Olaudah Equiano and Uncle Tom's Cabin on the View of Slavery in the United States - Research Paper Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade 03/08 Olaudah Equiano and Uncle Tom's Cabin on the view of slavery in the United States. Slavery has been the most delicate matter in the European world in the 16th century. The British colonies in the North America through the Civil war created moral differences between the whites and the African Americans. This period of slavery was a very crucial era, the impact of this slavery can still be seen today. During that period two books were written which greatly helped in changing the perspective of people regarding slavery. The first one is written by the African American himself known as The Interesting Narrative of the life Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa which was published in Britain in 1789. The second one was Uncle Tom’s Cabin written by a white woman named Harriet Beecher Stowe. The first book describes the life of the author which he had spent while he was in Africa till his freedom and about the adventures which occurred while traveling throughout the world. The second book describes the lives of the slaves and masters in the pre-war South and is a work of pure fiction. Both the books gave a different perspective on slavery but the goal of both the books was to tell the Americans that slavery was morally wrong. At that time a lot of slavery was going on with the white slave owners who treated the people as some items or things and sold them for money. The nations which were involved in slavery were the Americans, Africans and the West Indians. America traded rum for slaves and Africa traded their own people to acquire sugar and molasses form West Indies and West Indies traded rum, sugar, and molasses to America for slaves. This created a “ Triangular Trade. This method was one of the most famous methods of getting any thing a nation wanted. For this purpose Equiano was traded in the narrative. (Olaudah Equiano) In his book he first describes his childhood spent in Africa. He was also forced into slavery like other men during the 17th and 18th century. He describes that he spent a simple but a happy life. He was born to a chief in a charming vale whose name was Esseka, in West Africa. (p.20). he further describes his nation of a combination of dancers, musicians and poets. (p.21). Then he further describes the rituals of marriage that were practiced at that time in Africa. He says for his land it “is uncommonly rich and fruitful, and produces all kinds of vegetables in great abundance”. (p.24) (Equiano). He further says that it was in the best interest of the Africans when they were taken to America because they were uncivilized people. He wanted the people to know that this was the land where the wants or desires are very few and can easily be fulfilled. Through his entire narrative writing he tries to find such a place a garden or a peaceful place which he could call his home. His search is for a home in the land of Europeans and while he is on board on a ship in British Isles he thinks again and again that he pretty enjoyed his tour. No doubt he was enjoying his trip on the ship. In order to divert the attention of the men there all of them were called on the Quarter deck for a fight (p50). Equiano after witnessing the naval fight headed to London to meet his master sisters. These ladies were extremely admirable and took great care of him (p.51). When he is admitted in the hospital and loses his leg then too his sisters were always there for his help. This praise for the sisters of his master for whom he worked was the outline of his narrative in which he suffered a lot that he was on the verge of death. All these sufferings may haunt the readers of this book. He also explains the depth of slavery in West Indies and what ever he has faced during that time until he returns back to Britain. In Britain he was then involved in the project of the return of the slaves to Africa. “On my return to London in August I was very agreeably surprised to find that the benevolence of government had adopted the plan of some philanthropic individuals to send the Africans from hence to their native quarter; that some vessels were then engaged to carry them to Sierra Leone.” (p.171, emphasis added) (Equiano) The concept of Cabin which is mentioned in the title is referred to as the home of the hero of the story known as Uncle Tom who was a slave on a Shelby farm. Uncle Tom is very impressed with his master. He lives with his wife Aunt Chloe in a morally correct behavior of the Christians and with other people who were slaves to others on the same farm. Just like Equiano, he is thrown out of his happy home because he was sold to another slave in order to repay a debt. This further creates a long distance for Tom in returning back to hid cabin (home). His sufferings were increasing rather than decreasing. He always wanted to return to his beloved home but until his debt us repaid he could not. The Cabin of Uncle tom has been described as a small log building…covered by a large scarlet bignonia and a native multiflora rose, which were the delight and pride of Aunt Chloe’s heart his wife (p.25). After that it has been described that Uncle Tom’s wife has cooked the supper and after that is directing the other officers in the kitchen to do all