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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Individual Strategies of Emancipation : Olaudah Equiano
2.1. Adaption to a foreign cultural system
2.2. The Liberal Economic System
2.3. Emancipation through Religion
3. Individual Strategies of Emancipation: Mary Prince
3.1. Protest against the System of Slavery
3.2. Economic System
3.3. Religion
4. Strategies of Emancipation in Literary Terms
4.1. Equiano
4.1.1. Spiritual autobiography
4.1.2. Fictional Autobiography
4.1.3. Travel writing / Adventure story
4.1.4. The Sentimental Novel
4.2. Prince
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This essay explores the distinct strategies of emancipation used by Olaudah Equiano and Mary Prince in their respective struggles for freedom, while analyzing how these strategies are reflected through their specific narrative techniques and literary genres.
- Comparison of individual agency and liberation tactics in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Analysis of the role of cultural adaptation, economic systems, and religion in gaining freedom.
- Examination of how literacy and writing style contribute to the authors' self-representation.
- Evaluation of narrative genres such as spiritual autobiography, travel writing, and the sentimental novel.
- Critique of the power structures and social constraints faced by enslaved individuals in the Atlantic world.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Protest against the System of Slavery
Being born into a household of slaves in Bermuda, it is not until she is twelve years of age and sold for the first time, that she “[understands] rightly [her] condition as a slave” (Mary Prince, 7). Her reaction to being parted from her mother and siblings is one of great grief. Retrospectively, she is not able to “bear to think of that day” (Mary Prince, 10). Although she is not able to change that system or to use any aspects of it to her own advantage, she is not suffering it passively. Sara Salih observes that she is protesting “against her treatment at every available opportunity”, and that there are various examples of this protest (Sara Salih, xxx).
When her master abuses her even more inhuman than before, she runs away to her mother’s place. Wickedly, the system prevents the slave parents to protect their own children: “mothers could only weep and mourn over their children, they could not save them from cruel masters”– she is forced to return by her own father (Prince, 18). Despite the hopelessness of her situation, she then takes “courage” and accuses her master of maltreating her (Prince, 18). Although this does not result in any alleviation of her sufferings, it clearly shows that from a very early age on, Prince is determined to speak her mind, and not suffer in silence. Another instance of Prince taking courage is when her next master not only abuses his slaves, but also his own daughter. Prince here takes on responsibility for his daughter as well, and actively intervenes the abuse.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the analytical framework for comparing the emancipation strategies of Olaudah Equiano and Mary Prince, focusing on how their personal agency and literary choices shaped their paths to freedom.
2. Individual Strategies of Emancipation : Olaudah Equiano: This chapter details Equiano’s multi-faceted approach to freedom through cultural adaptation, participation in the liberal economic system, and spiritual development.
3. Individual Strategies of Emancipation: Mary Prince: This section examines Prince’s more restricted path to emancipation, highlighting her direct protest against slavery despite her marginalized position as a woman and a slave.
4. Strategies of Emancipation in Literary Terms: This chapter analyzes how both authors utilized popular literary genres of their time—such as spiritual autobiography and the sentimental novel—to promote the abolitionist cause and assert their own identities.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the comparative findings, noting the success of Equiano’s integration versus the ongoing dependence of Prince, while emphasizing the significance of their public narratives.
Keywords
Olaudah Equiano, Mary Prince, emancipation, slavery, abolition, agency, spiritual autobiography, narrative strategies, Early Black Literature, liberal economic system, cultural adaptation, resistance, sentimental novel, British abolitionism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The essay examines the different methods Olaudah Equiano and Mary Prince used to achieve personal and social emancipation, while analyzing the literary techniques they employed to communicate their stories to the British public.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
The core themes include individual agency, the intersection of economic survival and freedom, the role of religion as both a source of strength and a rhetorical tool, and the impact of 18th-century literary genres on slave narratives.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates the connection between the individual strategies of emancipation used by the authors and the way these are reflected on a literary level, specifically through their choice of language and narrative genres.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, evaluating primary texts against the historical context and scholarly discourse on early Black literature and the abolitionist movement.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers individual emancipation strategies—such as adaptation, trade, and faith—for both authors, followed by a critical literary analysis of how genres like travel writing and spiritual autobiography were used to advance the abolitionist agenda.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include emancipation, agency, slave narratives, abolition, narrative genres, and cultural adaptation.
How does the author characterize the difference in their outcomes?
Equiano is described as a successful businessman who integrates into British society, whereas Prince remains caught within a system of dependency, requiring others to advocate on her behalf despite her strong personal voice.
What role does the "ghost writer" play in the text of Mary Prince?
The work discusses how the involvement of Susanna Strickland and Thomas Pringle significantly influenced the structure and "pruning" of Prince's narrative, rendering it a political tool for the Anti-Slavery Society.
- Citar trabajo
- Meike Kohl (Autor), 2006, Strategies of Emancipation in Olaudah Equiano's 'The Interesting Narrative and Mary Prince's 'The History of Mary Prince', Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/71453
