Equiano Human Body

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The human body plays an important role throughout history and is a vital component to the development of culture, religion, and society as a whole, particularly during the early modern era. Various cultures have viewed the human body in a number of perspectives, such as a template for the construction of cities, or even as a divine means for explaining the world around them, as seen with the Teotl. However, it has also seen much darker uses, as with sacrifice and, particularly during the 16th-19th centuries, slavery. The actual cruelties of slavery within the well-known transatlantic slave trade are exemplified within Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative, in which he details his life from his capture until his eventual bought freedom, and the …show more content…
The human body served not as a divine mode or a template for construction and advancement, but as a commodity to be used solely for labor and work, as well as to satisfy the sadistic desires of many of those who owned slaves. Expanding on this within the context of the author himself, I believe that Equiano would agree with d'Alembert's assertion within the Preliminary Discourse that “pain is our most lively sentiment”, as pain and suffering is often threatened and used as a “motivator” to keep slaves obedient, as detailed by Equiano himself. Throughout Equiano’s story, he gives numerous examples and accounts that should horrify anyone reading it today, detailing both the brutality that he experienced during the transatlantic slave trade, as well as the dehumanization that was perpetrated against him and those who shared his …show more content…
Essentially, this was the process of buying a deed, except it showed ownership over your own property, as if it was equivalent to a property such as a house. This is likely the ultimate form of objectification when it comes to the human body: treating it as if it were property to be owned rather than the manifestation of one’s being as a person, and is a prominent theme throughout The Interesting Narrative. Beyond the commodification and objectification of the slaves' bodies during this period and throughout The Interesting Narrative, there is another common theme expressed within the text, which is the concept of pain and how it is used by the Europeans. On this note, based on the experience of Equiano and the suffering he's endured throughout his life, I believe that Equiano would be in agreement with d'Alembert's assertion that “pain is our most lively sentiment”. There are numerous instances in which Equiano’s masters would use pain, intimidation, and fear in order to instill obedience within him and other
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