Olaudah Equiano Chapter 1 Summary

In the autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African, Equiano goes into great detail about his experiences as a slave. He was taken from his home as a child and through several slave owners, he eventually ended up in Virginia. Equiano’s story is fascinating because of his remarkable ability to adapt to European culture, and finally earn finally his freedom from slavery.

As a freed man, Equiano developed a keen interest in Christianity and became an abolitionist to end the slave trade. His autobiography was written to be targeted at the white people who benefited from the dishonorable slave trade. As early as Chapter One, Equiano appeals to readers to forget their previous prejudice against African slaves and instead see the failures of slavery. One of his primary arguments is that Africans were extraordinarily similar to the European’s ancestors, and that slavery was against the mandate of God.

Equiano argues that Africans are not “uncivilized” because of their ignorance of European culture; they are simply unfamiliar and uninformed.

Throughout his autobiography, Equiano describes his own challenging experiences of learning the English language, and how it was that he came to read and write. He traces his conversion to Christianity. This is to persuasively present himself as a virtuous example of the African people. For example, Equiano goes into great detail about the history of the place he was born and how the society was run. He demonstrates that African culture was not barbaric and chaotic, but that the product of a different, yet completely functional and peaceful society. Equiano’s purpose is to have his readers to see beyond the stereotypes and consider African slaves as fellow human

beings.
Equiano also compellingly argues that the slave trade systems went against the teachings of God. In Chapter Three, Equiano was first brought to a mass service where he became fascinated with Christianity and the idea of God. He considered himself “a particular favorite of Heaven” because despite his hardships, he was uniquely blessed to have survived and become free. In Chapter One Equiano likens the Africans to the Jews. He parallels how the enslaved Jews were cast out of Egypt, and how their society was similar in structure and traditions to African society. For example, Jews performed circumcisions, made offerings, and named their children after a special event. The African people even believed in a single Creator. Equiano states that God “hath made of one blood of all nations of men”, arguing that God looks in kindness upon all people of the earth regardless of race.
In conclusion, Equiano argued that the treatment of African slaves by the Europeans was unfounded. Africans were not unwilling to adapt, but merely uninformed of European culture. Slavery was against God’s command. Equiano wanted to draw Europeans to read his autobiography in order for them to recognize the severe, unjustified and inhumane conditions of the slavery. Equiano powerfully concludes that Africans should be treated as human beings and not as property.