English 302 

May 18, 2020 

Throughout the eighteenth century, slavery was in full effect. During this time slave trading was common. In the 18^th Century people were captured from Africa and forced into slavery. Slaves were dehumanized and treated with violence. Slaves had to labor and work on plantations, one popular plantation was cotton. A lot of beneficial goods came from cotton. Sugar plantation was also produced during slavery around the 1830’s. Sugar was Britain’s largest import through 1750’s and 1820’s. Sugar plantation was a large business. Slaves were usually brought from Africa to the west indies to work on sugar plantation. Then African slaves would mainly work in agriculture on plantations. Every slave labored; Slaves were assigned different duties. Slaves usually worked for no pay. Some owners would use slaves for entertainment, dancing and singing. Slavery was crucial to American and it led the way to war. Around the 1860’s the number of slaves in United States increased. Slaves had to work under pressure; they were treated with cruelty. Slaves suffered; freedom was taken away from them. Slaves were forced to work and follow instructions, if not they would get beaten. Slaves were forced to live on the worst conditions. Slaves lived in a crowded place with barely any room to breathe.  If slaves didn’t work, they would get whippings and tortured. Masters would beat them violently, rape and abuse the slaves to get them to work.  

Oroonoko was written by Aphra Behn in 1688. The novel of Oroonoko is a perfect example of suffrage during slavery. Oroonoko’s life was a complete tragedy. Major themes in Oroonoko are betrayal, race and slavery. Oroonoko was an African prince from Coramantien, who was tricked and captured into slavery. The captain in the ship tricked Oroonoko into becoming a slave. Prince Oroonoko was educated in Europe, he falls in love with the beautiful Imoinda. Oroonoko’s  grandfather who is the king finds out about Imoinda and Oroonoko’s romance. The grandfather finds out about Imoinda beauty and sold her into slavery. Then the grandfather regrets what he did and hopes Oroonoko won’t seek revenge. Oroonoko is brought to Suriname, where he becomes a slave. It’s harsh Oroonoko was once a Prince and had people obeying him. Oroonoko had it all and people admired him; One day everything vanished gone.  Then, Oroonoko was sold into slavery. Oroonoko’s novel symbolizes that slavery was caused a lot of abuse not only physical; but also, mental abuse. Oroonoko embodies slavery; having freedom and one day being owned by someone. Oroonoko like most slaves don’t harm the captain. It’s illustrated in this quote “Farewel, sir, ’tis worth my sufferings, to gain so true a knowledge both of you, and of your gods by whom you swear”.  Even if Oroonoko suffered he found out, who was the captain. What distinguish Oroonoko from others is that he was educated in Europe. Oroonoko was portrayed as a good man; this text highlights Oroonoko’s death “Thus died this great man”. Oroonoko represents an Arc character because, he ended somewhere else at the end of the story.  

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano presents a message of the abuse in slavery. Olaudah Equiano was kidnaped when he was just a child. Equiano sister was also captured and tortured. Olaudah Equiano felt horror, feared he was going to get killed.  In the Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano; Equiano some slaves jumped out of the boat, because of the torture they were forced to live.  Equiano was not only physically tortured; he also viewed slaves kill themselves as a child. The abuse was awful, many slaves rather face death. Equiano had no escape and was forced into slavery.  In the Interesting Narrative; Olaudah Equiano describes journey as nightmare. As a slave Olaudah Equiano was sold a couple of times.  Olaudah Equiano is a strong character who is approaching change. Olaudah Equiano Interesting narrative is written for the white audience. Freedom to Olaudah Equiano means work and honor. The conception of freedom to Olaudah Equiano is to earn money. When writing his narrative, Olaudah Equiano gets his freedom. Olaudah Equiano had to make choices in order to get his freedom. Olaudah Equiano describes the situation in the ship; Equine uses imagery “The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us”. The narrator gives details about the number of slaves in a ship. The narrator describes the condition the slaves are in; they are barely able to breath. The imagery the speaker uses help readers to understand the slave’s pain. The narrator uses the word “number” describing the number of slaves gathered in one place.  Olaudah Equiano achieve his freedom by buying it; Olaudah Equiano works for himself.  

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American woman to publish a poetry. In the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley, Wheatley describes her experience being brought from Africa to America. Phillis Wheatley was brought into America she was sold into slavery. Wheatley’s poem is ironic, she starts with the lines  “Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,”. She uses the word mercy. Mercy means compassion and forgiveness.  The word “pagan Land” refers to Africa. Africa its Wheatley’s homeland, where she has freedom. She was brought from her “pagan land” to America. Wheatley continues “Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, Their colour is a diabolic die.” People viewed her race has a “diabolic die” she was viewed as sinful. Wheatley poem depicts her experience as a slave.  

Work cited 

Aphra, Behn. Oroonoko, Penguin.2003 

Equiano, Olaudah, and Vincent Carretta. The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings. Penguin Books, 2003. 

