Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave by Aphra Behn, Part 2

This is the second in a series on the novel, Oronooko or the Royal Slave  by Aphra Behn. 

You can find Part 1 here.  

So what to make of this strange story?  There are several themes that have been proposed for the novel.  Let me give my opinion of each.

Anti-Colonialism

Well, certainly there is colonialism.  The English and the Dutch fight over this New World territory, set up plantations, and administer a ruling government.  The slaves however that work the plantations are imported from Africa, and the natives for the most part seem to be left alone.  At the beginning of the novel Behn sets up what projects to be a much more prominent theme when she characterizes the natives as innocent in a prelapsarian way. 

They are extreme modest and bashful, very shy, and nice of being touched. And though they are all thus naked, if one lives for ever among them, there is not to be seen an indecent action, or glance; and being continually used to see one another so unadorned, so like our first parents before the Fall, it seems as if they had no wishes; there being nothing to heighten curiosity, but all you can see, you see at once, and every moment see; and where there is no novelty, there can be no curiosity. (75)

But then later when Oronooko accompanies a group into the heart of the country, there is great fear of the Indians.

About this time we were in many mortal fears, about some disputes the English had with the Indians, so that we could scarce trust ourselves, without great numbers, to go to any Indian towns, or place, where they abode, for fear they should fall upon us, as they did immediately after my coming away, and that it was in the possession of the Dutch, who used them not so civilly as the English, so that they cut in pieces all they could take, getting into houses, and hanging up the mother, and all her children about her, and cut a footman, I left behind me, all in joints, and nailed him to trees. (120)

I guess one could say the natives were provoked but it certainly not the docile and innocent humanity of pre-fallen world.  But the natives are at least sincere and perhaps serve as a contrast to the white Christians who lie and cheat repeatedly.  I can’t quite tell if the author intended the theme of anti-colonialism.  It just isn’t developed.  I think the natives serve as a contrast to the Europeans.

Contemporary Politics of Behn’s England

I think we can all agree that Behn supports the monarchy, and I’ll develop that theme further down, but is there an intraparty political dynamic going on in the novel?  The two major characters who are in the power structure of the territory, Governor William Byam and the King’s plantation manager, John Treffry, are both Royalist.  One is Oronooko’s biggest supporter and the other is Oronooko’s biggest nemesis.  The only white character in the power structure who is not a Royalist is George Marten, a brother to a Cromwell supporter, and, though not a fully developed character, seems to be sympathetic to Oronooko.  If there is any political implication from the tension between Byam and Trefrey, it is lost on me.  There isn’t any outright hostility, just diverging interest in Oronooko. 

International Dynamics between England and Dutch

There is an English/Dutch rivalry that is undercurrent in the novel, but I can’t discern any noticeable bias.  It probably reflects the historical circumstances of her time, but I don’t see a theme.  Perhaps the fact that she, an English woman, doesn’t favor England by default is a statement in itself, but I don’t sense an international rivalry between the nations as a theme.  Christian Europeans are depicted as liars and cheats and brutal slave owners in contrast to the Surinamese and the Africans, but I think both were and are mentioned in the novel as slave owners too.  While the English and Dutch are rivals in both African and South American colonialism, this rivalry isn’t a developed theme.

Anti-Slavery

Slavery is definitely a theme of the novel, and Behn doesn’t lend any support to this heinous practice.  I don’t know if she stands out on this issue for her day, but she is certainly valiant.  I assume slavery was a commonly held notion in her day, but she seems to go against that trend.  Now that is not to say there aren’t complexities that complicate the theme.  Oronooko and his countrymen enslave, hold slaves, and sell slaves.  Oronooko himself participates in the practice.  But when Oronooko is enslaved he reaches what I think is an enlightenment on the practice.  First in being enslaved, he feels the degradation of what the practice entails.

First it is quite extraordinary that Behn creates such a noble and gallant character in Oronooko in contrast to the scheming and treacherous whites.  And Behn does this twice in that she creates an almost equally noble female in Imoinda to complement Oronooko. 

[Oronooko] became, at the age of seventeen, one of the most expert captains, and bravest soldiers, that ever saw the field of Mars; so that he was adored as the wonder of all that world, and the darling of the soldiers. Besides, he was adorned with a native beauty so transcending all those of his gloomy race, that he struck an awe and reverence, even in those that knew not his quality; as he did in me, who beheld him with surprise and wonder,when afterwards he arrived in our world. (79)

There are some I think that characterize Oronooko as a “noble savage,” but frankly I think that is a mischaracterization.  A noble savage implies a certain innocence that has been preserved from civilized corruption.  I think Behn characterizes the natives of Surinam as noble savages, but the Africans of Coramantien have a functioning government with rivalries, courts, wars, hereditary monarchies.  In addition, Oronooko is educated in European culture.

’Twas then, afflicted as Oroonoko was, that he was proclaimed general in the old man’s place; and then it was, at the finishing of that war, which had continued for two years, that the prince came to court; where he had hardly been a month together, from the time of his fifth year to that of seventeen; and ’twas amazing to imagine where it was he learned so much humanity; or, to give his accomplishments a juster name, where ’twas he got that real greatness of soul, those refined notions of true honour, that absolute generosity, and that softness that was capable of the highest passions of love and gallantry, whose objects were almost continually fighting men, or those mangled, or dead; who heard no sounds, but those of war and groans. Some part of it we may attribute to the care of a Frenchman of wit and learning, who finding it turn to very good account to be a sort of royal tutor to this young Black, and perceiving him very ready, apt, and quick of apprehension, took a great pleasure to teach him morals, language and science, and was for it extremely beloved and valued by him. Another reason was, he loved, when he came from war, to see all the English gentlemen that traded thither; and did not only learn their language, but that of the Spaniards also, with whom he traded afterwards for slaves. (79)

This is not a noble savage but a man larger than life.  The narrator goes on to speak from her firsthand experience with him.

