Quick summary of Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

By Brian Freeman

Olaudah Equiano story Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is a slave narrative in which the entire story consists of Equiano growing up in Africa, capture, and his enslavement. Equiano brings us to a time when slavery historical had not reached its full height but was social acceptable. The use of Africans for chattel slavery had created an entirely new kind of economy for the English and Africans themselves. In Chapter one we find that Equiano own people sold slaves to Oye-Eboe term given to them that signifies red men living at distance. Equiano defends this practice by his people by stating the slaves sold were prisoners of war, kidnappers, or adulteries. The reader can continue reading and find on page 196 that Equiano people even had there own slaves, but yet he still defends this practice by saying, “How different was their condition from that of the slaves in the West Indies?”

One can even find Equiano challenging the thought process of Europeans. Ever sense the revolution of thought called the Enlightenment whites believed that black Africans were incapable of the highest forms of civilization and therefore fit only for enslavement by their supposed superiors. One can see on page 200 that Equiano directly challenges this idea. He states, “Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivilized, and even barbarous.” The reader can define this as the Europeans themselves once considered themselves much like the Africans uncivilized and why should they have the right to enslave Africans. The Europeans at one time were no different from the Africans.

The first thing the reader finds in Equiano’s story is how detailed he writes. In some cases Equiano gives mileage, names of cities, or direction he is heading in reference with the sun. His descriptions of growing up in Africa and the stunning moment of being taken away help paint amazing images to the reader. Equiano story has many themes, but there two themes that seem to stand out. The first theme of the story is to show Equiano amazing curiosity of the world. Even in the harshest of times we find Equiano is still amazed of the world that he is being forced to see. This curiosity for the world and western technology will be one the reason Equiano gains his own freedom. Second major theme is the comparison of his African tribe to Jews. He compares rituals and there like struggles.

Equiano, Olaudah. “Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.” The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. Ed. Henry L. Gates, Jr., and Nellie Y. Mckay. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997.190-213.