Post 5: Equiano

Equiano’s narrative does not fall into one singular genre, making it difficult to characterize. However, the conglomerate of the slave narrative, memoir, and travel narrative, amongst others is what gives Equiano an unprecedented authoritative tone. Essentially, the narrative’s ability to genre bend is where its power comes from and largely why it was so well-read during its original time of publication. Rhetorically, Equiano is very apt at bolstering his ethos. From his beginning of his “to the reader,” the audience begins to trust him because of his decision to confront any controversy surrounding his personal biography. In response to his critics that doubt his location of birth, he writes, “I should take notice thereof, and it is only needful of me to appeal to those numerous and respectable persons of character who knew me when I first arrived in England, and could speak no language but that of Africa” (6). He strengthens his own credibility when he discusses the “numerous respectable persons of character” that could vouch for him. Moreover, by doing this, Equiano directly addresses how accurate this account is. He doesn’t shy away from calling to attention the genre of his text.

Moreover, Equiano’s direct confrontation with genre gives him a certain likeability and gives the impression that he understands the craft of writing. At the start of the first chapter, he directly talks about memoir as form, saying,

“I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage under which they labour; it is also their misfortune, that whatever is uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed; and what is obvious we are apt to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence” (31).

Equiano gives commentary directly on genre. His decision to discuss his craft head on increase his credibility and make the reader immediately trust him. From there, the reader is primed into thinking that what Equiano remarks on the condition of slaves and on captivity is correct and can be trusted.

This narrative may fall into many categories of genre, but what makes it remarkable is Equiano’s decision to bend these categorizations in a way that strengthen his arguments. And by doing so, the element of truth dissipates. As readers, we realize that it does not matter how accurate Equiano’s actual information is, but rather, the fact that he’s able to comment on his situation at all and bolster his own image as an authority on the subject. He’s able to do this directly because of his addressal of genre head on.

Lylah Uttamsingh

Works Cited

Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings. Penguin Books, 1791.