Phillis Wheatley, On Being Brought from Africa to America 

Quotes from William WordsWorth “The World Is Too Much with Us” 

“Sea that bares her bosom to the moon”, “the winds that will be howling at all hours”, and “sleeping flowers”.  

Wordsworth uses personification in his poem, he gives nature human qualities. Wordsworth gives the “wind” human emotions. Wordsworth says the wind is howling at all hours. Howling is a form of communication, usually, animals howl like wolfs, dogs and humans. Howling assemble a loud and long cry. There are reasons why humans howl usually because they are unhappy and suffering. William Wordsworth says winds are crying and feeling pain, because humans don’t interact with nature. William Wordsworth also uses personification “bares her bosom to the moon”. Wordsworth implies nature has always been there for humanity.  

Quotes from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. 

“The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us”  

The interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano 1789 the narrator uses Imagery. The narrator uses of imagery highlights each slave suffrage. The narrator describes the condition the slaves are in, they are barely able to breath. The imagery the speaker uses help readers to understand the slave’s pain. The narrator uses the word “number” describing the number of slaves gathered in one place.  

Quote from Oroonoko by Aphra Behn 

“His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished jett. His eyes were the most awful that cou’d 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 at. His mouth the nest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turn’d lips, which are so natural to the rest of the negroes. The whole proportion and air of his face was so nobly and exactly form’d, that bating his colour, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable and handsome.” (154) 

In this passage Aphra Behn uses imagery. The speaker describes Oroonoko as a beautiful person; Behn sets him apart from others in his race. The speaker compares Oroonoko’s teeth to snow. Oroonoko is extremely handsome not even nature could compare. Oroonoko beauty is described as one of a kind. By reading Behn description of Oroonoko the reader gets an idea of his appearance.  

ON BEING BROUGHT FROM AFRICA TO AMERICA 

‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, 
Taught my benighted soul to understand 
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: 
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. 
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. 

The poem “On being brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley uses imagery when he says “Some view our sable race with scornful eye”.  The word “scornful eye” means some humans have negative expression towards them; and look down on their race. They describe their color as “diabolic die”.  

“Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand”. 

Wheatley shows irony in her poem, the word mercy in her poem is ironic. Mercy means compassion and forgiveness.  The word “pagan Land” refers to Africa. Africa its Wheatley’s homeland, where she has freedom. She was brought from her “pagan land” to America. She was captured from Africa to America.  

Work cited 

Aphra, Behn. Oroonoko, Penguin.2003 

Wordsworth. The world is too much with us. 

Reading Communities  

I was born and raised in New York City.  New York City was known as the rotten apple. New York City was more corrupt than what is now. Around the ’90s New York City was more dangerous, there were a number of crimes. Throughout the years, New York City has improved and a lot of changes have been made. What remains the same is the human’s relationship with material things. Humanity is isolated from nature. Willam Wordsworth’s poem “The world is too much with us” is a perfect example of the way people live. William Wordsworth opens up the poem with these words “The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay our powers” the poet expresses his sadness with humanity. The speaker reveals how disappointed he is with human behavior wasting their energy. Wordsworth makes a connection with humans and nature. Wordsworth’s emphasizes the world shouldn’t be seen as a one but as a whole. Humans don’t appreciate the beauty of nature. Humans waste their time working and spending money. Wordsworth uses the word “world” is too much for humans to have because humans don’t realize its value. Humans replaced nature with materialistic things. Humanity is too concentrated on social status. Human beings put their wealth before connecting with nature. The impact of people’s daily living has affected their relationship with nature. Humans live in a world controlled by superficial things. Wordsworth’s emphasizes human behavior and its isolation from Nature. Humans are dominated by society; this is seen today. Especially in New York City where people live day-to-day. People don’t take the time to connect with nature. Nature is important for a human’s wellbeing. “Little we see in Nature that is ours.” the world is too much for all humans because nature it’s not appreciated. Wordsworth emphasizes how humans don’t deserve the world and its natural beauty. The tone of the sonnet is disappointing in human behavior. People are characterized by economic status. Humans have always competed to see who is wealthier. Wordsworth illustrates in his poem what the world looks like today. Nature has a lot of benefits; nature improves physical health and mental health. Nature provides a lot of benefits tranquility, increases pleasant emotions. Wordsworth believes humans are giving to much importance to money, materials, and superficial things. People should cherish the natural things of life. For instance, plants, the moon, animals the ocean.  At the end of the poem, Wordsworth says “Great God! I’d rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.” What Wordsworth means is he rather be pagan and enjoy nature. By being a Pagan, he could look over the ocean and be less sad. In William Wordsworth’s he shares his vision and argues humanity should connect with nature. Reading Woodsworth’s poem I learned how fortunate we are to enjoy nature.  

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)