equiano

points in equiano

Equiano's freedom gained through a transaction. Biggest defense for slavery was on economic grounds - end of slavery would lead to a depression. (6) Purchasing his freedom does not alter the system that enslaved him, remains subjugated. He hasn't taken his freedom, it's been granted. (7)

Dr. Charles Irving

Hires equiano as a hair dresser

sentimental novel

I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me. Their complexions, too, differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke . . . united to confirm me in this belief. . . . I asked [my companions] if we were not going to be eaten by those white men with horrible looks, red faces, and long hair. . . . They looked and acted in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among my people such instances of brutal cruelty.

spiritual autobiography

I was wonderfully surprised to see the laws and rules of my own country written almost exactly here (the Bible); a circumstance which I believe tended to impress our manners and customs more deeply in my memory. I used to tell [Daniel Queen] of this resemblance, and many a time we have sat up the whole night together at this employment.

sentimental novel

O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you—Learned you this from your God?

Michael Henry Pascal

Owner of the ship which buys equiano from the plantation

personal memoir, his experience is not uncommon

People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events. . . . It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public; especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. I believe there are few events in my life, which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous; and did I consider myself a European, I might say my sufferings were great: but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of Heaven.

Mr. Robert King

Quaker who buys equiano and agrees to allow him to earn money to buy his freedom

Dr. Perkins

Slaver who brutally beats equiano

appealing to the humanity of the reader, sentimental novel

The stench of the hold was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time. . .. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn around, almost suffocated us. This produced copious perspiration, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died. . . . This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable, and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.

picaresque tale

There was scarcely any part of his business, or household affairs, in which I was not occasionally engaged. I often supplied the place of a clerk, in receiving and delivering cargoes to the ships, in tending stores, and delivering goods . . . and when it was necessary, which was very often, I worked likewise on board of different vessels of his. By these means I became very useful to my master, and saved him, as he used to acknowledge, above a hundred pounds a year.

personal memoir, his experience is not uncommon

Thus was I going about the islands upwards of four years, and ever trading as I went, during which I experienced many instances of ill-usage, and have seen many injuries done to other Negroes in our dealings with whites.

Mrs. Davis

a fortune teller who foretells equiano's freedom and suffering

John Annis

a free black man who is forced back into slavery

Joseph Clipson

a free black man who is forced back into slavery

Thomas Farmer

a ship captain who hires equiano and treats him well, lends him money

Mr. Read

equiano tangles with his slave and read says he will drag equiano through the town as if he were a slave

Nicholas Doberry

merchant who hosted equiano

Genres: of equiano

personal memoir: what happened to him is not uncommon: it continues (2). Self-deprecation introduces himself as a stranger. spiritual autobiography: (2) His conversion to Christianity. His countrymen are the true Christians (3). White European slaveowners are the true barbarians = "Nominal Christians" (4). Shows Englishmen what they look like from his perspective: "demons" (5). picaresque tale: usually satiric prose fiction, depicting in realistic detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social degree living by his or her wits in a corrupt society. Not necessarily triumph or defeat. exotic travel narrative sentimental novel: Used in a favorable sense. Rational and emotional intelligence - correct moral feeling/seeing an argument that's not our own.

John Mondle

sailor who almost dies but whose life is a testament of providence to equiano

Daniel Queen

teaches equiano the Bible on the Aetna ship

John Baker

tricks equiano into joining ship and treats him cruelly

Richard (Dick) Baker

white man who treats equiano kindly without prejudice