Oroonoko was notable in the sense that the novel is a slave narrative that seeks to portray a holistic view of the slave’s personhood. It’s interesting with the historical context that the novel is considered one of the first novel’s written in English, by the “first” professional woman author. Within the text, I found that the King/Oroonoko’s grandfather’s conquest of Imoinda is what drives the conflict. Both Oroonoko and Imoinda are enslaved and ultimately killed as consequences of colonization.

A passage I’d like to explore is, “But they were no sooner arrived at the Place where all the Slaves receive their Punishments of Whipping, but they laid Hands on Cæsar and Tuscan, faint with Heat and Toil; and surprizing them, bound them to two several Stakes, and whipped them in a most deplorable and inhuman Manner, rending the very Flesh from their Bones, especially Cæsar, who was not perceived to make any Moan, or to alter his Face, only to roll his Eyes on the faithless Governor, and those he believed Guilty, with Fierceness and Indignation; and to complete his Rage, he saw every one of those Slaves who but a few Days before ador’d him as something more than Mortal, now had a Whip to give him some Lashes, while he strove not to break his Fetters; tho’ if he had, it were impossible: but he pronounced a Woe and Revenge from his Eyes, that darted Fire, which was at once both aweful and terrible to behold.” This passage is one of many instances that display Oroonoko’s silence and “rage” in moments of great pain, and I would like to understand the character better by analyzing this.

I’m curious how Oroonoko’s story being narrated by an English woman/his story being told through the lens of the “oppressor” is meant to impact the themes of the novel.