This paper analyzes Olaudah Equiano's "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African" as both a foundational slave narrative and a Christian conversion narrative. Drawing on key passages from the text, the paper examines how Equiano's spiritual journey — moving through humiliation, vocation, exaltation, and possession — structures his autobiography. It also considers his remarkable life story as an early "rags to riches" narrative and evaluates how his vivid, descriptive language gives the work its lasting literary power. The paper argues that Equiano's spiritual awakening and his masterful use of language together make the narrative an enduring classic of abolitionist literature.
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the classic slave narrative The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African by Olaudah Equiano. Specifically, it addresses the questions: In what way is Equiano writing a conversion narrative, and what does that conversion entail? Equiano's work was one of the first slave narratives ever written and published. Throughout it, his spiritual conversion is evident and is one of the strongest aspects of the narrative. Equiano's work brought the horrors of slavery to the public eye and showed how a spiritual conversion can alter the course of a man's life. Methodist founder John Wesley urged his followers to write their own autobiographies as "means to moral self-evaluation and spiritual improvement" (Taylor 31), and Wesley read Equiano's autobiography shortly before he died. This narrative also clearly illustrates how a writer's use of language has a major effect on the lasting power and impact of a work.
Author Equiano had many experiences to share with his readers when he wrote his narrative. He had served as a young boy on board ship for his English master. He fought in the French and Indian War alongside his master. He witnessed slaves being mistreated in the West Indies and was cheated out of the freedom he had worked for by a dishonest master. He became a businessperson, traveled the world — including the North Pole — helped resettle slaves to their native Africa, and spoke out loudly against slavery. The narrative describing his many experiences brought the horrors of slavery home to a wide audience. In the end, twenty-two editions of his book were published, and it remained popular literary material even after his death in 1797.
Equiano's work contains many aspects of the conversion narrative. By the end of the narrative, it is apparent that Equiano feels he has attained grace in the eyes of the Lord and that he does the Lord's work. From humble beginnings, he has risen to become a powerful voice against slavery, and more than that, he has become a Christian rather than a "heathen." He has learned more about himself in the process and shown others how to save themselves and attain grace. All of these aspects of his work add up to a sensational story and a spiritual journey through life toward ultimate grace.
His narrative also follows the accepted stages of the conversion narrative, which include humiliation, vocation, exaltation, and possession. For example, he opens his narrative with the quote: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Equiano 34). He also writes, "[B]ut when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favourite of Heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life" (Equiano 41). These passages illustrate both his exaltation at his redemption and his possession of the knowledge that he has attained grace. This awareness builds throughout the narrative until the reader fully understands the author's spiritual progression.
Later, Equiano exhibits humility and contrition when his master — who had seemed kind and loving — abruptly sells him to a West Indies slaver and departs from his life. He writes, "I wept very bitterly for some time: and began to think that I must have done something to displease the Lord, that he thus punished me so severely. This filled me with painful reflections on my past conduct" (Equiano 82). Here, he is ready to redeem himself in the eyes of the Lord by discovering what he has done to displease Him. He does not blame others for his fate, which is an important part of self-discovery and eventual self-actualization. Equiano is on the road to salvation, but also to personal success. This part of the narrative shows how he begins to take charge of his life, never surrendering his beliefs, and starts to mold himself into the man he will become.
However, he does not undergo full conversion until the tenth chapter of his book, where he shares all of his doubts, his education, and his final complete conversion to Christianity and Jesus Christ. He writes, "I saw the blessed Redeemer to be the fountain of life, and the well of salvation. I experienced him all in all; he had brought me by a way that I knew not, and he had made crooked paths straight" (Equiano 145). When his conversion is complete, he throws himself into his work and his convictions with even greater energy, becoming a speaker, an abolitionist, and a representative of his faith.
The author also describes his first encounter with church worship and how it affected him, further demonstrating his contrition and humility. He writes, "After this I went to church; and having never been at such a place before, I was again amazed at seeing and hearing the service. I asked all I could about it; and they gave me to understand it was worshipping God, who made us and all things" (Equiano 65). This is the very beginning of his conversion and ultimately leads to the greater understanding of himself and others that develops throughout the work. He was baptized in England in 1759 while still a boy and remained a devout Christian for the rest of his life. This faith guided his behavior and convictions, and comes through in his narrative, making it a true conversion narrative of the finest sort.
"Equiano as an early self-made man narrative"
"Vivid descriptive language and its literary power"
This slave narrative is extremely special for a number of reasons. Equiano's language and experiences are vivid and compelling, urging the reader to turn the pages and find out more about this remarkable man's life while prompting them to take a long look at their own lives and what they may have accomplished. Equiano was truly a self-made man who rose from the humblest beginnings to build a great and successful life for himself. In addition, he left behind a legacy of helping others. He was a great man because of his accomplishments, but also because of his spiritual awakening and his ability to share that awakening with others. This narrative has become a classic of slave literature, and through this manuscript, Equiano, his beliefs, and the trials of enslaved people everywhere continue to live on.
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