Through the course of his life, Olaudah Equiano gradually began to identify himself as an
Englishman, however, he also took pride in being an African. He was born in the Eboe province,
where he was kidnapped at the age of eleven before being deported to the coast and sold to
slavery through the “middle passage”. At the beginning of the book, Equiano describes his native
African culture, including customs associated with clothing, food, and common religious
practices. He exhibits a fond memory of his birthplace and seems and exhibits some nostalgia for
his home. He then describes his experiences eventually leading to him being purchased by
Pascal. When he first encountered the Europeans, he was horrified by their brutality and thought
they would eat him. As a slave, he is allowed no identity early in life, as he is not even allowed
to be referenced by his name. He stated, “I at that time began to understand him a little, and
refused to be called so, and told him as well as I could that I would be called Jacob, but he said I
should not, and still called me Gustavus…” (Pg. 33) This is an example of the instances where
he was dehumanized by Europeans and not afforded his own identity. He was invisible, erased,
and had no control over his own movements, his property, or even his own name. However, after
the various battles and ship transfers that occur after he returns to sea with Pascal, he states, “I
ceased to feel those apprehensions and alarms which had taken such strong possession of me
when I first came among the Europeans” (Pg. 38). By stating this, he is expressing his growing
ease with the European culture, which he initially found strange and frightening. Equiano
progressively develops an attachment to Pascal and the European way of life. He states, “I had
the stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit and imitate their manners;” (Pg. 46).
He is embracing the culture of Europeans. Through his use of capitalism, Equiano is then able to
buy his own manumission. After gaining his freedom, he fully embraces his identity as an
Englishman. He made his own decisions regarding where he went and what sort of employment
he pursued. He proved his worth at sea and garnered the approbation of those around him. He
converted to Christianity and began to define himself in terms of that religion. In chapter 9, he
travels to South America and seeking to Christianize the indigenous people and put them on
plantations; “In our passage, I took all the pains that I could to instruct the Indian prince in the
doctrines of Christianity” (Pg.160). This is proof of Equiano’s embrace of the European way of
life. He is now a full European. He also joined Dr. Irving, who decided to establish a plantation
in Jamaica. Equiano helped him establish that plantation but treated the slaves kindly and
generously. Despite Equiano’s kind treatment of the slaves, his aid in such a task is further proof
of his embrace of that lifestyle. Although Equiano now identifies as a European, he does not lose
his African identity. This is evident as he advocated for the end of the slave trade and slavery. He
devoted his later years to ensuring the physical liberation of the millions of Africans in bondage,
making an argument through his work that freeing them would lead towards spiritual freedom
like his own.
Englishman, however, he also took pride in being an African. He was born in the Eboe province,
where he was kidnapped at the age of eleven before being deported to the coast and sold to
slavery through the “middle passage”. At the beginning of the book, Equiano describes his native
African culture, including customs associated with clothing, food, and common religious
practices. He exhibits a fond memory of his birthplace and seems and exhibits some nostalgia for
his home. He then describes his experiences eventually leading to him being purchased by
Pascal. When he first encountered the Europeans, he was horrified by their brutality and thought
they would eat him. As a slave, he is allowed no identity early in life, as he is not even allowed
to be referenced by his name. He stated, “I at that time began to understand him a little, and
refused to be called so, and told him as well as I could that I would be called Jacob, but he said I
should not, and still called me Gustavus…” (Pg. 33) This is an example of the instances where
he was dehumanized by Europeans and not afforded his own identity. He was invisible, erased,
and had no control over his own movements, his property, or even his own name. However, after
the various battles and ship transfers that occur after he returns to sea with Pascal, he states, “I
ceased to feel those apprehensions and alarms which had taken such strong possession of me
when I first came among the Europeans” (Pg. 38). By stating this, he is expressing his growing
ease with the European culture, which he initially found strange and frightening. Equiano
progressively develops an attachment to Pascal and the European way of life. He states, “I had
the stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit and imitate their manners;” (Pg. 46).
He is embracing the culture of Europeans. Through his use of capitalism, Equiano is then able to
buy his own manumission. After gaining his freedom, he fully embraces his identity as an
Englishman. He made his own decisions regarding where he went and what sort of employment
he pursued. He proved his worth at sea and garnered the approbation of those around him. He
converted to Christianity and began to define himself in terms of that religion. In chapter 9, he
travels to South America and seeking to Christianize the indigenous people and put them on
plantations; “In our passage, I took all the pains that I could to instruct the Indian prince in the
doctrines of Christianity” (Pg.160). This is proof of Equiano’s embrace of the European way of
life. He is now a full European. He also joined Dr. Irving, who decided to establish a plantation
in Jamaica. Equiano helped him establish that plantation but treated the slaves kindly and
generously. Despite Equiano’s kind treatment of the slaves, his aid in such a task is further proof
of his embrace of that lifestyle. Although Equiano now identifies as a European, he does not lose
his African identity. This is evident as he advocated for the end of the slave trade and slavery. He
devoted his later years to ensuring the physical liberation of the millions of Africans in bondage,
making an argument through his work that freeing them would lead towards spiritual freedom
like his own.
