I also thought Aphra Behn's descriptions of slavery were very interesting. What struck me the most is when Behn writes that slavery is worse than death. This passage caught my attention because it reminded me of Arthurian literature in which death is honorable. In Oroonoko, the old king regrets sending Imoinda into slavery because she is too honorable for it. Imoinda begs for death, but the king's wrath sends her into slavery. This perspective on slavery must have been a wake-up call for many Englishmen. Those who never thought about who slaves were before becoming slaves are forced to think about how death is better than their current situation. Behn's text brings the issues of slavery into the public sphere in a way that highlights slaves' humanity. Behn represents slavery in a way that violates human dignity, making a change in behavior or attitude toward slavery inevitable. The emotional involvement of Oronooko forces the reader to become involved in the issue of slavery through a different human perspective.
Lauren Sandelius
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