Olaudah Equiano

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Biography:

Equiano was born in Esakka, what is now Nigeria, around 1745. At age 11, he was sold to the British as a slave and sent to Barbados in the West Indies; this well-known trip was referred to as “The Middle Passage.” From there, he was transferred to Virginia. For this reason, some writers claim he was born in South Carolina. Along Equiano’s journey, he learns English and studies the word of God.

Themes:

·         The destructive nature of slave trade: This is a theme seen throughout Equiano’s journey because we are invited as readers to relive what it was like for Equiano to be traded into slavery as a child. Equiano and many others that were traded as slaves were uprooted, losing their traditions and their identities.

·         Identity: Since Equiano is taken as a slave so early on in his life, he lacks a sense of self and identity. What is inspiring about Equiano is though he lacked identity early on, in spite of his short comings and the ways of the world, he is able to find one. Once Equiano was freed he was able to make his own decisions about his work and his beliefs including his belief to become a Christian, which helps him discover and identify himself.

·         Christianity: The narrative is an exploration of Christianity and its many forms. Equiano distinguishes between “slaveholder’s” Christianity verses “true” Christianity that he practiced with his Methodist and Quaker acquaintances. Slave traders according to Equiano did not live up to the word of the Bible.

Discussion Questions:

1.      What do you think was Equioano’s purpose in writing his slave narrative?

2.      Why was the second separation from his sister the hardest?

3.      Early in the selection, what did Equiano say about his people’s relations with neighboring communities? How did his people handle encounters with outsiders?

4.      How does Equiano describe the conditions in the hold of the slave ship? What does he identify as the reason for such treatment?

5.      In what ways do the Africans who deliver Equiano to the coast differ from the others he has encountered?

6.      How does Equiano portray the horrors of slavery?

7.      How important to Equiano’s story is his experience with Christianity? How does religion influence his life as a slave?

8.      How does Equiano’s religious experiences compare with that of Martha Carrier?