Analysis Of The Challenge Out Of Tuscan And Beelzeboan

Tuscan does not only show signs of leadership in character but he is described with physical leadership qualities as well. Behn does not curtail the extent of her physical description of Oroonoko that credits him with his admirable qualities of leadership and grace and interestingly she affords a comment about Tuscans stature as well, “a tall negro of some more quality than the rest” (43). The fact that Behn would even afford Tuscan that comment, as he was a slave, shows that he truly does carry his own quality of leadership. Beelzebub and Aboan did not question Satan and Oroonoko and did not assert their own opinion so they proved only to be one-dimensional characters and tools to be used. Tuscan does not assert his opinion in a challenge

He has the leadership qualities and drive to stick with Caesar until the end. He even continues to prove this has all the other slaves abandon Caesar when the Englishmen catch up to them as they flee for freedom, “‘Yield! and leave Caesar to their revenge’; that by degrees the slaves abandoned Caesar, and left him only Tuscan and his heroic Imoinda” (45). Tuscan then is punished alongside Caesar when captured, just as Beelzebub suffered alongside Satan, and Aboan was captured into slavery alongside Oroonoko. At this point just as Tuscan had something to gain from supporting Caesar he now how something to gain by betraying him. Tuscan falls back in the good graces of general Byam showing his disloyalty to Caesar, therefore, saving his own

Beelzebub and Aboan emerge as characters that will serve their superiors with their obvious logic and reason but end up serving as flat characters that serve the will of their masters without a second thought. Tuscan emerges as a figure with his own leadership qualities but ultimately uses these qualities to his own benefit. Beelzebub appears to have leadership qualities as well based on his physical appearance but suppresses them due to his unchangeable state of being. Beelzebub and Aboan’s friendship with their leader is the source of their loyalty while Tuscan resentment and self-survival for himself and fellow slaves is the source of his lack of loyalty. Ultimately the second that proves to be most crucial to the storyline, although a flat character, is Aboan. Aboan is the second that has the strongest friendship with his superior so is able to commit a selfless act that Oroonoko could’ve have accomplished without him and the storyline could not have continued without. This proves that what is most valued in a second in command is not their presence, logic, or leadership but true loyalty that fosters from true