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A review by emeraldgarnet
Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
2.0
Oroonoko is a landmark in the history of the novel and, for a work of its age, the prose was not as daunting as it might first appear.
At various points in the novel, Oroonoko learns what it means to experience betrayal. A poignant example takes place upon his arrival in Surinam he realises that the slave ship's captain has betrayed him and declares, "Farewell, Sir, ’tis worth my sufferings to gain so true a knowledge both of you and of your gods by whom you swear."
Another poignant moment happens immediately after Orooonoko has killed Imoinda. In his grief he contemplates committing suicide but then remembers that he killed Imoinda to allow himself to seek revenge against his enemies. Here he cries, “No, since I have sacrificed Imoinda to my revenge, shall I lose that glory which I have purchased so dear, as the price of the fairest, dearest, softest creature that ever Nature made? No, no!”
However, Oroonoko is still reflective of Behn's time and nowhere is this more true than with the narrator's racist attitudes. For instance, when the narrator meets Oroonoko she praises him by saying that he "bears the standard of true beauty" and notes that "His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat." Here, the narrator makes presumptions about what it means to be beautiful and implies that a flat nose cannot be beautiful.
At various points in the novel, Oroonoko learns what it means to experience betrayal. A poignant example takes place upon his arrival in Surinam he realises that the slave ship's captain has betrayed him and declares, "Farewell, Sir, ’tis worth my sufferings to gain so true a knowledge both of you and of your gods by whom you swear."
Another poignant moment happens immediately after Orooonoko has killed Imoinda. In his grief he contemplates committing suicide but then remembers that he killed Imoinda to allow himself to seek revenge against his enemies. Here he cries, “No, since I have sacrificed Imoinda to my revenge, shall I lose that glory which I have purchased so dear, as the price of the fairest, dearest, softest creature that ever Nature made? No, no!”
However, Oroonoko is still reflective of Behn's time and nowhere is this more true than with the narrator's racist attitudes. For instance, when the narrator meets Oroonoko she praises him by saying that he "bears the standard of true beauty" and notes that "His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat." Here, the narrator makes presumptions about what it means to be beautiful and implies that a flat nose cannot be beautiful.