The Diary of My Life in 1756, by: Olaudah Equiano
Dear Diary
Today was another interesting day. My friends and I went to our traditional tree to look out, yet another day, for kidnappers. To my surprise, I found some! It was up to me to alert the neighbor kids so that they could capture the man before our parents returned home. These foreign men were always trying to come over and steal us, most of the time we were able to group together to fight them off.
Dear Diary
It has finally happened, one of the most dreadful days of my life. My sister and I have both been seized by two men and a woman. They climbed right over our wall and took us before we could even begin to understand what was happening. They think they are so smart but they have no idea that I have been tracking the way they walk. I have been watching the way the sun rises and sets to know how to find my way home. My sister is so scared; it is extremely hard to calm her down when I myself am terrified about the outcome here. I am hiding this diary in hopes that I may put information on how to escape and return to my hometown.
Dear Diary
Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did. My sister has been torn from me; I have no idea where they have taken her. It has been days and I have not eaten anything except for what was forced. I can't believe all the things that are happening. It seems as if I am being sold quite frequently to others. As of now I am with a chieftain. They have all been nice but I am still continuing on with my plans to leave here and return home.
Dear Diary
Well, my escape plan failed. I was able to escape to the woods but later that evening I realized I could never make the long journey alone in the woods with no food or water.
When they finally found me the next morning sleeping in the barn I thought for sure I was going to be beaten within an inch of my life. I was utterly amazed when they beat me lightly and were told to take care of me so as not to become ill.
The novel The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano exists as an extremely important work in the abolitionist movement in England. As an 18th century narrative written by a former black slave the novel provides a glimpse into the lives of the African slaves involved in the slave trade as well as the slave traders themselves. Even with the controversy over the authenticity of Equiano’s claims on his origin in Africa and his subsequent voyage through the Middle Passage, this novel serves as a powerfully instructive piece of literature. Throughout the novel Equiano strives to impress upon the reader a certain set of moral standards or ideals that he desires to instruct the reader about. One such moral ideal that is prevalent throughout the entirety of the novel is Equiano’s construction of the idea of the value and worth of the African slaves, as opposed to the view of the African slaves as simply commodities or objects to be purchased and traded. Equiano argues and presses the reader and his audience to recognize that the African slave and the white slave owner are not as different as his audience may believe. In order to proclaim and showcase this idea of the value and worth of African slaves, Equiano uses the Christian religion to develop and sustain his argument. In many cases during Equiano’s time period, and for a while afterwards, Christianity and the Bible were used in defense of slavery, and this fact makes Equiano’s claim more powerful and groundbreaking. One of the key attributes of the novel is Equiano’s spiritual conversion and religious revelations. I believe that Equiano’s Christianity serves to connect him with his audience, increases his credibility as an author, and ultimately proclaims the disparity ...
Poverty is a difficult and horrible way to grow up in life. It causes people to become stressed, and terrified of the world. It also demonstrates the ugly side of the world. When you ae in poverty. It causes people to become desperate and do horrendous things like murder, rape, and prostitution. But poverty can also produce strong, determined, and hopeful humans. In Child of the Dark: The Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus by Carolina Maria de Jesus, we see the ambitious mother of three living the daily struggle of living in the poor favelas in Brazil. She provides the best life she can to her kids, while also perusing her dream of becoming a writer. In Testimony: Death of a Guatemala City by Victor Montejo, the readers follow the inspirational
Olaudah Equiano was a freed slave living in London who made it his life person to abolish the British slave trade. His knowledge and training of the English language allowed him to grow into one of the key figures in the movement to abolish the slave trade in England. Although many scholars acknowledge his incredible talent, there has been evidence in the recent years that may question his reliability as a first-hand account. There is evidence to support that Equiano may have been born in South Carolina. This evidence does not make him a valid source of information about the slave trade and leads his audience to question his statements.
