Short Essay #5

Short Essay #5

            A concept evolved over time, freedom is an idea embedded into every individual and its working definition varies dependant on one’s experiences and desires for their own liberation.  “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Or, Gustavus Vassa, the African” is just that, interesting. Equiano’s account of his own life is interesting on the premise that he unintentionally lived an extraordinary life, seemingly unbeknownst to himself, and that his working concept of freedom constantly evolved in an attempt to liberate his body and soul from the shackles by which they were bound.

            The evolution of Equiano’s concept of freedom began in his boyhood where he was opportunistic enough to be born to a Chief of his nation in Guinea. Equiano spoke of slavery in his homeland and generally good treatment towards slaves, with one great differentiation being the prohibition of slaves dining with freemen. Interestingly enough wives and children were not to dine with husbands either, implying that in Equiano’s homeland freedom was partially afforded to all and restriction of liberties imposed on most. Upon the kidnapping of Equiano and his sister he began his journey to find himself as a man and to develop a new sense of what his personal freedom was to become.

            In Equiano’s early travels as a slave he is impressed with the notion that attaining education in Christianity and trade would deliver him from his shackles and he sought knowledge to no avail. Despite loyalty to his master Equiano was sold to his master Robert King of Montserrat. It is then that Equiano witness intolerable cruelties imposed upon black men and women of the West Indies, despite, himself, serving under a gentile and honest master. Being a seafaring slave Equiano’s view of freedom developed into a concept that one should attain freedom through honesty and not deception. It was this concept that prevented Equiano from flight and eventually his toils as a merchant afforded him the sterling necessary to purchase his physical freedom.

            Despite purchasing his physical freedom and possessing a manumission of freedom Equiano was not freed as his concept seemingly changed once again. Still trading with his former master, whom he still referred to as master, Equiano was not unbound from the injustices and inequalities imposed upon blacks in the West Indies. Many times Equiano was swindled in trade and was offered no legal recourse; as well he was nearly kidnapped on various occasions. It was not until Equiano eventually found the salvation of Jesus Christ until he truly became free. In his travels Equiano’s view of freedom transformed from physical enfranchisement to spiritual salvation and finding Jesus Christ allowed Equiano to not fear death and damnation, but to live his life knowing that his freedom would be delivered upon death. Ironically Equiano’s view of freedom had come full circle, though with different motivations. As a boy in early disenfranchisement Equiano hoped for death as seemingly a better alternative to the desperate conditions of slavery. As a spiritually enlightened man Equiano embraced death as his final journey to the kingdom of God, leading him to spread the word of Christianity to his African brethren as a vehicle to ensure their true freedom.

            Understanding Equiano’s travels to be unique it is adequate to say that his concept of freedom was similar to other Africans in the eighteenth century, yet also dissimilar. Equiano was afforded much freedom in comparison to many of his brethren. As embodied in Jeffrey Bolster’s thesis, an African on the seas had much more freedom of trade and movement than his peers on the plantation. To many slaves Equiano would probably have been considered extremely fortunate for his opportunities to travel and trade up to the point of purchasing freedom. Despite this main difference freedom through salvation is a constant in all cultures and religions, implying that Equiano’s final concept of his freedom could be shared with other Africans as well as Europeans.

            Equiano’s interesting and notable life paints many pictures of people and is a proof that not one group can be understood to act or think along a linear plane. Equiano experienced Europeans and Christians that welcomed him into their lives, churches and homes and taught him anything he wished to learn but he also encountered swindlers and rouges. In his travels Equiano was fortunate enough to serve under generous, honest and fair masters but also encountered evil and ruthless masters and kidnappers. These accounts surely imply that the relationship between Africans and Europeans was not an easily defined interaction, but complex and dependent on individualized scenarios. Through his travels Equiano gained, lost and again regained faith in man, himself and in God. His constant struggle with his own convictions and the heterogeneity of the morals of others shaped Equiano’s concept of justice and freedom into one embedded in salvation of the soul, not liberation of the body.