Oroonoko
Aphra Behn (1688)
Four Narrative Shifts
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Surinam (Edenic paradise)
Coramantien (Africa—Oroonoko history)
Surinam (slavery)
Surinam (slave rebellion)
England/Surinam/Coramantien Map
Genre
• the memoir: the narrator’s descriptions describe
a significant first-hand experience
• the travel narrative: the action and characters
move between Africa, the ‘new world’ in the
west, and the ‘old world’ of Europe
• biography: the narrative tells the life story of the
protagonist and heroic character Oroonoko
• medieval romance: Oroonoko exemplifies honor
and chivalry in a knightly sense; honors and
protects women
Traditional European Pastoral
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Rooted in antiquity (Greek—Theocritus; Roman—Virgil)
Idealized natural setting
Classic antiquity—shepherd in the countryside
Distrust of urban culture juxtaposed with a longing for
the simplicity of rural life
The American Pastoral
• Focus on the wilderness as an idealized, pure space—the
garden of Eden before the fall (American Adam hero)
• Native Americans as untainted by corrupt European
civilization
• Virgin lands where human beings have an opportunity to
re-create paradise (European land is defiled)
The Noble Savage Trope
• Romanticized idealization of indigenous
people
• Ignorant and simple-minded, but
• Uncorrupted by modern civilization
• “Uncivilized” societies live in perfect harmony
with nature and eachother
Images of Women:
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Narrator
Imoinda
Onahal
Governor Byam’s
Indian mistress
Masculinity
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Oroonoko
King of Coramantien
Aboan
Captain of ship
Treyfry
Tuscan
Governor Byam
What is Behn’s view of:
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Religion?
Western civilization?
Slavery?
The New World?
Other cultures?
The “Other” as a Literary Concept
The Other is an individual who is perceived by the group
as not belonging, as being different in some
fundamental way. Any stranger becomes the Other. The
group sees itself as the norm and judges those who do
not meet that norm (that is, who are different in any
way) as the Other. Perceived as lacking essential
characteristics possessed by the group, the Other is
almost always seen as a lesser or inferior being and is
treated accordingly. The Other in a society may have few
or no legal rights, may be characterized as less intelligent
or as immoral, and may even be regarded as sub-human.
Otherness takes many forms. The Other
may be someone who is of...
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a different race (White vs. non-White),
a different nationality (Anglo Saxon vs. Italian),
a different religion (Protestant vs. Catholic or Christian vs. Jew),
a different social class (aristocrat vs. serf),
a different political ideology (capitalism vs. communism),
a different sexual orientation (heterosexual vs. homosexual),
a different origin (native born vs. immigrant).
The Other is not necessarily a numerical minority. In a country defeated by an
imperial power, the far more numerous natives become the Other, for example,
the British rule in India where Indians outnumbered the British 4,000 to 1.
Similarly, women are defined and judged by men, the dominant group, in
relationship to themselves, so that they become the Other. Hence Aristotle says:
"The female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities; we should regard
the female nature as afflicted with a natural defectiveness." The group which is
defining the Other may be an entire society, a social class or a community within a
society, a family, or even a high school clique or a neighborhood gang.
What forms of “Otherness” do you see
in Oroonoko?
How does Behn present these
“Others”?
How are “Others” perceived differently
by different characters?
The Tragic Hero
What is Oroonoko’s tragic flaw?
Is the flaw culturally dependent?
Aphra Behn’s Purpose
What is the purpose of this text?
How does Behn appeal to the reader using the
rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos?
Ethos-establishing credibility of the speaker
Pathos-appealing to audience’s emotions
Logos-appealing to audience’s reason/logic
Wordle—Oroonoko’s speech to rally slaves