Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Englisches Seminar

Hauptseminar: Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative

Strategies of Emancipation in Olaudah Equiano′s ′The Interesting Narrative′ and Mary Prince′s ′The History of Mary Prince′

Meike Kohl

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ... 3

2. Individual Strategies of Emancipation : Olaudah Equiano ... 4

2.1. Adaption to a foreign cultural system ... 4
2.2. The Liberal Economic System ... 5
2.3. Emancipation through Religion ... 7

3. Individual Strategies of Emancipation: Mary Prince ... 8

3.1. Protest against the System of Slavery ... 9
3.2. Economic System ... 10
3.3. Religion ... 11

4. Strategies of Emancipation in Literary Terms ... 13

4.1. Equiano ... 13
4.1.1. Spiritual autobiography ... 14
4.1.2. Fictional Autobiography ... 14
4.1.3. Travel writing / Adventure story ... 15
4.1.4. The Sentimental Novel ... 15
4.2. Prince ... 16

5. Conclusion ... 17

Bibliography: ... 19

Primary Sources: ... 19
Secondary Sources: ... 19

1. Introduction

As representatives of Early Black Literature, two texts have entered the canon of university courses lately: Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano Or Gustavus Vassa, The African, Written By Himself, which was published in 1794, and Mary Prince’s The History Of Mary Prince. A West Indian Slave which was first published in 1831. Both at their time have been drawing the attention of the British public to the cause of abolition and have ultimately been a means to finally establish the legal rights of the enslaved. This essay attempts to establish a connexion between the individual strategies of emancipation as utilised by the two individuals in their struggle for freedom, and the way these strategies are reflected on a literary level, that is the use of language and of narrative genres. It will be examined in how far Equiano and Prince act as agents of a free will and present themselves as such, with a focus an the means by which this is done. In a second step, the literary level will be analysed, that is the use of narrative strategies and language in both texts with regard to popular literary genres in eighteenth century literature. The approach Equiano chooses on his way to becoming a free individual can be described as an indirect tactic of adapting to a new culture. It is reflected on the literary level, as well as Prince’s direct and outspoken attempts at emancipation. The outcomes of both authors’ endeavours differ greatly, and so do their strategies and literary uses. The Webster Dictionary defines emancipation as

the act of setting free from the power of another, from slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence; also, the state of being thus set free; the act or process of emancipation, or the state thereby achieved; liberation; as, the emancipation of slaves; the emancipation of minors; the emancipation of a person from prejudices; the emancipation of the mind from superstition; the emancipation of a nation from tyranny or subjection.

In this essay, ‘strategies of emancipation’ will be defined as strategies being followed consciously or unconsciously to achieve a state of independence, legally and socially. The term ‘agency’ signifies an active role of the protagonist which is not restricted or forced upon by others. The end pursued is that of gaining a status of equal rights, not only in Great Britain, but as well in the colonies, and a status as a free person who is in control of all of his or her actions.

2. Individual Strategies of Emancipation : Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative gives an account of the whole life of the author, from being born in freedom, captured, enslaved, sold, and finally having gained manumission by buying himself free. Freedom is only a stepping stone to various episodes in his life to follow, among these are the establishment of himself as a successful businessman, his spiritual development and finally marriage to an English woman. From the moment of his capture, the process of his emancipation emerges, which can be subdivided in three approaches: first as emancipation by adapting to existing cultural values and norms, second as emancipation by the liberal economic system, and third as emancipation by spiritual development. The latter are closely linked with the idea of cultural adaption, but nevertheless stand as strategies on their own.

2.1. Adaption to a foreign cultural system

Being forced into a system very much different from that into which he was born, and entering this system as a disenfranchised person, the strategy Equiano chooses to employ is that of adaption. Although he physically differs, he soon is no longer “mortified at the difference in our complexions” but gradually comes to accept his otherness and develops an identity by embracing the new cultural system (Equiano, 69). Among the most empowering abilities is his acquisition of the English language. At first unable to understand or to express himself and thus completely reliant on other people, he soon begins to “smatter a little imperfect English” and ventures to gain knowledge about the world surrounding him (Equiano, 64). His language proficiency increases rapidly due to his curiosity and constant questioning, and with it, his acquiescence to his situation. He does realise that instead of fighting against his fetters, acceptance could perhaps improve his circumstances and is awakening to the idea that reading and writing can be powerful tools. It becomes clear that with language acquisition, he also adopts British manners and values by actively seeking to imitate white people:

I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood every that was said. I now not only felt myself quite easy with these new countrymen, but relished their society and manners. I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and I therefore had the stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners; I therefore embraced every occasion of improvement; and every new thing that I observed I treasured up in my memory. I had long wished to be able to read and write; and for this purpose I took every opportunity to gain instruction.
(Equiano,77-78)

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