I just began "The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings" of Equiano and am finding it very "interesting." i first looked at his wiki page and got the x4 (>>>>) version of his life. this gave me an idea of what i had to look forward to in the book. Mainly I understood that this book was going to be big on the abolition of slavery. The book is more than that, it is a modest perspective on the lives of a people taken captive into a hard world of pain and suffering. Equiano provides a look at the communities that were destroyed by consumerism and colonization. Matt

One part of Equiano’s Narrative that I found interesting was the scene in which the ship captain renames him Gustavus Vassa.  "While I was on board this ship, my captain and master named me Gustavus Vassa. I at that time began to understand him a little, and refused to be called so, and told him as well as I could that I would be called Jacob; but he said I should not, and still called me Gustavus: and when I refused to answer to my new name, which I at first did, it gained me many a cuff; so at length I submitted, and by which I have been known ever since".

I think this naming nicely demonstrates Equiano’s struggle for self-empowerment from outside exertions of control.  He strongly attempts to reject his new name and the identity it comes along with.  In being renamed by his master Equiano was losing a sense of his identity.  But it is interesting that Equiano later accepts this name he had so previously protested, further highlighting the issues of identity Equiano and all displaced Africans faced.

Samantha Luceri

In Equiano we see a continuation of the same theme we have been discussing this semester.  The hero becomes successful because he adapts the customs of the white men.  He is treated kindly in many of his slavery situations and finally gains her freedom.  The most important custom he learns is the language.  English helps him assimilate to his masters and tell his story.  We are only reading his story because of this development.  His language and story was also important at the time to telling people in England his story and about slavery in the West Indies. 

Erica