Horrors of a Slave Sheep (Book Review Sample)

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The Horrors of a Slave Ship
Summary
The article ‘The Horrors of a Slave Ship’ by Olaudah Equiano, whose slavery name was Gustavus Vassa, describes the author’s tragic experiences as a captive slave. The article gives an account of Equiano’s life from birth to his life in slavery. Equiano was born in 1745 in Eboe the present day Nigeria. The author explained how he was kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of eleven. In particular, the article is an account of the author’s birth and parentage, how they were kidnapped with his sister, separation, and reunion. The article begins with an explanation and description of the African culture in the native Nigeria. The author explains how African families were numerous and the gender-based roles for boys and girls. The article describes the Equiano’s life as a slave under African masters. The author gives a detailed account of how they were kidnapped and travelled for long distances through the forests. The journey was long, tedious, and dangerous for the young slaves: a long voyage through African regions. The separation with his sister brought misery and pain to the author: the author felt bereft lonely and remembered the agony his parents were undergoing.
As it was earlier mentioned, the author served as a slave under several African masters. The author describes how he served a chieftain and the wealthy widow in a town called Timnah. While working for the African masters, the author plotted an escape but was futile. Then, Equiano was resold to the traders who transported him through water and land in various African regions. The author was sold to the owner of a slave ship that was sailing to West Indies. The rest of the article describes the passage from West Africa to West Indies through the Atlantic waters. The author gives detailed descriptions of the hardships, experiences, and the plight of slaves in the slave ships. In North America, the author was sold to a Virginia plantation where he engaged in household chores and light field work. He was later as a present and delivered to England, where he was exposed to Christianity. He served his new master, Pascal, loyally hoping that he would free him. However, Pascal betrayed his loyalty by seizing forcing him into a barge and was resold to another master. The article concludes by condemning merchants rushed to select the best slaved in the yards where they were confined.
Author's Argument
The author endeavours to give an account of the slavery’s injustices that slaves were subjected to during transit and while working for their masters. The author starts the article by explaining how his life in Eboe was cut short by the kidnapping and the eventual enslavement. The author is horrified and terrified after separation with his sister and family. This gives the slaves plight when separated with their loved ones. The author further points out the existence of slavery among Africans. Before he was sold to the owner of the slavery ship, the author had worked under several African slave masters. The author gives an account of the four stages of African slavery. These stages include the capture by African natives and the dangerous journey to the European ships, the middle passage across the Atlantic, introduction to forced labour, and the actual period of enslavement.
The author wanted to bring out how Africans were enemies to their fellow Africans: they collaborated with the white slave dealers. Clearly, Africans supported the slave trade and facilitated capturing of slaves by kidnapping children from the interior of Africa. Most importantly, the author wanted to paint a clear picture of the plight of slaves in slave ships. The author gives an account of a heartrending story of the middle passage from West Africa to North America. The story evocates violence, despair, fear, fetidness, and grief. The slave ship experience is perfectly presented showing how slaves felt after separation with their families and the pathetic conditions of the slave ship....