Weekly Review




For my weekly review, I chose to peruse whatever is left of the tale of Oroonoko. One could value or either mock the subject of honor characterized by the royal prince.  I stuggled with the reading. It was hard to follow and it was not as interesting as the first section. 

Oroonoko, was an individual that lived by honor, even though it did nothing more than cause him misery throughout his life. Those around him, including the narrator, would only honor him with discharge expressions of adoration.  For instance, the author speaks of how Oroonoko received his slave name, “For the future therefore, I must call Oroonoko, Caesar, since by that name only he was known in our Western World, and by that name he was receiv’d on shore at Parham-House, where he was destin’d a slave” (224). She insinuates that he was destined to be a slave, yet in the same breath suggest that he was only a slave by name because they gave him a house, and a business up in the plantation. He was not given the same hard labor work of the other Negroes. In other words, he was nothing more than what they would call a “house Negro”.

In many slave narratives, we know that the masters would choose the nice-looking, light skinned negroes to work in the house, often bringing division and jealously between the slaves. Oroonoko, did not play into their game, when the slaves would fall at his feet, crying out, in their language, Live, O King! Long Live, O king! Kissing his feet, paid him even divine homage, he would assure them that he was no better than them (224). He honored them as much as they honored him. He understood that it did not matter what privileges he received as a slave, he was still a slave. It did not matter what honor he possessed, he was still owned by another man. 

The author will continue to highlight the valor of Oroonoko to the end. He believed that it was more honorable to die fighting for freedom than to live in the bondage of slavery.  Once more, no favorable luck came to Oroonoko, in his resolve to fight to the death for freedom. He was betrayed by the other slaves. They rather live with shame of betraying their prince than to die with honor. I was once more appalled at the abhorrent way the tale of this royal prince ended. To see this prince, who displayed courage all through his unfortunate and sad voyage, who organized an escape and revolt, who had the strength to end the life of his beloved Imoinda in order to end her suffering as a slave and prevent her from becoming a sexual prey, who stood and fought for and with honor in every given opportunity, would turn into a defenseless coward towards the end. Oroonoko was unfit to render his retribution upon his adversaries, not to mention was unable to end his own suffering, by taking his life. Lastly, he was left to be tortured, his body dismembered, and dishonored before everyone (246). In the end, the author esteem narrative of Oroonoko, proved him to be nothing more than a mere slave. 

The ending of the story for me was drawn out by unnecessary rhetoric. 

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