the cleaning and washing of dishes. (Comparing Olaudah Equiano to Uncle Tom's Cabin) 1. In his personal life Equiano was married to white woman named Susanna Cullen in Cambridge shire in 1792. In his narrative he further says that the African slavery in the West was far more and the African people who used to sell their poor people as slaves to the Europeans have been corrupted by the by the Europeans themselves. In addition Equiano is also sold as a slave to the Europeans. He further describes that the first thing that caught his attention was the sea and the slave ship which was riding and waiting for its cargo. When he sees the white cannibals he then describes the whole situation. He says he got frightened by looking at those ugly white men and it was looking to him as if they were going to eat him. They whip him very badly because he refuses to take food from them. After that his journey to the West begins and he transported to British America. In this section of his narrative he describes his personal experience of both the wonders and terrors in the Western World. After going through all the suffering Equiano develops himself as versatile and extremely talented person who is willing to take any role to stop the slavery and he did play his part as a hero in many naval battles. He also describes that he is a brave man and can handle the complex situations for instance when he acts as the captain of the ship and when he fought for the fair treatment in the business world. After this the third stage of his life beings where he witnessed the uncertain status of the other black men and women in Britain and America who have suffered discrimination in almost all the fields of life or who were being forced back to become their slaves again. After setting himself as free he decided to settle in London where it said that the slaves were given some sort of liberty. Equiano became a strong and true believer of Christianity over the years but he never denied his African rituals. It means that Equiano converted to Christianity. After converting he served as a missionary to the Indians in Central America where he wrote anti-slavery letters to the British leaders. (Olaudah Equiano) The character of Uncle Tom had a tremendous impact on the lives of the people of America. He being an African American was determined about his integrity towards his fellow slaves and he refused to betray them at the cost of his life. This book helped the blacks to demolish the concept of slavery. This book greatly added to the anti slavery cause but did get that importance that it required as it also helped in eliminating racism. Uncle Tom suffered a lot for his fellow slaves and was portrayed as a symbol of forgiveness that suffered all the pain with great patience but never complained (Slavery in the new world from Africa to the Americas.) Lincoln who was a politician, entrepreneur and statesman was not definite and clear about his vies regarding the blacks that whether or not they deserve to be treated equally as the white or not. In addition to this the war which soon followed his election, he wanted to preserve the union first rather than freeing of the slaves. In his address to the Indian Regiment before his death he said “I have always thought that all men should be free; but if any should be slaves, it should be first those who desire it for themselves and secondly who desire it for others. Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”( Abraham Lincoln) (The Black Days of Slavery In the United States ) So in short we can say that the character that Stowe had illustrated indeed shows that the author wants its readers to understand that there was no difference between the slaves and the whites. Stowe was also a pioneer in the women’s rights movement as well as worked for the abolitionist cause. The book also shows that it has particularly been written for the women as most of its scenes include women. For instance in one of the scenes at the home of the senator John Bird and his wife debate on the Fugitive Slave Act and Mrs. Bird says 'You ought to be ashamed, John! Poor, homeless, houseless creatures!” (p.88)(Harriet Beecher Stowe). The book shows the faithfulness of Tom towards Christ and his fellow slaves. (Free Olaudah Equiano papers, essays, and research papers) We see that while Equiano served as a young slave on many ships he established a strong bond with the other sailors and from there he learnt how to read. These sailors introduced him to Christianity but as we have mentioned earlier that even though he converted but he had all the respect for the rituals that were practiced in Africa. “Is life so dear or peace or sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me , give me liberty or give me death!” (Patrick Henry, speech in Virginia Convention march, 1775) Works Cited Page "Comparing Olaudah Equiano to Uncle Tom's Cabin." 123HelpMe.com. Web. 2 Aug. 2011. "Free Olaudah Equiano papers, essays, and research papers." 123HelpMe.com. Web. 2 Aug. 2011. "Olaudah Equiano." 123HelpMe.com. Web. 2 Aug. 2011. Olaudah Equiano, Vincent Carretta. The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings. Penguin Books, 2003. "Slavery in the new world from Africa to the Americas." US Slave.blogspot. Web. 2 Aug. 2011. "The Black Days of Slavery In the United States ". Tripod. 26 July 2005. Web. 2 Aug. 2011. Read More