At a time when morality has been increasingly separated from the aspect of the supernatural and placed within the human being himself, far and foremost by philosophers like Jean-Jacque Rousseau, Equiano tries to connect these two strands of thought. He combines religious and enlightened ideals in order to form one coherent moral argument against the toleration of slavery. In this paper, I will analyse how intertextual elements, more specifically explicit single-text references, are implemented by the author and how this can provide clarification on how Equiano is able to unite these two, actually opposing, world views in his argumentation.
“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they.” Although Olaudah Equiano would probably have agreed to this statement and many other ideas by Rousseau, he would not have quoted the French philosopher and forerunner of the Enlightenment in his Interesting Narrative.
If one were to arrange the individual years of human history according to the weight of the historical events, the year 1789 would be assigned a special significance. The worldwide sense of mission of the values of the French Revolution and the Déclaration des Droits de l'homme et du Citoyen mark the culmination of an era in which the understanding of humanity and what it means to be human was redefined. These maxims were the result of “the assurance of a universal sense of right and wrong” and the conviction that “the individual's right to happiness” (Gura) was men's greatest purpose. Moreover, this body of thought was detached from the connection to a supernatural being, but was rather based on a “reliance on human sympathy or ‘sentiment’ as the catalyst for moral choice” and “encouraged the belief that each individual had the power to control his or her own destiny” (Gura). The time was marked by a philosophical shift from “rigid theology” to “the values of Deism and moral naturalism” (Ruland & Bradbury). Therefore, people “were less interested in the metaphysical verities of introspective divines than in the progress of ordinary individuals, relating now to their fellow beings through emotions and experiences they shared” (Gura).
Table of Contents
Introduction
1.1 Puritanism and Enlightenment
1.2. Intertextuality
2. Analysis
2.1 Biblical Elements - Authority and Authenticity
2.2 Travelogues - Borrowing from Influential Works
2.3 Thomas Clarkson and the Friends of Abolition
2.4. Rational Dissent
2.5 Between Evangelicalism and Enlightenment
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
4.1 Primary Sources
4.2 Secondary Sources
4.3 Internet Sources
Objectives and Core Themes
The main objective of this study is to examine how Olaudah Equiano utilizes intertextual elements to bridge the gap between Puritan religious ideals and Enlightenment philosophy to construct a compelling moral argument against slavery. The research investigates how these diverse literary references serve both to establish personal authority and to foster a socio-political critique.
- The role of biblical references as a source of authority and personal authenticity for the author.
- The function of travelogues in legitimizing Equiano's description of African culture for a white readership.
- The strategic alliance with abolitionist figures like Thomas Clarkson and Anthony Benezet.
- The alignment between Equiano’s narrative and the ideology of "Rational Dissent."
- The reconciliation of Enlightenment-era human rights discourse with traditional Christian morality.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Biblical Elements - Authority and Authenticity
The Bible is a genre for itself and the vast usage of quotations and allusions makes it the most important reference point for the author of The Interesting Narrative. The role it plays in the novel has been extensively discussed. The superordinate function is to give him authority, to lend weight to his own voice. Eileen R. Elrod emphasizes “the personal power and rhetorical usefulness of Christianity and the biblical text for Equiano” (411). A slave who wants to be heard, but whose voice has a marginal chance of being listened to, must inevitably reach for the Bible and wield it as a megaphone. In fact, the Bible is his only chance of being perceived by the religious society of this century.
The Bible is the text that supercedes all others in European culture, and it is as well the only text to which Equiano can claim an access unmediated by another person. It becomes for Equiano an "unsealed book" by the power of God, in marked contrast to the dehumanizing silence of the book with which he attempts to speak earlier. As the power of Scripture reveals itself to him, it also begins to intermingle with his own speech to an extent unprecedented in the narrative (Marren 102).
At the level of intertextuality, this is also expressed in numbers: In Chapters I-VI, Equiano mentions the Christian scriptures only four times; chapters VII-XII contain at least 40 explicit references. The importance of the Bible for Equiano rests therefore on two levels: Seeing Equiano as the author of a narrative challenging social and political injustices, he has to use Scripture in order to have a basis for his criticism and to reach as broad a Christian readership as possible. On the other hand, and this concerns Equiano not as the author, but the main character of the novel, the biblical references are evidence of his conversion, his changed orientation of faith and his new way of life.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context of the paradigm shift from religious to human-centered morality and outlines the paper's focus on intertextuality in Equiano's narrative.
1.1 Puritanism and Enlightenment: Explores the historical tension between theological traditions and the emergence of Enlightenment ideals of human rights in the late 18th century.
1.2. Intertextuality: Defines the theoretical framework of intertextuality used for the analysis, referencing scholars like Kristeva and Bazerman.
2. Analysis: Introduces the methodology of analyzing explicit single-text references in The Interesting Narrative as a means of political argumentation.
2.1 Biblical Elements - Authority and Authenticity: Examines how Equiano uses the Bible as a rhetorical tool and a bridge to connect with his readership while establishing his personal credibility.
2.2 Travelogues - Borrowing from Influential Works: Analyzes the inclusion of contemporary travel and ethnographic writings to substantiate factual claims about Africa and humanize the African experience.
2.3 Thomas Clarkson and the Friends of Abolition: Describes the strategic use of references to abolitionist leaders to align the narrative with established activist circles.
2.4. Rational Dissent: Investigates Equiano's affinity for "Rational Dissenters" and their particular theological and moral stance against the slave trade.
2.5 Between Evangelicalism and Enlightenment: Discusses why Equiano prioritizes cited references from active abolitionists over philosophical giants like Rousseau to maintain his religious and moral core.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes how the synthesis of Puritan and Enlightenment themes through intertextual references positions Equiano as a rational dissenter advocating for the abolition of slavery.
4. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources, including literary analyses, historical documents, and internet resources used in the paper.
Keywords
Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, Intertextuality, Enlightenment, Puritanism, Slavery, Abolitionism, Thomas Clarkson, Anthony Benezet, Rational Dissent, Biblical references, Human rights, Spiritual autobiography, Providence, Racial equality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This study examines how Olaudah Equiano uses explicit intertextual references in his famous narrative to bridge different worldviews and formulate a coherent argument against the institution of slavery.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The themes include the history of 18th-century abolitionism, the intersection of Enlightenment philosophy and Christian theology, and the literary function of intertextuality in autobiographical writing.
What is the core research question?
The research explores how Equiano successfully reconciles the seemingly opposing worldviews of Puritan spirituality and Enlightenment humanism to create a persuasive anti-slavery argument.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative literary analysis focusing on intertextuality, specifically examining explicit single-text references to religious, legislative, and travel-related literature.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section analyzes biblical references for authority, the use of travelogues for cultural legitimation, the strategic inclusion of abolitionist figures like Thomas Clarkson, and the alignment with the movement of Rational Dissent.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Olaudah Equiano, Intertextuality, Abolitionism, Enlightenment, Puritanism, Rational Dissent, and Biblical authority.
How does the author view the "Rational Dissenters"?
The author identifies them as a crucial, religiously-informed group that provided Equiano with a template for combining moral indignation with active political engagement.
Why does Equiano avoid quoting philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau directly?
The study suggests that Equiano prefers referencing active abolitionists (who were often Dissenters) over secular philosophers because the former support his identity as a man of faith while still upholding Enlightenment principles of equality.
- Quote paper
- Jonathan Vogel (Author), 2023, Intertextuality in Equiano. A Testimony of Rational Dissent, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1405037
