Summary Of Slavery By Equiano

Equiano was born in a province of Africa, (Eboe) and begins the book with a description of the people who live there. While young, kidnappers came and took him and sold to slave traders. He was sent to the West Indies along the Middle Passage and was purchased by Henry Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Pascal had kept Equiano as an aid towards his naval travels even though he was going to give him as a gift. During this time, Equiano heard about Christianity and started learning to read and write. Through his ability at sea, he became important and irreplaceable to Pascal and became accustomed to his situation.
This is when we get to one of the major themes of the book. The autobiography is an examination into Christianity; how it lets
He even says the simple faith of his fellow African men as being “more honest” and “legitimate,” comparing them with the Jewish. He writes in his book how White Christians involved in the slave trade corrupted their faith; “They did not live up to one of the simplest tenets outlined in the Bible. They allowed greed, lust, pride, and anger to permeate their hearts in spite of their professed faith. They usurped God's authority by placing His creatures in bondage, and blindly defined their slaves as immoral, full of vice, and ignorant.” They attend church, reveling in their public displays of religion, while, in private, beating and harassing their slaves. Equiano, on the other hand, claims he is the best example of someone who lives up to the true tenets of Christianity. He tries to control his urges of pride and greed, relies on God for all things, He tries
Doran in turn sold Equiano to Robert King, a more benevolent Quaker merchant who worked out of Philadelphia. King was a benevolent master, and Equiano worked hard and was happy to work for him. Even though he still hoped to one-day purchase freedom, Equiano's strong moral compass stopped him from simply running away unless he was abused. King allowed his friend, Captain Farmer, to take Equiano as sailor on several of his voyages. On these trips Equiano distinguishes himself at sea to King and Farmer. King and Farmer accused him of planning an escape, but Equiano's evidence of loyalty dismissed their fears. Guilty over the accusation, King promised to lend Equiano money towards his freedom if he could raise the rest himself. Equiano finally raised enough money to purchase his freedom in July 1766. This lead him to becoming a sailor and newly freed slave, he travels around the world and throughout these voyages, Equiano proved himself to be immensely capable and intelligent. He had learned how to read and write, and mastered navigation. After several near-death experiences Equiano decided to seek God and visited several churches but decided that he preferred to read the Bible alone in his home. However, in a chance encounter with an elderly Methodist man, he came to understand a new way of interpreting the Bible. Religion gave every aspect of his life and was