The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Religious Roles in the Narrative Essay example

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The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Religious Roles in the Narrative
The narrative of Olaudah Equiano is truly a magnificent one. Not only does the reader get to see the world through Equiano's own personal experiences, we get to read a major autobiography that combined the form of a slave narrative with that of a spiritual conversion autobiography. Religion may be viewed as at the heart of the matter in Equiano's long, remarkable journey. Through Equiano's own experiences, the reader uncovers just how massive a role religion played in the part of his Narrative and in that of his own life. More specifically, we learn of how his religious conversion meant a type of freedom as momentous as his own independence from …show more content…
Not conquering heroes themselves, in the midst of a triumph--Not the tender mother who has just regained her long-lost infant, and presses it to her heart--Not the weary hungry mariner, at the sight of the desired friendly port--Not the lover, when he once more embraces his beloved mistress, after she had been ravished from his arms!--All within my breast was tumult, wildness and delirium! My feet scarcely touched the ground, for they were winged with joy, and like Elijah, as he rose to heaven they were with lightning sped as I went on. (Equiano, 156)

Equiano had a view that religion not only saved him from (the possibility of) damnation, his faith also accredited to his survival through horrendous ordeals during life. For example, Equiano was onboard a vessel when a brutal gust of wind overtook the ship. Feeling that at last his time was up, Equiano prayed to God. However, it seemed as if God had favor on him and the vessel did not indeed sink. "All the swearers on board now began to call on the God of Heaven to assist them: and sure enough, beyond our comprehension he did assist us, and in a miraculous manner delivered us!" (Equiano, 173)
Although Equiano's spiritual piety brought upon him many positive attributes, he occasionally uses religion for a somewhat more crass sense; in a vindictive approach. For example, in a certain circumstance, two white men promptly rob Equiano & his friend out of their bags of fruit. As these
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