Description

When Prince Oroonokos passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonokos noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behns visit to Surinam, Oroonoko (1688) reflects the authors romantic view of Native Americans as simple, superior peoples in the first state of innocence, before men knew how to sin. The novel also reveals Behns ambiguous attitude to African slavery while she favoured it as a means to strengthen Englands power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality.