An important part of this book is right on the cover. In the title, Equiano puts all three of his names that represent him. There is Olaudah Equiano, Gustavus Vassa and the African. I think that putting all three names in the title shows his progression in life. First he was Equiano, which was his birth name, when he was a free man. After being enslaved, his master changed his name to Gustavus Vassa. This showed how in controlled he was at that time. The name also belonged to a nobleman, which seemed ironic to the situation. He fought the name but then gave in. The African is at the end of his journey. He became a Christian in the Americans after being freed but still was not considered the same as the “white man.” In the beginning, he was not the same as other people that lived in Africa, they were different people even if from the same country. Now after his journeys, he became “the African.” All the people involved in the slave trade were then referred to as “Africans” even though they might not consider themselves Africans. Although they, in a way, bonded and became brothers in America, where we branded them different even after they were “free.”
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Many times people change their names when they go through a lifestyle change. In the Bible, Paul, one of Jesus' Disciples, was formerly known as Saul. When he was Saul, he was a cruel man. He had an awakening and changed his name. Trans-gender individuals often times change their names as well.
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference between Paul and Equiano. Equiano did not change his name by free will, it was forced upon him. I highly doubt that if Equiano was never enslaved, then he would have never had any other name other then Olaudah Equiano. I agree that people might change their name to fit their lifestyle changes sometimes, but I don't think it fits with Equianos situation. His lifestyles were mostly forced upon him.
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