The Innocent

While reading Aphra Behn's Oroonoko I noticed from the narrator's first detailed description of the origin of the slaves the reflection that Behn seemed to hold these people in high regard. It seems obvious that at one point Behn was actually in Surinam and her description of the people at the beginning of the short story suggests that she felt sorry for the Africans who had become slaves. She speaks highly of the slaves origin in Africa stating, "Some of the beauties which indeed are finely shaped/for they have all that is called beauty." Behn reminds readers in this story that even slaves are human and beautiful despite their color. She continues to say they also attain human qualities, "They are extreme modest and bashful/And though they are all thus naked." This contrasts with the traditional 17th century view of slaves as being lesser human beings if considered human beings at all. She also uses many biblical references comparing the slaves to Adam and Eve before the fall. I believe this shows that Behn saw the slaves as completely innocent creatures, undeservedly forced into slavery. I believe this may reflect Behn's feelings toward the institution of slavery as a whole, suggesting that the African people are honorable and innocent human beings that have been made ugly and undesirable through slavery. I thought about this all Thanksgiving Break and was wondering if anyone else had any thoughts on this subject.