Title: Oroonoko
Author: Aphra Behn
First published January 1, 1688
144 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780140439885 (ISBN10: 0140439889)
Rating: 3.01
Overview
When Prince Oroonoko falls in love with the beautiful Imoinda, his grandfather becomes jealous and sells them both into slavery. From their African homeland, they are shipped off to the colony of Surinam where Oroonoko’s distinguished character earns him the admiration of his English captors.
However, his yearning for freedom only leads to his downfall. Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko is a poignant tale that delves into the author’s romanticized perception of native peoples as being pure and innocent.
Though Behn’s opinion on slavery was divided, she effectively portrays the inhumanity and cruelty associated with it.
About the Author
Aphra Behn was a talented writer who contributed to the amatory fiction genre of British literature. She was one of the first professional female writers in England during the English Restoration period.
Along with Delarivier Manley and Eliza Haywood, she was known as part of “The fair triumvirate of wit.”
Author Virginia Woolf regarded Behn’s entire career as significant, rather than any particular work. She once wrote that “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the grave of Aphra Behn…for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.” Vita Sackville-West also recognized Behn’s talent, calling her “an inhabitant of Grub Street with the best of them” and a “phenomenon never seen and…furiously resented.”
Behn was a gifted woman who wrote to make a living in a time where literature often focused on the lowest and most depraved human inclinations. As a result, her ability to write like a man was crucial to her success.
Edmund Gosse once referred to her as “the George Sand of the Restoration,” as she lived a Bohemian life in seventeenth century London, much like George Sand did in nineteenth century Paris.
Editoral Review
Oroonoko is a novel that was first published in 1688, written by Aphra Behn, one of the earliest known female writers in England. Some critics believe that this story is autobiographical because Behn was a slave trader herself.
This work is considered as one of the earliest English novels, and it is recognized for its themes of race, colonialism, and gender. The story of Oroonoko is set in the seventeenth century and is centered around an African prince, Oroonoko, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Throughout the novel, the reader follows Oroonoko’s journey through slavery and his love affair with Imoinda, another captive from his home. The themes of race and colonialism are prominent, as the novel touches on topics such as the slave trade, the exploitation of natives, and the struggle between Europeans and Africans for power.
Behn’s writing style is impeccable, with beautiful, vivid descriptions and a masterful use of language. The author creates a captivating world that immerses the reader in the seventeenth century and the harsh realities of slavery.
The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with their own unique voices and motivations. Oroonoko is a tragic hero, who evokes sympathy and admiration from the reader with his courage and integrity, while Imoinda is a strong, intelligent woman who defies the expectations of her time.
One of the significant strengths of this novel is how it explores the humanity of the enslaved individuals. Behn’s depiction of Oroonoko and other black characters as intelligent, thoughtful, and brave are revolutionary and groundbreaking for its time.
Also, the novel challenges European superiority by portraying the Africans as superior to the colonizers. However, the novel falls short of adequately confronting the issue of slavery in a straightforward manner, instead romanticizing the experience to a degree.
Also, Behn is not without her biases, as her anti-Catholic sentiments and her belief in British colonial superiority is unmistakable on several occasions. Overall, Oroonoko is a powerful novel that still resonates with readers even centuries since its publication.
The themes of race, colonialism, and gender are still prevalent in today’s society, and this work can still inspire discussions about these issues. For readers interested in historical fiction, this book is a must-read, but readers should be warned that parts of the book can be quite graphic.
Recommendation: Recommended for readers interested in historical fiction tackling issues of colonialism, race, and gender. Not recommended for those who are sensitive to graphic descriptions of violence.
