Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano’s, a respected former slave and Author of the Autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, authenticity of his autobiographical account regarding his childhood has been questioned by scholars and historians. Some state that he had only made up his African origin to gain political success whereas others go against that argument. I believe that Equiano’s autobiographical account of his childhood is authentic.
Vincent Carretta argues that Equiano had invented his African childhood to gain political success with the proof of two documents. Carretta argues that Baptismal and naval records say that he was born in South Carolina around 1747 and if they are accurate, he invented …show more content…
Lovejoy suggests that the information recorded was not heard correctly by the person keeping the muster roll , which was possible to happen. One cannot use the muster book as concrete proof as the names differ and Equiano was also not a seaman while on board, therefor the book indicates inaccuracy.
With regards to the Baptismal record one should take Equiano’s language usage and the statements of his god-mother, Mary Guerin, and others, into account. Lovejoy explains that when the ship that Equiano was on arrived in Barbados it was ‘necessary to employ interpreters to talk with the slaves on board.’ In the narrative Equiano explains that these interpreters were ‘some old slaves’ and they explained to Equiano and the …show more content…
In Equiano’s autobiography he maintains ‘[he] grew up till [he] [had] turned the age of 11, when an end was put to [his] happiness…’ , that is when he was kidnapped. Any child at such a young age can certainly not remember occurrences in fine detail, but yet culture and language are able to stick. Edwards puts across that ‘we should not expect a precise record of a journey made in childhood’ , and I agree. Lovejoy explains that autobiography cannot be observed as an accurate indicator of memory, and memory is not an exact replica of what actually happens , which can also be taken in account when regarding the alleged inventions of Equiano’s childhood. Equiano should be given the benefit of the doubt in this
Vincent Carretta argues that Equiano had invented his African childhood to gain political success with the proof of two documents. Carretta argues that Baptismal and naval records say that he was born in South Carolina around 1747 and if they are accurate, he invented …show more content…
Lovejoy suggests that the information recorded was not heard correctly by the person keeping the muster roll , which was possible to happen. One cannot use the muster book as concrete proof as the names differ and Equiano was also not a seaman while on board, therefor the book indicates inaccuracy.
With regards to the Baptismal record one should take Equiano’s language usage and the statements of his god-mother, Mary Guerin, and others, into account. Lovejoy explains that when the ship that Equiano was on arrived in Barbados it was ‘necessary to employ interpreters to talk with the slaves on board.’ In the narrative Equiano explains that these interpreters were ‘some old slaves’ and they explained to Equiano and the …show more content…
In Equiano’s autobiography he maintains ‘[he] grew up till [he] [had] turned the age of 11, when an end was put to [his] happiness…’ , that is when he was kidnapped. Any child at such a young age can certainly not remember occurrences in fine detail, but yet culture and language are able to stick. Edwards puts across that ‘we should not expect a precise record of a journey made in childhood’ , and I agree. Lovejoy explains that autobiography cannot be observed as an accurate indicator of memory, and memory is not an exact replica of what actually happens , which can also be taken in account when regarding the alleged inventions of Equiano’s childhood. Equiano should be given the benefit of the doubt in this