English 302
Archival Project
In Aphra Behn’s novel, Oroonoko published in 1688. Oroonoko, who was an African prince from Coramantien. Coramantien is located on the west coast of Africa. During the seventeenth and eighteen-century people were captured and forced into slavery. Oroonoko who is tricked into becoming a slave, Oroonoko is taken away to Suriname. Oroonoko depicts a character having control over others to becoming enslaved.
The history of Oroonoko relates to a lot of community today. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteen-century slavery was very popular; slavery is known to happen years ago. Being a Slave means someone else’s property, lack of freedom and excessive labor with very low to no pay. Oroonoko was the royal African prince in Kormantse and then a slave in Surinam, South America. Oroonoko was the prince, people obeyed him and looked up to him. Having to move one place to another; you get a fresh start, and people treat you differently. Immigrants face these obstacles when they migrate to a different country. According to this article Mexican Americans in New York City. “Immigrant Mexicans appear to be having great difficulty making ends meet as they start families here. Incomes that might support one individual on their own or in a shared household are not enough to support a family. As a result, Mexican children being born here have frighteningly high rates of poverty” (Pg. 6). Some communities today, relate to the text in Oroonoko. For instance, people with low resources and individuals with illegal immigration status. Undocumented individuals migrate to a different country, for economic reasons. Undocumented individuals work exhausting jobs earning under minimum wage. Undocumented immigrants don’t get health care; these individuals have to stay as healthy as possible. Mexicans are known to work more and earn less money. Undocumented Mexicans work six to seven days per week. Also, Undocumented families live under house density. About eleven people live in one apartment. In some community’s people are judged based on their race or appearance. Oroonoko is described as the most beautiful man. He is compared to other African American men, in his culture. The narrator describes Oroonoko beauty “His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are but of perfect ebony or polished jet.” There are different types of racism. Racism is not only based on someone’s skin color.
Conflicts in the novel could relate to humans’ everyday living. The character, Oroonoko feels trapped as a slave. This relates to a New Yorker living in the projects. Trapped in a square where there is a neighbor to your left and right. There is no escape. The system doesn’t want you to move. For instance, Slaves weren’t able to read. Orooonoko had slaves working for him. It’s harsh to go from having everything to absolutely nothing. Slavery has an impact mentally and physically. Oroonoko had to spend the rest of his life working on the sugar plantation. Oroonoko tried to play both roles the prince and the slave.
In the 18th-century European construct vessel. The vessels were filled with slaves ready to be transported. Slaves couldn’t escape, inside the vessel the slaveholders had weapons. During slavery, slaves were mistreated. Their hair would be completely shaved. If any slave was disobedient, he or she would be transferred to small compartments. Similar to prison, prisoners are stuck in compartments with no freedom. Slaves were separated by gender. Weapons and robes used against the slaves remind me of Handcuffs. Handcuffs symbolize threats, enslavement, fear, and dreams that are impossible to accomplish. Both slaves and prisoners have to follow rules. Slaves are being watched by their owners. When Oroonoko arrived at Surinam, he was distant from his African friends. In slavery, people are isolated from their friends and family similar to prisoners. When slaves are sold, they are separated from their love ones.
Work Cited:
Behn Aphra. Oroonoko, edited by Janet Todo, Penguin Books, 2003.
Treschan, L. and Mehrotra, A.
CSS Report: Nearly Half of Mexican Children in New York City Are Growing Up Poor
In-text: (Treschan and Mehrotra, 2013)
