Book Review: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano
The last travel narrative. We did it, kids. At least we’re going out with a good narrative, but it’s also a sad one, considering it’s a brutal reminder that slavery and colonialism are the roots of all evil, everywhere.
I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage under which they labour: it is also their misfortune, that what is uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed, and what is obvious we are apt to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence. People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity: all others they consign to contempt and oblivion.
— i.
I hope the reader will not think I have trespassed on his patience in introducing myself to him with some account of the manners and customs of my country. They had been implanted in me with great care, and made an impression on my mind, which time could not erase, and which all the adversity and variety of fortune I have since experienced served only to rivet and record; for, whether the love of one’s country be real or imaginary, or a lesson of reason, or an instinct of nature, I still look back with pleasure on the first scenes of my life, though that pleasure has been for the most part mingled with sorrow.
Long story short, this book is an autobiography/memoir of sorts. Olaudah Equiano recounts his life from his childhood, to when he became a slave, to his freedom, and beyond. He wrote this narrative and sent it to the queen (I think), to persuade the British government in abolishing slavery. To skip to my overall thoughts, scroll to the bottom!
— ii.
But is not the slave trade entirely a war with the heart of man? And surely that which is begun by breaking down the barriers of virtue involves in its continuance destruction to every principle, and buries all sentiments in ruin!
Throughout Equiano’s telling of his life story, we see absolute horrific impact of slavery, but also, on a bigger scale, colonialism. He talks about slavery mainly, but one of his methods of persuasion is to prove that he is now a good & faithful Christian, and also strictly adheres to British customs. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, whether he realizes it or not, how much he’s changed over the course of his life, especially because of the impacts of colonialism. It’s probably the one thing I couldn’t stop thinking about as I was reading. My heart broke for him over and over again, even if he didn’t realize colonialism’s consequences. It’s an absolutely necessary reminder on how evil colonialism is.
— iii.
At the sight of this land of bondage, a fresh horror ran through all my frame, and chilled me to the heart. My former slavery now rose in dreadful review to my mind, and displayed nothing but misery, stripes, and chains; and, in the first paroxysm of my grief, I called upon God’s thunder, and his avenging power, to direct the stroke of death to me, rather than permit me to become a slave, and be sold from lord to lord.
I’m also really tired of people saying how slavery isn’t about racism/has nothing to do with it, since “black people owned slaves!” or “white people were sometimes slaves, too!”, yada yada yada. I mean, I still see people *gags* try to say it isn’t about that. Literally from now on, I’m just going to redirect them to this book without saying anything else. I’m white, so I’m not going to try to speak about what slavery is or what it means, but it’s fairly obvious from this narrative alone that it is about racism and white supremacy. You get a firsthand look reading this book. Even long after Olaudah is freed, if he travels to a new location in the Caribbean or off the coast of America, and he encounters some white slave owner, they automatically assume that Olaudah escaped, that he’s a slave on the run, he is not free. He is still treated as a slave. Literally, as soon as he purchases his freedom, his ex-slave owner manipulates him into staying with him for a little longer, even if he is paid for it. His signed form that shows he is a free man can only take him so far, especially since the word of a white person always comes before the word of a black person, whether they are freed or not. And let’s not beat around the bush here—he’s spent his life struggling to acquire the money to purchase his own freedom, loses it, has to start over, and eventually pays for his own freedom. He worked his whole life into buying his freedom, just to continually be treated like a slave. His life only gets slightly better. He believes it gets significantly better once he surrenders himself to Christianity and British customs, but again, colonialism. So, no it doesn’t. Wow, I hate Britain. But let’s not open that door now, because I can rant about Britain for five hours nonstop.
— iv.
At that instant a rage seized my soul, and for a little I determined to resist the first man that should offer to lay violent hands on me, or basely use me without a trial; for I would sooner die like a free man, than suffer myself to be scourged by the hands of ruffians, and my blood drawn like a slave.
There’s not much else I have to say about this book! Overall it was really interesting, and sad of course. I’m glad that Olaudah eventually got to buy his freedom and eventually settled in England, and didn’t have to worry about being mistaken as a slave (since that really only happened in the Americas). Nonfiction generally just isn’t for me, so it would have to be absolutely mesmerizing for me to rate it more than three stars, but I’d still recommend it, without hesitation!
What’s a powerful book (fiction or nonfiction) that really changed you? Let me know in the comments below!
Rating: ★★★ | GoodReads
