Olaudah Equiano also known as Gustavas Vassa expressed the feelings of his experiences throughout Africa and slavery. “The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano” was the name Olaudah came up with for his narrative. Olaudah obviously disagreed with the actions that took place in Europe. As you all may know Olaudah was later kidnapped along with other slaves by the European Slave traders. They had no other choice but to get on the ship. The slave owners took them to different places and changed his name because they wanted him to be something that he wasn’t. His words gave me a better look on the slave trade and it showed me how bad it actually was. Olaudah expressed many reasons why the slave trade should be abolished. For reasons that the Africans were treated wrongfully, there was no room for opinions and they had no idea where their next destination would be.
He used a wide variety of imagery which leads us to see that the Europeans were basically heartless. At first I believed that slave traders had no choice but to be slave traders because that’s what they grew up around. But when you know that something is wrong what does that lead you to do? Olaudah Equiano made many comparisons between African people and the European people. Where Olaudah was raised they were taught to treat their women with respect in Europe they disrespected the women with words that weren’t even thought of in Africa as well as eating one another and also leading to killings. The Europeans had no respect for no one and they would also drink liquor and in Africa they didn’t. In (Chapter 1 from pages 13-16) Olaudah made it known to everyone that the Europeans actually represented evil acts and also showed that they are unholy. Do you think the Europeans would change their outlook on life if they actually were put through everything that the Africans had to go through? All readers are welcome to reply.
samirradavis 