Jessica Cavan
HUM3306- History of Ideas
September 26, 2016
Upon the Words of a Slave
In this narrative you are introduced to Equiano’s early life in a simple district in the
Kingdom of Berin in Africa. He is born “free” and raised among the simple traditions of his
upper class family. One must find it very peculiar that a narrative written by a slave is familiar
with the institution of slavery common as an upper class citizen, who was entitled to own slaves.
This is perhaps one of the first contradictions in his character that you see in his memoir.
Equiano is set apart by his higher class distinction and views that not all types of slavery
