Equiano and Milton in the Realm of Literature

In Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative, he references a particular English poet, John Milton. Equiano used a verse from Milton’s verse Paradise Lost to support his argument of slavery and dehumanization. Milton quotes:

 

————No peace is given

To us enslav’d, but custody severe;

And stripes and arbitrary punishment

Inflicted- What peace can we return?

But to our power, hostility, and hate;

Untam’d reluctance, and revenge, though slow.

Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least

May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice

In doing what we most in suffering feel. (103)

 

 

Here, Equiano questions the usefulness of the slave and how the slave is dehumanized. He claims that slaves are deprived from freedom and yet, condemn and stereotyped into the notion of the slave by English men. Equiano obsessively quotes other English works to support and pinpoint the flaws of English society. Like Milton, Equiano relies heavily on the notion of freedom and what it means to the individual. There’s no peace and self- authority without freedom. “No peace is given…To us enslav’d, but custody severe;” ensures that Milton acknowledges the “enslaved” as part of an authoritarian regime. It supports Equiano’s perspective of freedom being deprived towards slaves. Milton questions the idea of what type of peace can the slave return when their peace is disturbed by dehumanization and hate. Yet, revenge awaits for those conducting slavery, but it’s not Milton’s concerned. Milton raises the awareness that revenge isn’t the answer because it reciprocates power and hate. He suggest “May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice…In doing what we most in suffering feel” which signifies the undoing of slavery. That’s all that’s being asked for and nothing in return. Like Milton, Equiano proposes that instead of revenge, a slave searches for freedom. The freedom that relies without slavery. In return, happiness and peace will surround the lives of society. Equiano concludes that conducting slavery banishes all freedom and life of a human. Milton’s and Equiano’s perspective relate with the notion of freedom. Equiano wisely quotes Milton because it’s a useful and essential response to support his argument. It demonstrates Equiano’s ability to use works of literature as a way to present his intelligence. Also, he tries to impersonate Rowlandson’s captivity narrative, but demonstrating an impersonation that is critiquing Rowlandson’s use of other literature work (ex. Bible verses). Equiano embraces those works of English men in the Enlightenment era to prove how to use literature of power effectively. He targets their own works and in return demonstrate their flawed ideals. Most importantly,  Equiano uses other works of literature incorporated in his narrative to prove the controversy of English literature and language, but also to demonstrate his own ability of writing and using knowledge as a “slave.”

-Priscilla Ortega