Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave

"He was pretty tall, but of a shape the most exact would that can be fancied. The most famous statuary could not be forme the figure of a man more admirably turned from head to foot His face was not of that brown, rusty black which most of that nation are, but a perfect ebony or polished jet. His eyes were were the most awful that could be seen, and very piercing, the white of them being like snow, as were his teeth. His nose was a raising and Roman, instead of African and flat; his mouth the finest shape that could be seen, far from those great turned lips which was so natural to the reat of the Negros."

I felt as the author was giving him European features as she was pleading her case like that of a lawyer. Aphra Behn gave me the impression that she did not like slavery and was against it. Oroonoko never eally had a fighting chance because of the color of his skin. The book was about love but also had a significant amount of betrayal. The grandfather which took his love, Imoinda away from the young prince, to the sea captain until the end when for the sake of freedom he killed his true love and was executed himself. The reason I was lead to feel she was like a lawyer is because of the opening statement and the last, it sure sounded like a defense lawyer."I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this royal slave, to entertain my reader with the adventures of a foreign hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poets pleasure; nor in relating the truth, designed to adorn it with my accidents but such as to arrive in earnest to him. And it shall come simply into the world, recommended by its own proper merits and natural intrigues, there being enough reality to support it, and to render it diverting, without the addition of invention" what an opening statement, basically that she is not going to lie or make anything up in his defense, you be the judge. Then the closing statement" Thus died this great man, worthy of better fate, and a more sublime wit than mine to write his praise; yet, i hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive to all ages, with that of a brave, the beautiful".