Today, cultures generally recognize the irrefutable humanity of all people, no matter how well they assimilate into new cultures. However, for white society in the 1700’s, the instances where blacks assimilated into the cultures and customs of the New World and Europe were the only instances when whites attempted to recognize their humanity. Olaudah Equiano wrote of his own assimilation into European culture in his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa. The ability of an African to seamlessly join European society held weight in the debate over whether or not blacks were human or not. The humanity of Africans was demonstrated to white society through Olaudah Equiano’s assimilation into European
It has been suggested that Olaudah Equiano lied about his birthplace in his The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African. The question of Olaudah Equiano’s birth place, whether it be modern day Nigeria or South Carolina, has little effect on the historical significance of his “autobiography.” In this essay I will discuss the reasons scholars are questioning the authenticity of his works, the affect his work played in the slave trade, and the impact this accusation has on his life’s work.
Jasmine Rosemore American Literature 27 February 2014 The True Origin The interesting narrative published in 1789 by Olaudah Equiano is an autobiography telling his experience as a captive in the transatlantic slave trade. Although the story is meant to entertain readers, it also furthered the cause of abolition. In the narrative of “The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano,” Equiano says that he is from South Carolina, but through his description of Africa portrays it as his home.
Assignment # 1 Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano History shows that both Africans and African Americans alike faced unique problems prior to and during the 1800's, particularly prior to 1865. One such problem is the issue of the Diaspora and how culture and slavery has affected the choice of religion. It is the purpose of this paper to expose comparatively the extent to which individuals have been influenced by these issues. One such individual is Olaudah Equiano.
return to the isolation of the wilderness. Despite the nobility of our quest we were forced
Africa is knowing as one of the riches soils in the world. It is also knowing as the motherland for African American. Olaudah Equiano experienced Slavery in Africa on a journey for West Indies which arrived in Barbados.. Equiano and his sister was kidnapped from their family and separated from each other. Equiano talks about his experience being a slave. He mentions how at moment they were nice to him and that he was allowed to see his sister. The other villages were inferior of each other. There were times when the community leaders were not watching. The bad men would make deals with other criminals and become allies. He talks about the long walk to the coast and how they were nice to him and helped him
During the late seventeen hundreds former slave, Olaudah Equiano, began his autobiography. In the introduction he clarifies his reason for writing the account; informing his audience that he does not seek fame and fortune and is merely a humble man who wishes to persuade the audience to promote the abolition of slavery and to articulate the horrors of enslavement. Equiano provides a voice for those who were not allowed to advocate for themselves and their rights. He aims to eradicate the idea that slaves are second class versions of a human beings that are treated as objects, diminishing their worth and personal value. Equiano pursues this goal by blending his belief of religion, slavery, and personal adventure with a complexity that appeals
I thought we were close to getting out but them I climbed up a tree and saw that I was wrong. We need to go north. I saw a little rustic old cabin up that way. And that was the closest point of exit. Which at that point was the best way to go. But up north the forest look even thicker which was not good. There was fruit and meat that would be a good kill so we could eat. So off we went. The only way now to tell days was the sun but even at some points we couldn 't see it.
Religion, more specifically, Christianity can be seen throughout The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Religion plays a major role in Equiano’s remarkable journey; that of which can be seen through his personal experiences. Religion plays a significant role in his Narrative and his life overall as he undergoes a spiritual rebirth. This narrative shapes Equiano’s physical move from slavery to freedom and also his journey from sin to salvation.
My friend’s mom worked for the sheriffs department, so she called and I filed a report. Guess what they made me go back home. Yes, they sent me back home, because I was consider a run away. Therefore, for a week I was brutally beat for telling the secret of our family. That week was the week I wish I was dead. I prayed every night for God to take me away. I was grab by my neck and slammed up against the wall and released as I slid down the wall. A nail caught my back and ripped my skin ...
In 1938, the Frank family applied for visas to the United States but were denied because they were considered to be German Jews (Foray 335). However, this was sadly only the beginning of Anne’s difficulties. Not long after that, “Thirteen-year old Anne Frank began her now-famous diary on June 12, 1942, two years into the German occupation” (Foray 332). Then, in July 1942, as Hitler started invading more and more countries, the Frank family went into hiding in a secret annex located above a business w...
be of bad character. He was so proud that he didn't dance with any of