Behn: Questions for Discussion and Further Research
Oroonoko can be a tricky text to appraise, for 21st century readers. On its surface, it appears to be sympathetic to slaves’ plight. Yet it was also written by a white woman who was outside the community — and who some scholars have suggested was romantically involved with a slave-ship captain, either as a suitor or a husband. (Records are unclear.) This biographical addendum makes your task in this reflection much more complex.
Discuss:
- What is/are the setting(s) for Oroonoko? (Hint: There may be more than one.) How are they depicted? Do they bear any resemblance to places that Behn actually visited?
- How does Behn characterize the African prince in order to appeal to her readers? Consider narration, imagery, comparisons, incidents, and other kinds of evidence and examples. Is there anything potentially problematic about these descriptions?
Do further research:
- To what extent is Oroonoko an abolitionist tract? Does the narrator (or does Behn) ultimately favor or disfavor British colonialism and its economic machinery, including slavery? What evidence may be brought to bear on each side of the question? Use your college library resources to explore Behn’s biography and the popular discourse surrounding her book upon its publication.
