The interesting
narrative of the life of
olaudah equiano, or
Gustavus Vassa, the
african, written by
himself, 1791
J.M.W. Turner’s painting, The Slave Ship (1840),
representing the Zong Massacre of 1781
Solicitor General for England and
Wales, Mr. John Lee:
• “What is this claim that human people have been
thrown overboard? This is a case of chattels or goods.
Blacks are goods and property; it is madness to
accuse these well-serving honourable men of murder.
They acted out of necessity and in the most
appropriate manner for the cause. The late Captain
Collingwood acted in the interest of his ship to protect
the safety of his crew. To question the judgement of an
experienced well-travelled captain held in the highest
regard is one of folly, especially when talking of slaves.
The case is the same as if wood had been thrown
overboard.”
Cape Coast Castle, Ghana
A citizen of the world
Interesting Narrative
• How does he challenge the
commodification/objectification of
African slaves?
• How does he “fashion” himself to
readers and for what purpose?
The interesting
narrative of the life of
olaudah equiano, or
Gustavus Vassa, the
african, written by
himself, 1791
“We are almost a nation of dancers,
musicians, and poets” (1216).
“Adultery, however, was sometimes punished
with slavery or death, a punishment which I
believe is inflicted on it throughout most of
the nations of Africa, so sacred among them
is the honor of the marriage bed, and so
jealous are they of the fidelity of their wives”
(1215).
“Those prisoners which were not sold or
redeemed, we kept as slaves; but how
different was their condition from that of the
slaves in the West Indies!” (1219)
“Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and
extinguish all its fire and every noble
sentiment? But above all, what advantages do
not a refined people possess, over those who
are rude and uncultivated? Let the polished
and haughty european recollect that his
ancestors were once, like the africans,
uncivilized, and even barbarous. Did Nature
make them inferior to their sons? and should
they too have been made slaves?” (1222)
“O, ye nominal Christians! Might not an
african ask you - Learned you this from your
God, who says unto you, do unto all men as
you would men should do unto you?” (1231)
“For that purpose I have often taken up a
book, and have talked to it, and then put my
ears to it, when alone, in hopes it would
answer me; and I have been very much
concerned when I found it silent” (1235).
“Operations on sea and land, from
mutiny to insurrection, made the motley
crew the driving force of a revolutionary
crisis in the 1760s and 1770s. Such
actions helped to destabilize imperial
civil society and push America toward
the world’s first modern colonial war for
liberation. ” (212)