates, and these infernal invaders of human rights promised him he should; but, instead of that, they carried him on board of the other vessel: and the next day, without giving the poor man any hearing on shore, or suffering him even to see his wife or child, he was carried away, and probably doomed never more in this world to see them again.
This exemplifies the common theme of being separated from family. Not only does this dehumanize someone but it also represents that lack of rights of supposedly free blacks. In 1623 the English conquered St. Kitts and used slaves there. Since, St, Kitts was a starting destination for slavery it makes since that slavery and the injustices that come with it were common place at St.Kitts.
In the midst of these thoughts I therefore looked up with prayers anxiously to God for my liberty; and at the same time I used every honest means, and endeavoured all that was possible on my part to obtain it.
This is a common theme of Christianity in which Equiano uses as a resource to remain formidable. This quote also represents how Equiano's humility and servitude are gained through his religious faith.
At one of our trips to St. Kitt's I had eleven bits of my own; and my friendly captain lent me five bits more, with which I bought a Bible. I was very glad to get this book, which I scarcely could meet with any where.
In the article titled, "Cutting Edge: CHRISTIAN IMPERIALISM AND THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE," author Katie Cannon claims that Europeans during the 18th century "Used the Bible as the world’s constitution, regime apologists used legalistic literalist hermeneutics to convince themselves that African people are cursed with perpetual servitude. In turn, Europeans are ordained by God to control inferior people and exhorted to deal with such primitive pagans as usable, disposable functionaries"
Cannon, Katie Geneva. "Cutting Edge: CHRISTIAN IMPERIALISM AND THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion (Indiana University Press): 127-34. Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.
We then proceeded to the markets to sell them; and Providence was more favourable to us than we could have expected, for we sold our fruits uncommonly well; I got for mine about thirty-seven bits. Such a surprising reverse of fortune in so short a space of time seemed like a dream to me, and proved no small encouragement for me to trust the Lord in any situation.
Equiano is frugal and is incredibly smart. Through smart investments and good trading Equiano was able take advantage of a capitalistic system that was not supposed to favor slaves. This frugality and ability to save eventually led to Equiano purchasing his freedom.
I now, in the agony of distress and indignation, wished that the ire of God in his forked lightning might transfix these cruel oppressors among the dead.
Equiano tries to control his pride and suppress his anger through relying on God. Through his reliance on God Equiano is able to display the virtue of patience and fortitude. This particular text brings up the common theme of Christianity.
When we came there, in some little convenient time he and I went ashore with our fruits to sell them; but we had scarcely landed when we were met by two white men, who presently took our three bags from us. We could not at first guess what they meant to do; and for some time we thought they were jesting with us; but they too soon let us know otherwise, for they took our ventures immediately to a house hard by, and adjoining the fort, while we followed all the way begging of them to give us our fruits, but in vain. They not only refused to return them, but swore at us, and threatened if we did not immediately depart they would flog us well.
The cruelty of the rich exemplifies the abuse of power that the rich inflicted upon the poor in an effort to maintain complete control.
Thus was I going all about the islands upwards of four years, and ever trading as I went, during which I experienced many instances of ill usage, and have seen many injuries done to other negroes in our dealings with Europeans: and, amidst our recreations, when we have been dancing and merry-making, they, without cause, have molested and insulted us. Indeed I was more than once obliged to look up to God on high, as I had advised the poor fisherman some time before.
Equiano conveys hopelessness and vulnerability through the use of emotion. his description of inhumane treatment pulls at the heartstrings of the readers through sympathizing with them.
But the captain liked me also very much, and I was entirely his right-hand man. I did all I could to deserve his favour, and in return I received better treatment from him than any other I believe ever met with in the West Indies in my situation.
Equiano works diligently and adheres to legitimate authority. Equiano's hard work represents the dignity of Africans. This quote also exemplifies the high moral code that Equiano exemplifies through his servitude.
I immediately thought I might in time stand some chance by being on board to get a little money, or possibly make my escape if I should be used ill: I also expected to get better food, and in greater abundance; for I had felt much hunger oftentimes, though my master treated his slaves, as I have observed, uncommonly well.
even though Equiano and other slaves were treated well by his master, this was rarely the case. Around the mid 1400s when the Portuguese started using slave labor, Europeans realized that the use of slaves was a great economic opportunity. Thus, the Triangular trade started in full swing with the growth of sugar plantations where European manufactured goods were sent to Africa, the African Slaves were purchased and sent to America, and then the cash crops purchased in Americas returned to Europe. Since Slaves were seen as products they were often overworked and received little to no education, which led to many slaves having a strong reliance in God.
Some time in the year 1763 kind Providence seemed to appear rather more favourable to me.
In the article titled "The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and the U.S. Underground Railroad," author Jones Hood described the horrors that were inflicted upon slaves during the transatlantic slave trade, "between 1441 and 1888, Europeans and African nations engaged in an economic practice that enslaved many millions of Africans. This enslavement caused terrible misery and wreaked untold havoc upon their cultural foundation."
Hood, Jones Lottie. "The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and the U.S. Underground Railroad." International Congregational Journal: 47-57. EBSCO eBook Collection. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain; and 'tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says. So rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
Being frugal and smart leads is less risky then living lavishly.
or one poor person, there are an hundred indigent. By these, and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who through industry and frugality have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly, that a ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees
This is one of my favorite quotes as it exemplifies the value of working hard and saving wealth. Someone who works hard to make their money and lives a modest lifestyle has lived a more respectable life then someone who was once wealthy but lost all their wealth due to laziness.
imagine twenty shillings and twenty years can never be spent) but, always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom; then, as Poor Dick says, when the well's dry, they know the worth of water
This suggests that if one continues to take without ever giving then eventually they will run out of things to take. Valuing money is important because if one does not value money and spends all of it then they will lose all their money. Once one loses all their wealth they will realize the value of money.
And again, pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing you must buy ten more, that your appearance maybe all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, 'tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. And 'tis as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.
This passage expresses that in order to become wealthy it is important to live without greed. Greed could lead to foolish decisions and a loss of wealth. However, if one saves their money then one could accumulate enough money to become relatively wealthy over a long period of time.
But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this vendue, six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it
Ben suggests that learning to live with very little is better then living with any debt. Living with debt means giving over ones liberty and thus giving up control of ones future.
Great estates may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore. 'Tis however a folly soon punished; for pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt, as Poor Richard says. And in another place, pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. And after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health; or ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person, it creates envy, it hastens misfortune.
This quote is a lesson of living within ones own means. It is also a lesson of wealth and corruption and how a lavish lifestyle is foolish and could lead to loss of riches.
There are no gains, without pains
The suggestion that one has to go through struggles in order to reach triumph is motivational. This passage probably encouraged and inspired colonists to endure tyranny from the British. This idea probably also fueled the Boston Tea party in 1773, which was a rebellious act inspired by the pains and grievances of colonists.
drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
This passage embodies his theme of working hard leads to a more prosperous life then if one were to be lazy.
lost time is never found again
This phrase is timeless as it signifies that it is important to do all that one can because time continues to pass. As a college student this resonates as their often feels like there is not enough time to accomplish all the tasks that I had in mind.
"Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to?"
The high taxes that colonists had to pay under British rule led to angst among colonists. In 1758, it was very difficult for colonists to pay these taxes while building wealth.