The beginning of Oroonoko starts with the narrator describing Surinam in great detail. Why do you think it is important for her to explain about the region, the people, and their customs before beginning Oroonoko’s story? Would the story be different without this background information?
ENGL 201 | British Literature to 1800
Myra Seaman | Fall 2012
In the beginning the narrator describes Surinam in great detail. She describes the exotic birds, their colors and shapes, and she also describes a variety of insects. She talks about the beads the people of Surinam make, and how they wear beaded aprons as Adam and Eve did. There is also a good relationship between the British and these people. She describes all of this not only to give us a sense of the area and the way the people are, but also so we trust that she has this eye witness account of this heroic story. She tells us about the good relationship between the British and Natives to show that she was allowed this inside view as a reporter.
I think it is very important that the narrator gave the reader such a detailed description of Surinam, because it allows the reader to paint a picture in their heads of what Surinam is truly like, as if the reader was actually experiencing it. She begins with the description of all the animals, fish, venison, buffaloes, skins and little rarities. These animals are traded in a friendly way through out the village. She then goes into vast detail about the birds, their shapes and colors. They make beads and wear aprons that represent the fig leaves Adam an Even wore. They are extremely beautiful people but modest. There was not a king, but the oldest was captain was obeyed with great resignation. They are very nice people who work hard, they seem to be living a perfect life. This introduction sets up the idea that these people were slaves for wealthy people and would be sent to plantations. I think it is very important because it sets up the story and the background information the reader needs to understand Orooknoko, a royal slave.
I agree that all of this cultural context is crucial for the reader to understand Orooknoko as a character, and connect with his view of and place in the world of his story.
Also, it seems to me that in the age of British imperialism, many of the people reading this story would view Orooknoko and his people as savages compared to western Europeans. It’s important to paint their culture and lifestyle with all of this vivid detail so the audience has a better understanding of their ways, and what defines them as a people. They may be different from the Europeans, but the facets of their daily lives have complexities all their own.
If the narrator did not describe Surinam in great detail then the audience would not have a clear understanding of what the social norms in Surinam were. The story would be different without background information because the narrator describes details regarding Surinam and the people that lived there, as well as a list of animals, insects, and trading practices. This detailed account allows the audience to view the natives in their natural environment, communicating peacefully and at ease with each other. Without this description from the narrator, the audience would not be as invested with the natives when they are forced into plantation slavery.
It’s important to know the background and logistics of a story so that the reader can connect with the plot, characters, etc. Without knowing these certain elements, there is a great chance that the reader could be lost within the story. Especially with Oroonoko, it is very important that this information is placed in there so that the reader will be able to understand.
Without proper background information, it is hard to understand the full picture that is being painted by the author in any piece of writing. The imagery used to describe the people, the setting, and the behaviors of the society during the time in which this piece of literature was written adds to the overall understanding that the audience uses throughout the entire story. Describing Surinam in great detail, along with the people, allows the audience to make more sense of what is taking place. It is important for the readers to know the ways in which the slaves and the non-slaves interact with each other. The physical appearance that is painted of the slaves, what they do and how they act and behave helps to explain why certain things are the way that they are. Without the background information, assumptions can be made that are entirely wrong and further confuse the reader about certain character or setting choices.
It is interesting that Aphra Behn decides to first introduce the native culture of the British colony of Suriname in South America and then the culture of Oroonoko’s country in West Africa. The comparison between the two cultures shows some of their similarities. Behn highlights a shared modesty and offers an anecdote about a native woman shielding her eyes from a suitor. It shares a connection with Oroonoko and Imoinda who know one another’s intentions through the other’s eyes. Both cultures share an unfair system of trade with Europeans: one for beads (which seems like a very profitable form of currency for Europeans in the New World) and the other for presumably weapons in order to continue their unceasing wars (which luckily for Europeans end with plenty of captives fit for slavery). With all three cultures in the New World it seems that the setting is meant to highlight the differences between them. Many customs of Coramantien sound likely the customs of a European court. It seems that the isolation of Surinam offers a glimpse into the loss of naturalism (beginning in the Surinam natives and already long begun in Africa) and the growth of Europeanalism in each culture brought on by European colonization and imperialism.
I agree with what has been said above: without background information, it’s very difficult for the reader to relate to the story. WIthout background information, the reader could not fully grasp the plot, characters, etc. I think background information is extremely important, especially in a story that is set in a place that most people would be unfamiliar with. It brings the characters to life, showing where they live. As someone above said before, it paints a picture of life in Surinam, and makes it easier for the audience to relate to what is going on. The story would be completely different without the background information because it would be more difficult for the audience to relate to the story, and because of that, it would not hold as much meaning.
I think that it is interesting to look at this question after having read the question that refers to Adam and Eve. I saw that parallel between the native people and Adam and Eve very easily though am able to answer this question differently only after having my attention drawn in that direction. Just as in the bible the scenery is descried first. The garden of Eden is described in great detail before the innocence of the people within it is acknowledged. it is the same here. The “Paradise” is explored before the men within it. I think this is an interesting narrative choice, whether intentional or not.