Jessica Umana 

Professor Rumore 

ENG 302 

Writing Assignment 4: Period Recap 

18 May 2020

 Slavery during the Eighteenth Century 

During my time in this semester, I was able to develop a deeper understandment and gain knowledge on the effects of slavery. During the eighteenth century, African Americans were kidnapped from Africa and sold to American colonies while others were forced to work as servants and produce goods for trade. During this course, I was allowed the opportunity to read several novels and poems which had a greater connection to slavery. 

Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, was one of the first novels we were able to read as a whole during this course this semester. Aphra, in fact, is a white woman who writes a novel on slavery which is pretty ironic. Oroonoko focuses on the grandson of an African King, who was powerful but then sold as a slave and killed. The novel itself emphasises the issues slaves were facing, more specifically, focuses on their ownership and authority as African Americans. The prince, Oroonoko, was transported back and forth during his life as a slave and had to undergo several forms of ownership before he died. However, most importantly, we are able to captivate as readers the cruelty and humiliation slaves had to go through during this specific time through the story of Oroonoko himself.

Furthermore, as we read Oroonoko, we realize how deeply in love he is with Imoinda and how his love for her leads to his death sentence. Shortly, his grandfather also falls in love with Imoinda and quickly finds a way to make Orookoko vanish so that he can have her all to himself.  However, since she wasn’t obeying and giving up on her love for Oroonoko, the grandfather decided to sell them both into slavery. After being enslaved, Oroonoko realized the cruelty and the quality of life these African Americans were forced to live in with no freedom whatsoever. He then argued that no one, including  man, women or even children, should ever have to be enslaved. He then encouraged freedom and stated that all the slaves should unite to become a free and supportive community in order to end racial inequality and slavery. 

Moreover, one of the poems we were able to focus on in class was “Being brought from Africa to America”by Phillis Wheatly, an African American poet. She was an African American woman who talks about what women went through during the eighteen century. In this poem, Wheatly speaks on her personal experience as a young girl and emphasises on the time she was taken from her home and brought to Massachusetts to be a slave. She argues that all people no matter the race or skin color, are able to find salvation and be free through Christianity. Wheatly stated, “ Some view our sable race with scornful eye,”Their colour is a diabolic die. Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train”(6-8). In this quote, the speaker argued that many people classify dark skin people to be evil and from the devil. However, she reiterates the importance to know that no matter the skin color, everyone has the opportunity to be saved. More specifically, she states that African Americans should not be shamed by their dark skin because they have access to redemption through Christianity.  

Lastly, in” An Hymn to Humanity”, by Philis Wheatly as well, she combines both christan and classical myths in order to convey her own opinions on slavery. I would classify this poem as being a sort of tribute to Africans that were slaves during this time. Wheatly describes in this poem how she was treated as a slave and resembles her story in the poem. On stanza five she says, “Can Afric’s muse forgetful prove? Or can such friendship fail to move. A tender human heart? Immortal Friendship laurel-crown’d. The smiling Graces all surround. With ev’ry heav’nly Art”(25-30). In these lines, the speaker is referring to herself. She singled out the Afircan Americans and was able to talk on how God compensated for the faults and thoughts of humanity towards African Americans allowing them to feel a sense of relief.

Overall, all three of these works of literature demonstrate how slavery was a huge issue during the eightteenth century. In Oroonoko, Behn tells the story of a African American prince who was taken into slavery and then eventually died from fighting for his freedom. In “Being Brought from African to America” and  “An Hymn to Humanity,” Wheatly speaks on her own experience on slavery and how christianity was the only thing that was able to bring her freedom during these difficult times. Slavery impacted the lives of African Americans in an appalling way and although it no longer exists, it is still very impactful to learn and read about peoples lives and experiences as slaves. Although these individuals no longer live in slavery such as Wheatly, it is something that will forever live in African Americans hearts and will always be an impacting and hurtful story to tell to others. 

