Royalist Propaganda in Oroonoko
“Besides, [Oroonoko] was adorned with a native beauty so transcending all those of his gloomy race that he struck and 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 world1” (Behn 13).
1Behn hyperbolizes Oroonoko into a larger-than-life figure in order to portray a royalist and humanist model of exceptional character as well as critique her own society’s changing values. According to Vernon Guy Dickson’s article entitled “Truth, Wonder, and Exemplarity in Aphra Behn’s ‘Oroonoko,’” it is well-known that Behn was a fervent supporter of the royal regime. During the Restoration, basic moral values were undergoing significant change in England. And Behn, as someone who supported the monarchy, was in opposition to these changes (582). Keeping this in mind, she paints Oroonoko as superior to his other African counterparts in order to demonstrate that someone of model morality can exist (585). At one point, she even compares Oroonoko and Imoinda to Mars and Venus, which is a clear magnification of their characters. Moreover, Dickinson states that Oroonoko is meant to serve as a microcosm for late Renaissance humanism and morality. In other words, Behn wanted her English readership to look at Oroonoko with admiration and as a model for what strong moral character could look like. Dickinson also asserts that Oroonoko is a political allegory, finding authority in the divine rights of kings, which again, reflects Aphra Behn’s royalist affiliation. Oroonoko’s decision to kill Imoinda and take on his own death with strength and courage is another example of high morality. Considering this historical frame and Behn’s underlying intentions, it becomes clear why she bends fact to suit her agenda. Furthermore, she capitalizes on the fascination England had with the “New World” during the 17th century and is able to incite visitors to come see a place where people like Oroonoko and others in their “first state of innocence” prior to “sin” reside (Dickinson 583) (Behn 10). Her intention is to show her audience what true morality looks like and argues through Oronooko, that the English monarchy is the epitome of what Dickinson calls “exemplary character” (580). Dickinson’s article was particularly illuminating in shifting my understanding of Oroonoko because Behn’s intrinsic intention for writing became clear to me and I also understood why she chose the “New World” setting. The article also put the historical context into the foreground of my analysis, allowing me to extract new meanings. It is important to read this secondary source in order to understand Aphra Behn’s reasons for writing in the first place, the motivations behind her choice of setting, and the historical context of her time.
Works Cited
Behn, Aphra. Oroonoko. Penguin Books, 2003.
Dickson, Vernon Guy. “Truth, Wonder, and Exemplarity in Aphra Behn's ‘Oroonoko.’” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 47, no. 3, 2007, pp. 573–594. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4625127. Accessed 9 Feb. 2020.