But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Narrative Strategies of
Evasion and Concealment
 Shifting or ambiguous pronouns
 They  We and vice versa to distance narrator from
association with slavery
 Overextended syntax/Strange punctuation
 This passage is only one sentence long
 piling clause on clause to put off talking about an
unpleasant subject
 Shifting sentence subjects
 Sentence claims to be about one subject, ostensibly
about another  look for connection
Overextended Syntax
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifts in Subject
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Initial Subject
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifting Pronouns: They/We
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifting Pronouns: Slaves
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifting Pronouns: Slaves vs Natives
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifting Subjects: Trade
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Shifting Subject: Consumerism/Exoticism
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these new
colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or
weasel, but of marvelous and delicate shape, having
face and hands like a human creature; and cousheries,
a little beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as
a kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Remember the Initial Subject? Gallant Slave  Slave Trade
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these
new colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Gallant Slave  Slave Trade  Consumer/Tourist Trade
But before I give you the story of this gallant slave, 'tis
fit I tell you the manner of bringing them to these
new colonies; those they make use of there not being
natives of the place: for those we live with in perfect
amity, without daring to command 'em; but, on the
contrary, caress 'em with all the brotherly and friendly
affection in the world; trading with them for their fish,
venison, buffalo's skins, and little rarities; as
marmosets, a sort of monkey, as big as a rat or weasel,
but of marvelous and delicate shape, having face and
hands like a human creature; and cousheries, a little
beast in the form and fashion of a lion, as big as a
kitten, but so exactly made in all parts like that noble
beast that it is it in miniature. (Behn 9)
Question:
 Why might the narrator want to distance herself
from “those” who “command” slaves as a part of
chattel slavery? What larger conflicts does this
passage reveal between the narrator’s position as
eye-witness and storyteller? Between Oroonoko’s
position as “gallant” and “slave?”