Oroonoko, Not An Anti-Slavery Text Essay, Research Paper

Upon first reading Aphra Behn & # 8217 ; s work Oroonoko, one might acquire the feeling that this is an early illustration of antislavery literature that became so popular during the eighteenth and 19th centuries. In the short life of Behn from the Norton Anthology of British Literature, we learn that Behn & # 8217 ; s narrative had a great impact on those who fought against the slave- trade. Although the horrors of the slave trade are clearly brought Forth, I do non experience Behn was utilizing these images towards the antislavery cause. I think it is more likely that the images were simply devices used in her travel narration of Oroonoko.

To see any negative position of the slave-trade, the reader must turn to the position of Oroonoko. Through him the reader sees how atrocious the intervention of slaves is and how cold the slave-trade is. It might get away me, but I do non remember any minute in the narrative where the storyteller takes its upon herself to discourse the slave trade. It seems that in that manner that she is unpluging herself from any duty.

One could instantly state that this is because of her place at the clip. Behn, being a adult female, faced many biass from male authors and critics, although she was praised by some. Yet the anthology debut provinces that she openly signed her name and talked back to critics. If this is true why would she be afraid to take a more unfastened stance towards the inquiry of bondage. Why does the antislavery position have to come from a slave, person who is evidently traveling to be antislavery and non that of person with a higher rank in society whose feelings toward the issue would be more considered.

It is amusing that even though the storyteller is considered to be a member of the in-between category in the settlement, she separates her

ego from it when it comes to slavery. Because of her rank category in the plantation scene, it seems likely she would hold had slaves but this is ne’er mentioned. It seems eldritch that person who would idolize Oroonoko so extremely, even higher than some of her fellow settlers, would experience right having slaves. Of class this is merely a conjecture based upon the brief description of the storyteller given. Whenever the storyteller mentions the relationship between the settlers and the slaves she does non include herself with the other settlers, she calls them “they” . “They” of class mentioning to the settlers. It seems by making this she does non needfully reprobate the colonists’ actions, alternatively she says that she was merely non involved.

I besides question Behn feelings toward bondage because of her descriptions of the relationships between slaves and Masterss. The dark side of bondage is evidently shown but does Behn besides show a more friendly tone. If this was genuinely an antislavery piece as some would believe, why would she demo what a good relationship Oroonoko has had with some of his Masterss and how infatuated Trefry is with Clemene.

Another illustration of why Behn & # 8217 ; s feelings towards bondage should be considered is another manner the storyteller uses her societal position. The reader is told by the storyteller that she has the power to salvage Oroonoko and yet she does non. Of class she could be intimidated by the other settlers but if she was genuinely strong in her strong beliefs, this would non count.

All these illustrations do is merely add to the confusion of Behn & # 8217 ; s work. Her work can be construed as both antislavery and although non needfully pro-slavery, non against it. What is of import is that although it might non hold been her initial end she set Forth a peculiar discourse in literature that had great impact on later anti-slavery authors.