Oroonoko:
or The Royal Slave
(click for
text)
By: Aphra Behn (click for biography)
Source: http://www.wmich.edu/dialogues/texts/oroonoko.html
In Aphra Behn's Oroonoko their are many struggles for power. Aphra Behn associates herself in high social status by aligning herself with the dominant power in the colony, which are the British colonials. When she decides to disassociate herself from the "British", she divides gender by separating herself from the actions of 'the men' when needed. Critics have commented on Behn's use of the narrator. It is clear that much of her description of Surinam comes from a detailed knowledge of the place, which suggests that at least some of what she says is true.
The three groups in Oroonoko are the: Colonizers, the Surinam Indians, and the Slaves. Behn admires the Surniam Indians, and she is not sure on treating them as slaves. She feels that they possess to much power to be turned into slaves, and wishes to see them as friends, she also realizes that their numbers surpass the colonies. The Surinman Indies are seen as innocent, and Behn believes that they become tainted by the colonies. However she feels differently about the slaves.
On the bottom of the Great Chain of Being as far as Behn is concerned are the Slaves. Behn describes the actions that are taken place to prevent the slaves from stepping out of place. When describing the ritual of renaming a slave by their master, she says the reasoning for this is that their native ones are "likely very barbarous, and hard to pronounce."
Although the whites are the dominant power in the colony they recognize Oroonoko's potential to lead others and to disrupt their world. Oroonoko has respect of other slaves and colonists, both as a Prince, and for his skill in battle. Oroonoko is disappointed to discover that justice and honor is non existent for slaves in the Western world. As a Prince Oroonoko has more privileges then most slaves. Because of this he tries to overcome his oppression and organize a rebellion. The slaves are willing to follow him and he is able to instill real fear in the colonists.
Behn is further criticized for her stance on slavery in this text. Behn's language expresses that slaves can be be as noble as free men, but does nothing to help the situation. Because Behn is a women, she has naturally less power then the men. Women, both black and white, have less power than the men in Oroonoko. This is shown through Imoinda. Behn praises her for her beauty, and even the white males are captivated by her beauty. However her beauty leads her to her ultimate demise. Oroonoko falls in love with Imoinda, and her power becomes non existent when she begs Oroonoko to kill her.
Behn is the retreating eyewitness. She aligns herself with Oroonoko when it gives her importance and credibility, but withdraws when the colonists take action against Oroonoko. This work ultimately portrays the African favorably and this is unusual for the age. The white men are ironically more savage then the Africans. Behn Wrote this novel in a time when white men's actions were glorified, even if those actions did not deserve praise.