Equiano
John Doe
Professor XXXXXX
History\ XXXXX
[
30 September 2011
Equiano Response
The book, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, is the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a male African slave during the eighteenth century, which discusses his time spent in slavery, his Christian faith, and his accomplishment of buying his own freedom. However, the thing that I found most interesting about the reading was the incident when Pascal sold Equiano to Captain James Dorn. I found this so interesting because Equiano had not anticipated on being sold as he said to Captain James Dorn, “But I served [Pascal]… many years and he has taken all my wages and prize money… besides this I have been baptized; and by the laws of the land no man has the right to sell me” (Equiano 69). Equiano’s feeling of surprise after realizing he had been sold was due to the fact that he believed he had a connection with Pascal. Equiano had professed a growing attachment to Pascal before his removal from Pascal’s ship, which can be seen when his master was wounded and taken below deck to the surgeons and Equiano states “…though I was much alarmed for him and wished to assist him I did not dare leave my post” (Equiano 61). The bond Equiano perceived between himself and Pascal blurred his vision of reality, and made him believe he was something that he was not. At the end of the day, he is still a slave and subsequently a piece of.
Professor XXXXXX
History\ XXXXX
[
30 September 2011
Equiano Response
The book, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, is the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a male African slave during the eighteenth century, which discusses his time spent in slavery, his Christian faith, and his accomplishment of buying his own freedom. However, the thing that I found most interesting about the reading was the incident when Pascal sold Equiano to Captain James Dorn. I found this so interesting because Equiano had not anticipated on being sold as he said to Captain James Dorn, “But I served [Pascal]… many years and he has taken all my wages and prize money… besides this I have been baptized; and by the laws of the land no man has the right to sell me” (Equiano 69). Equiano’s feeling of surprise after realizing he had been sold was due to the fact that he believed he had a connection with Pascal. Equiano had professed a growing attachment to Pascal before his removal from Pascal’s ship, which can be seen when his master was wounded and taken below deck to the surgeons and Equiano states “…though I was much alarmed for him and wished to assist him I did not dare leave my post” (Equiano 61). The bond Equiano perceived between himself and Pascal blurred his vision of reality, and made him believe he was something that he was not. At the end of the day, he is still a slave and subsequently a piece of.