Jessica Umana 

Professor Rumore 

ENG 302 

12 May 2020 

Community Blog Post

I’ve been living in New York my whole life but I actually moved to New York City about two years ago. I am completely disappointed in the world and how society has become. Living in the city has really been an eye opener for me. Not because I don’t like it, but because it seems as if everyone is living their own rushed life and doesn’t care about anyone but themselves. There’s not much of any appreciation towards nature and its beauty anymore. Instead, people live their lives working and thinking about themselves. 

In the poem, “The World is too Much for Us” by William Wordsworth, the speaker is angry at the world and its lack of appreciation towards nature. He accuses the modern age for losing connection with nature and forgetting its meaning. I completely agree with Wordsworth and that is why this poem impacted me the most. I strongly believe that everyone is so focused on their own life that they tend to forget the real meaning of the world.  He says, “ Little we see in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” In this quote, the reader is able to feel the speaker’s tone and it is evident that he is angry at what the world has become. He is disappointed on how it has given away its heart to the things that don’t matter such as technology.  

Furthermore, I was able to connect with this poem because everyday, I see how the world disconnects more and more from its natural environment and it’s upsetting to see that happen. Now that we are in quarantine, it has given us the opportunity to love nature around us more and appreciate the things we don’t normally appreciate when we are free. However, I don’t think that a pandemic like the one we are currently living in should have to take place for people to change their selfish actions. Moreover, the speaker says something very essential. He states, “The world…getting and spending.” Once again, I thought of NYC when I read this line of the poem. They call it the “city that never sleeps.” That is because everyone is so focused on getting money and working all the time. Everyone is always rushing to get to work and become something in this world. It reminds me of a competition.

Overall, although before there was more crime in the U.S, I do believe that there was a greater appreciation towards nature. Back then, technology wasn’t as advanced as it is today and that is one of the reasons why people had to use the environment around them in order to make useful resources to survive. Now that technology has taken over the world, people are relying on it to the point that they can’t live without it and it should be the other way around. Nature should be appreciated more in order to make the world a better place.

Jessica Umana 

Professor Rumore 

ENG 302

12 May 2020

Critical Annotation 

Quotes from Oroonoko by Aphran Behn

1. “This old dead hero had one only daughter left of his race; a beauty that, to describe her truly, one need say only, she was female to the noble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars; as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have seen an hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all vain, and unsuccessful; and she was, indeed, too great for any, but a prince of her own nation to adore.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, the author focuses on racism. Behn specifically emphasizes how this young beautiful woman is black and how she is considered to be noble to any man. She then goes on and states that even white men have not been able to captivate her attention because she is too good for them. I found this quote to be very interesting because it contradicts what black females are known for. During the 1800’s, they were very few black females who were noble and beautiful. Instead, they were known for being slaves and not looked at by white men. 

2. “The King of Coramantien was himself a man of an hundred and odd years old, and had no son, though he had many beautiful black wives: for most certainly there are beauties that can charm of that color.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, Behn uses characteristic in order to describe the King of Coramantien. I wouldn’t consider it so much imagery although when the author states that he is one hundred odd years old, the reader definitely creates an image of an old person in their head. However, I believe that characterization takes over  especially since it’s not so common for a man to be over 100 years old nowadays. Also, it describes how noble of a King he was since he has plenty of beautiful wives. 

3. “His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished jet. His eyes were the most awful that could be seen, and very piercing; the white of ’em being like snow, as were his teeth. His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat. His mouth the finest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turned lips which are so natural to the rest of the negroes.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, the author uses imagery. It is evident when the author begins to describe Oronookos features. Everything about this quote is clearly emphasising imagery. For instance, the author says that his mouth was the finest shape that has been ever seen and his lips were natural. This allows the reader to create a better picture in their head of the character. The more intense the description is, the better the imagination. 

4. “He was adorned with a native beauty, so transcending all those of his gloomy race that he struck an awe and reverence even into those that knew not his quality; as he did into me, who beheld him with surprise and wonder, when afterwards he arrived in our world.”

• This passage is another example of imagery. The author is stating that his beauty was better than those of any other race, basically allowing the reader to comprehend how beautiful he was and ranking him better than any other normal men. The point of incorporating this literary element is to allow the reader to grasp a vivid imagery and comprehend why Oroonoko differed from everyone else. 