I have often seen and conversed with this great man, and been a witness to many of his mighty actions; and do assure my reader, the most illustrious courts could not have produced a braver man, both for greatness of courage and mind, a judgment more solid, a wit more quick, and a conversation more sweet and diverting. He knew almost as much as if he had read much: he had heard of, and admired the Romans; he had heard of the late Civil Wars in England, and the deplorable death of our great monarch, and would discourse of it with all the sense, and abhorrence of the injustice imaginable. He had an extreme good and graceful mien, and all the civility of a well-bred great man. He had nothing of barbarity in his nature, but in all points addressed himself as if his education had been in some European court. (80)

Second, while experiencing the life of a slave, Oronooko grows, so that freedom is seen as part of the nobility of every man.  Here is his impassioned speech to his fellow slaves to stir them to rebellion.

Caesar, having singled out these men from the women and children, made a harangue to them of the miseries, and ignominies of slavery; counting up all their toils and sufferings, under such loads, burdens, and drudgeries, as were fitter for beasts than men; senseless brutes, than human souls. He told them it was not for days, months, or years, but for eternity; there was no end to be of their misfortunes. They suffered not like men who might find a glory, and fortitude in oppression, but like dogs that loved the whip and bell, 61 and fawned the more they were beaten. That they had lost the divine quality of men (126)

Though Oronooko is no Christian, he frames this in Christian terms, telling them “they had lost the divine quality of men.”  And further, he characterizes the brutality of enslaving as that of savages. 

‘And why,’ said he, ‘my dear friends and fellow sufferers, should we be slaves to an unknown people? Have they vanquished us nobly in fight? Have they won us in honourable battle? And are we, by the chance of war, become their slaves? This would not anger a noble heart, this would not animate a soldier’s soul. No, but we are bought and sold like apes, or monkeys, to be the sport of women, fools and cowards, and the support of rogues, runagades, 62 that have abandoned their own countries, for raping, murders, thefts and villainies. Do you not hear every day how they upbraid each other with infamy of life, below the wildest savages, and shall we render obedience to such a degenerate race, who have no one human virtue left, to distinguish them from the vilest creatures? Will you, I say, suffer the lash from such hands?’ (126)

Behn has turned the convention on its head.  The African is the noble and grand character, while the Europeans are the degenerate savages.

Feminism

The feminism theme is not as pronounced as one would expect if it were a dominant theme.  On the one hand, none of the female characters have any power or even rebel against male authority.  Yes, Imoinda is cast as a powerful woman, but even she is below in stature to Oronooko, who she complements, and she never displays any will to break free from the men who dominate her life.  She acquiesces to become the African King’s concubine, though her wishes are clearly against it.  She is sold off as a slave when the King no longer has use for her, and accepts her death at Oronooko’s hand for fear to be left alive without his protection.  As powerful a woman as she is cast, we never see her power in either rebellion or to work her way out of a situation.  In the end, she is a minor character.

In what way then is there a feminist theme?  Two thoughts.  I think the respect Oronooko pays to Imoinda is an honest respect paid to a woman without objectifying her in her gender.  Here’s how Behn describes Oronooko’s courtship:

She was touched with what he said, and returned it all in such answers as went to his very heart, all in such answers as went to his very heart, with a pleasure unknown before. Nor did he use those obligations ill that love had done him; but turned all his happy moments to the best advantage; and as he knew no vice, his flame aimed at nothing but honour, if such a distinction may be made in love; and especially in that country, where men take to themselves as many as they can maintain; and where the only crime and sin with woman is to turn her off, to abandon her to want, shame and misery. Such ill morals are only practised in Christian countries, where they prefer the bare name of religion; and, without virtue or morality, think that’s sufficient. But Oroonoko was none of those professors; but as he had right notions of honour, so he made her such propositions as were not only and barely such; but, contrary to the custom of his country… (82-83)

He was not only honorable by the standards of his country, but superior to those of “Christian countries.”  This is certainly an understanding of a woman’s needs that only a female writer can conceptualize. 

Also in support of a feminist theme is the strong voice of the female narrator.  It is the narrator who is Oronooko’s equal as he provides intimate details of his life.  Here is how she speaks of a moment after such a private conversation:

Before I parted that day with him, I got, with much ado, a promise from him to rest yet a little longer with patience, and wait the coming of the Lord Governor, who was every day expected on our shore. He assured me he would, and this promise he desired me to know was given perfectly in complaisance to me, in whom he had an entire confidence. (115)

Notice the language: “I got…a promise from him,” “he assured me,” “this promise he desired me to know.”  Despite her being a woman, she is at least an equal in the relationship.  And it is only in her, a woman, Oronooko places his confidence, not any of the men, not even Trefry.  It is the female narrator who is Trefry’s superior in obtaining Oronooko’s trust, as he tells her of his life story. 

While women’s issues are not part of the thematic structure, certainly through the narrator’s voice and through Oronooko’s respect for the women he encounters and develops a relationship with, the novel shows great dignity for women.