Heroism In Oronoko Behn

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Bravery does not define heroism. Personally, I agree with the previous claim because acting courageously for egotistical reasons rather than for the benefit of a certain group is not a principle of heroes. In addition, heroes often possess admirable leadership skills which help them to lead the people they empathize with and fight for in a way that benefits them. In the novel entitled Oroonoko, Behn (1997) presents the story of a prince named Oroonoko who experiences several challenges as he enslaved and exploited by British colonialists; consequently, making him starting a revolution that results in his cruel death. In this literary text, issues of power, domination, slavery, social oppression and others are discussed in a thought-provoking …show more content…

Throughout the text, the narrator gives the impression of assuming two identities which add controversy to her portrait of Oroonoko as a hero. The first identity is of a European settler with British standards who identifies herself with the Western world. For example, she accepts being part of the “[her] Western world” when she makes reference to the name Caesar, Oroonoko’s new name according European religious standards (Behn, 1997, p. 37). The second identity is of a powerless interventionist against slavery who empathizes with Oroonoko’s misery and unavoidably opposes the British colonialists. Once more, when making reference to the naming system, she separates herself from the British colonialists by stating that “they [British] giv’em some Name of their own” (p. 36). At this point, her stance is undefined and she avoids being part the domineering side. Some might consider arguable her alternating stance because her association with Oroonoko might be perceived as a political approach with the goal of making Oroonoko a reliable character for the European audience. Yet, considering the alternating stance of the narrator, it is reasonable that the reader chooses to meticulously analyze if every factor involved in Oroonoko’s acts of heroism were totally profitable for all, instead of arriving at any …show more content…

As a hero analyzes matters in a broader perspective, it is evident in the text that he fails to consider how his actions will negatively affect the safety of the slaves, their relationship with the colonialists and their viewpoint of creating another revolt. First, his disregard for the wellbeing of the slaves shows that his objectives seem to be impulsive rather than logical because maintaining the slaves’ safety should be one of his primary goals. For example, he thinks that murdering his pregnant wife is the best alternative as oppose to leaving her under the colonialists’ control (Behn, 1997, p. 61). Such treatment of his wife as a submissive subject and disrespect of her life reveals a tyrannical character of Oroonoko that usually differs from a self-sacrificing hero (Brown, as cited in Behn, 1997, p. 234). Secondly, his decision on resuming his vengeful course negatively affects the relationship between the slaves and their rulers. Although his effort of rebelling against the colonialists can be considered as a turning point for further anti-colonialist movements, he is oblivious to the fact that the slaves become targets of violent oppression. According to the narrator, the slaves “were no sooner arriv’d at the Place, where all they received their Punishments of Whipping” after being detained by the colonialists; Oroonoko

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