Essay on Olaudah Equiano

Submitted By CrystalRivera

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Pages: 2

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Crystal Rivera
September 25, 2014
History 1301
Prof. Von Dohlen

Olaudah Equiano, “The Horrors of a Slave Ships”

July 10, 1766, Equiano saved enough money to buy himself liberty. Before that date Equiano suffered and almost dies of starvation being a slave. He was one of many slaves whom began writing his journey as an autobiography and reveals the horror of the slave ship. Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa was born in 1745 in Benin, West Africa. When he was 10 years old, him and his sister were playing outside suddenly he was kidnapped by Africans known as Aros and sold in slavery. He was sold multiple times until he was purchased by Europeans who shipped him to Barbados and then to Virginia. It was so terrible on the ship, it was so bad they suffocated if they soon did not get fresh air. It was so crowded and full of slaves, they could not move or turn around to get comfortable. The slaves suffered of starvation- the English men had plenty of food including lots of fish to eat. They would satisfy themselves and whatever was left over then would throw at the starving slaves. They were chained together like animals and not treated like humans. They believe they were a different kind of species because of their skin color. Olaudah Equiano states. “One day, when we had a smooth sea and moderate winds, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together preferred death to such a life of misery, somehow made though the netting and jumped inss was

Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano: The Brutal “Middle Passage” The story of Olaudah was one the amazing and touchable story for being a slavery, in childhood especially for the young children’s. I think that Olaudah Equiano parents were from Igboland, and he was born in South Caroline. I personally believed that Olaudah was a name given by his parents which, is Igbo name because I am from Igbo land in Nigeria. There is an Igbo proverb says that “Obara ndi Igbo anayi ato na Mba” that means that Igbo blood will not…

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Slavery In Olaudah Equiano

With slavery in Equiano, people dying in plymouth plantation, and people being accused of being a witch and all of them getting through these situations, it is clear that Americans are people who get through tough times no matter the situation. Freedom is now reachable but back in Equiano’s time it was not. In Equiano’s story it says “I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country, or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly;…

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Olaudah Equiano Essay

In the 17th century, Olaudah Equiano had written his fascinating autobiography, “The Life of Gustavus Vassa” after his freedom was accomplished in life. It’s an intricate glance on how slavery was ran by the opposing race. This autobiography tremendously helped the criticism against slavery, in which later impacted the 18th century. The Atlantic voyage was quite the life changing moment of Gustavus. Gustavus was a made up name Olaudah Equiano used on his journey to the new world. Gustavus’s emotions…

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Olaudah Equiano Analysis

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano Written by Himself is a historical document that's necessary when looking at the institution of slavery. Because not many slaves during his time were literate, written pieces documenting the reality of slavery through the eyes of slaves are rare. Equiano’s documentation of his experiences brings a whole new perspective to the institution, making it at a prominent part of African American history. In his memoir, he touches on various topics…

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Olaudah Equiano Imperialism

At first glace one would assume that Olaudah Equiano, author of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, an 18th century autobiography of a former slave, and Aphra Behn, a devout royalist and author of Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave, a 17th century novel, would have opposing views regarding slavery and imperialism. This is not so, in fact, both texts condemn slavery, and by default imperialism. Imperialism, as defined by the scholar James Tully is a theory that “…ranks all non-European…

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Olaudah Equiano Analysis

Caroline Myers History and Storytelling Equiano, Olaudah. ""Is It Not Enough That We Are Torn From Our Country and Friends?": Olaudah Equiano Describes the Horrors of the Middle Passage, 1780s." Many Pasts. History Matters, n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. . One In Twelve Million On what appeared to be an otherwise normal day in Africa, 11 year-old Olaudah Equiano’s life was changed forever. Whether eagerly led or taken by brute force, Equiano approached the coastal shoreline with absolutely no idea…

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Olaudah Equiano Narrative

Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano written by Olaudah Equiano himself. The narrative was written to give an autobiography on Equiano life during the 1700’s. Equiano gave his life story about being an European and as a slave. Equiano view on his life have change rapidly throughout many life changing events. Firstly, Equiano first priority that has changed his point of view was the European interaction in his village. Equiano once considered himself as a European. Equiano father was a elder and…

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Olaudah Equiano Slavery

dehumanized, and thought of as just property. Olaudah Equiano gives the reader a perfect visualization of the lives that slaves lived in his book The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. As a slave, it is through his personal stories that he helps his readers make similar connections between his life and theirs. Additionally, he provides vivid descriptions of the horrendous cruelties that slaves endured throughout their lives. Equiano informs his readers all to raise an anti-slavery…

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Olaudah Equiano Essay

generation to generation or the documentations in historical books, the history of the twelve million African slaves that traveled the “Middle Passage” in miserable conditions would not exist. Olaudah Equiano contributes to this horrid history with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose of informing the world of the slave experience in this narrative. His…

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Olaudah Equiano Summary

After finishing the rest of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, I honestly found the second and third chapter of the reading to be more interesting than the first chapter. These new chapters go in depth of how Equiano’s experiences in slavery, which was pretty upsetting. He, along with his sister, was kidnapped from their home at such a young age and had his freedom taken from him when he was sold into the control of a white master in an unknown world. In…

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