The book is addressed to the British abolitionists by Equiano, a former slave from Guinea, whose aim is to call for the abolitionists to stop slave trade and aid the Africans who suffer from the trade. The author also aims at setting the record straight and ending the spread of lies written in the Oracle, which had questioned his origin by suggesting that Equiano was from West Indies, and not born in Africa. The author recalls the article and claims that the false allegations had tarnished his name and character hence the claim that he intended to defend against the charges that he calls, “both cruel and unjust.” Equiano chooses a simple and soft communication tactic to air the aims of the book and demonstrate that he is not worthy to be writing the requests he makes in the book to the different people he addressed his letters to before the first chapter. This paper aims at reviewing the letters and first chapter of the book.
Letters to Various People
The note from Tollock addressed to Montieth concerning the false allegations about Equiano that is referenced as Gustavus Vassa, the name given to him by the slavers, illustrate the fears that the Oracle article’s writer was a slave trade backer aiming to silence the informed dissent of the benefits of slavery to the African slaves. The other letter from Reverend Dr. Baker of London to Vassa stated that he had called for an apology from the writer of the article. The next article written by Vassa is addressed to the Lords Spiritual, Temporal, and the Commons of the Parliament of Britain. Equiano refers the letter as a narrative to them in which he aims to illustrate the problems and sufferings of the slave trade 1 . He claims that he humbly hopes that their compassion will be excited to follow the ideals of a Christian nation. He illustrates his place by apologizing in advance of the content of the narrative by claiming that he is just, an unlettered African, but is optimistic that the description will serve its aim.
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The next letters and notes are from known and influential people who offer their recommendations to the people the book is addressed to, the letters for instance that by Peckard is a recommendation to the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The letter demonstrates that Equiano is sane, intellectual, and truthful in his narrative. Others such as Eddis recommend their belief that Equiano narrative is not an exaggeration. These letters by famous and influential men in Britain would ensure that the various people the story was addressed to would take the issues discussed seriously 2 . Equiano is calling himself; “an unlettered African” 3 is proof that without the recommendations the people in the government as his low status would not even read his narrative and color skin at the time did not allow him to address such influential people.
Chapter 1
This section discusses the African origin of the author whereby he discounts the allegations by the Oracle article by offering an account of his homeland. The chapter discusses the location, customs, administration, marriage, a way of living, commerce, war, superstition, dressing, buildings, and unity in Eboe, Guinea, Equiano’s place of birth in 1745 4 . The first paragraph focuses on addressing the intention of writing his recount on his homeland before introducing Guinea, a place he terms is dominated by the slave trade, at the time of this article. He illustrates the location of the country using measurements from other famous countries such as Senegal and Angola. He further claims that kingdoms ruled by kings with the Kingdom of Benen dominate the land, as it was much bigger and wealthier to other kingdoms. His place of birth is too far from the coast that the village has never seen a white man and although it is subject to the Kingdom of Benen’s authority, he had never seen him, as the leaders of the Eboe were chiefs and elders 5 . The description demonstrates that even before the European invasion some if not all African states had a working administration system. He continues by describing that his father was one of the elders.
The task of the elders as discussed was to settle disputes, listen to cases and lender punishment to the guilty person. One of the worst crime as Equiano states was adultery as it warranted death or becoming a slave. Adultery was limited as due to the fear of the punishment and high regards of towards marriage. The detailed process of marriage discussed and the different roles of men and women in the village demonstrate its importance to the community. The author also discusses the homestead style whereby the head of the house had a different house, the mother and daughters had a separate house from the slaves, and the man slept in the same house with the sons. The way of life within a family demonstrates that the boys and girls were prepared for their different roles in their future as either warriors or wives respectively.
Equiano claims that life was simple, luxuries were few, and unity defined the strength of the community, rituals such as circumcision, magicians, rituals of pouring some food to appease the spirits, superstitions on good and evil omen. Poultry, agriculture, and the entertainment during marriage ceremonies were all the great values that made them decent people, which he claims it unheard off for a woman to lose her virginity before the wedding 6 . The vices mentioned involved the wars that would result following the gifts from the slave traders. The chiefs gifted with European gifts would attack a neighboring village and bring war prisoners who were sold as slaves.
He continues by demonstrating that trade led to the separation of people with their innocent and decent simple lives where they did not alter insults as the civilized did, and although they offered him the knowledge of Christianity, which he is grateful of, the Parliament needed to abolish the slave trade. He called to them to use their Christianity guidelines to know about equality of all humans by stating, “Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivilized, and even barbarous. Did Nature make them inferior to their sons? And should they too have been made slaves? Every rational mind answers, No.” 7 . The chapter has focused on mainly all details of the African village at the time depicting that slavery was the worst experience that destroyed the beautiful and simple life of the Africans.
Bibliography
Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.
1 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.
2 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.
3 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Ibid.
4 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Ibid.
5 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.
6 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press, 2004. Print.
7 Costanzo, Angelo. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African . Ibid.
