Equatorial multiple personalities during maritime transitions

¶ … Olaudah Equiano's changing occupations and residences throughout the novel, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, his self-perception remains constant. He never sees himself as a slave. From his early childhood abduction in Africa to his being the property of various owners throughout the novel, the text gives little indication that Olaudah Equiano ever truly thinks of himself as a slave. He is never overcome by the depression of the hopelessness of slavery. Rather, he sees the positive in every situation.

He manifests his sense of individuality, of self-possession in three ways. One, he shows no sign of feeling ostracized from his owners, but constantly visualizes himself as a functioning and integral part of every group he associates with throughout the course of the novel. To his mind, his fortunes are mixed with those of the people with which he resides. Two, he sees every change of owner and of situation as a chance for self-improvement. Three, he doesn't believe others are in control of his destiny. He continually refers to his personal choices. Though he certainly feels and reacts to the impact of being treated as a slave by others, his personality and self-image never are those of a slave.

Even in his earliest childhood, Olaudah Equiano displays characteristics of self-possession. Being taken from his family and torn from his home, Equiano does not despair at the disadvantage of his circumstance. He makes a complete assimilation into the new group. He says that the wife of his first owner "was something like [his] mother" (25). The association between his real mother and the wife of his new master shows Olaudah Equiano's compulsion to be and belief that he is an intrinsic part of the new group. Though in these early days Olaudah Equiano has thoughts of returning home, he does not consider himself inferior to his new owners. Indeed, he considers himself part of the family. If his master's wife is like "a mother," than certainly he is like a son. He displays this inclination toward equality in other periods of his life. He feels a familial bond with another of his owners who "was like a father" to him (79). Again, Equiano's placing himself on an equal par with his captors and owners shows his inability to consider himself inferior to them.

His attitude of equality to those around him persists so deeply that it invades his syntax. He includes himself within the groups he travels with through the use of the second person pronoun, we. Speaking of the ship on which he is a slave, Equiano says that "we staid" at dock because "we wanted some hands to complete our complement" (60). The use of the second person puts him on a level of equality with his owner. The desire to procure more shipmates isn't his master's desire alone. He does not go with his master because it was his obligation to submit, but rather because he shared in the desire to increase the crew: "we wanted." His language shows that he considers himself an equal part of the collective.

Instead of focusing on the dread and oppression of his situations, Equiano finds thrill and opportunity in each new encounter. During his initial voyage to the New World, Olaudah Equiano claims that "he saw flying fishes," that he often "with astonishment" watched his captors make measurements, and that "everything about [him] were [sic] magic" (40). He sees the world in a positive light. He is filled with awe and fascination by his new circumstances; he is not riddled with dread and hatred at his loss of freedom.

He takes advantage of each new situation and has his fellow mariners and owners teach him new skills. He says that he often used his free time to "improve himself" (70). When visiting a new island he speaks of his being able to go "about different parts of the island [ . . . ] gratifying [himself]" (75). He expresses a great amount of autonomy in these actions. He is free to choose his occupations and does so. Though inarguably he is in these places because of his being abducted and put into slavery, Equiano's independent and self-confident attitude makes him see each turn of events as being advantageous to him as an individual. He learns "many of the manoeuvurs [sic] of the ship" he sails on; the knowledge helps him gain a career as a sailor (53).

The extent of Equiano's belief in his freedom is mentioned throughout the book. He asserts again and again that he does not consider himself a slave. He tells the reader that he cannot remember how he came to be purchased by Michael Henry Pasial; he does not "remember" the details or how much Michael paid for him (45). For Olaudah Equiano to purchase his freedom from Michael, he must pay his master back, as law demands. But Equiano doesn't how much he cost Michael. He appears indifferent to the very detail that would enable him to secure his own freedom. The implication is that it is not important to him. He does not consider himself a possession; therefore, he does not have to worry about buying his freedom. He affirms this interpretation when he says, "no man has a right to sell" him (81).

Though he certainly admits to serving his masters throughout the course of the novel, his independent attitude is unshaken. He says again and again that he was not forced, but rather had a "wish to serve" (170). The use of "wish" puts the power of choice into Olaudah Equiano's hands: a very un-slave-like attitude. This idea of choice is echoed in his descriptions of how he "shipped" himself on a boat (175, 174). He is not forced upon one boat or another but chooses the vessel of his own accord; he does it to himself.