5. “I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this Royal Slave, to entertain my reader with adventures of a feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poet’s pleasure; nor in relating the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents but such as arrived in earnest to him.”

• This passage in Oroonoko,gives the reader historic context. At the beginning of the story, the author presents what they story is going to be about and uses “Royal Slave” allowing the reader too understand that it will be from the 1800’s and about slavery.  However, this quote also allows the reader to grasp the idea that a kingdom will be involved aside from slavery which also brings it back a couple centuries ago. 

Work Cited Behn, Aphran. Oroonoko. Penguin Books, 2016.

Jessica Umana 

Professor Rumore 

ENG 302

March 20, 2020 

    Archival Project: Slave Trade  

The history of slavery crosses many cultures, nations, and countries around the entire world and African Americans have been enslaved since the early 17th century. In “Oroonoko,” by Aphra Behn, we encounter the life of an African Prince named Oroonoko who lived with his beautiful wife Imoinda. However, the narrator described Oroonoko in a way that reflected his power and distinctive features. Behn claims to have known Oroonoko during his captivity in Suriname, a British colony at the time. Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of Oroonoko’s history, allowing the reader to cherish the fact that he was the last descendant of a royal line and was no ordinary slave, but a prince in Africa. 

In the story, an English sea captain comes to visit Oroonoko’s land, in which Oroonoko welcomes him as a noble friend. Moreover, Oroonoko catches his eye, and eventually the English captain invites him to board his ship, where Oroonoko is then kidnapped along with many of his own attendants. During the Atlantic slave trade, the conditions of many of these ships many slaves were being transported in were extremely poor. Often, ships carried hundreds of slaves, many of which had to sleep next to each other. These slaves were chained to the bed since many would try to commit suicide while on the ship. In addition, there were numerous unhygienic conditions and the ships were extremely unsanitary, which often led to poor health conditions. Most importantly, food and water was a major issue, as captains thought that food was too expensive to provide for the slaves and they bought as little as possible for them to eat. 

This image connects to Oroonoko, when he was captivated by the English captain and was taken on board to Suriname. In this image, we see that there is a large number of African Americans bunched together, sleeping in bins or sitting next to each other. It is important to keep in mind that one of the main causes of deaths for slaves during this time was due to numerous diseases which were easily spread throughout these ships. It is important to also keep in mind that these ships weren’t designed to transport people but were actually designed to transport goods to other countries. Because of this, diseases were easily spread due to poor hygiene and the way these slaves were packed together. Some of these diseases included smallpox, flux and scurvy. Although Oroonoko didn’t face these specific obstacles while being transported to Suriname, many slaves during the 1800 had to face these challenges. 

Further along, once Oroonoko is brought to Suriname, he is sold to an intelligent kind hearted slave who promised his freedom later on. During the 1800’s, slaves were often sold at auctions or at markets. Also, they were often advertised in newspapers, like cars and houses are advertised today. However, slave auctions devalued them as a human being, which underestimated their human rights and left them with no freedom or value for themselves.  

This image of the slave trade connects to Oroonoko, when he was captive in Suriname and was going to be sold to his slave owner. This image demonstrates white dealers closely inspecting a black man who is on for sale. It is important to know that one essential feature slave owners looked for in a man was his physical appearance as well as his mental health. Slaves who were easily sold were those who were strong, intelligent, and robust. The stronger and better the appearance of the slave, the more it persuaded the white men to buy him. 

In all, I chose these two objects from the 1800’s because they demonstrated the poor conditions slaves were being transported in. In addition, I felt that it was extremely important to consider how slaves were being sold and how these black African men were being devalued as human beings. Although Oroonoko was a powerful man in his country and held royal power, that all changed in a matter of seconds, where he was put down from his royalty to the lowest he could ever be, and that was by becoming a slave unwillingly. 

Work Cited 

Behn Aphra. Oroonoko, edited by Janet Todo, Penguin Books, 2003.

Getty Images. “Captives for Sale” Slavery and Antislavery. A Transnational Archive. 1750.Getty Images. “Slave Quarters below Deck.Online” 1846.