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In chapter II of Equiano’s journey, Slavery is portrayed as hell on earth. In this chapter Equiano is kidnapped along with his sister and sold into slavery. Equiano’s journey to the west indies are horrifying; he describes the ship as “absolutely pestilential.” The conditions on this ship were cruel, Equiano's illustrates what he saw on the ship as “a scene of horror almost inconceivable” (p. 58). Equiano’s experience truly spoke to the horrors of slavery in a way that you could almost smell what he smelled and hear what heard.

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On page 109, Equiano states, "When you make men slaves, you deprive them of half their virtue, you set them, in your own conduct, an example of fraud, rapine, and cruelty, and compel them to live with you in a state of war; and yet you complain that they are not honest or faithful!" Here he is pointing out the hypocrisy of those defending slavery and discussing the fact that many slaves appear a certain way because they are forced to. This is not part of the narrative, but it is information crucial for the reader, especially to understand Equiano's point of view. Therefore, this is a moment of an intervening voice, in this case the voice of the author.

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On page 33, Equiano states "I remember a man was brought before my father, and the other judges, for kidnapping a boy; and, although he was the son of a chief or senator, he was condemned to make recompense by a man or woman slave" Here Equiano was showing that no matter how high power you were, you still have to make amends whether you are the son of chief or not, you still have done evil. You were still required to make amends by a man/woman slave as a punishment.

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This chapter discusses the experience of being an African, transported from Africa to the US for slavery. In this chapter Equiano states, "In this state I was constantly grieving and pining, and wishing for death rather than any thing else" (Equiano 42). This example refers to how this African was separated from his companions, thus resulting in his inability to connect with anyone else as a result of the language barrier. This quotation is a reflection of how combined with the fact they're already being enslaved, the language and cultural barrier made the lives of the slaves all the more unbearable. I believe it is also important to recognize that this cultural divide is very well still present in the schooling system today. This narrative challenges me to ask myself: "What cultural barriers are there at Trinity and how can we address and try to release them?"

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On page 50, Equiano states, "I was scarcely awake in the morning when the old woman slave, who was the first up, came to light the fire, and saw me in the fire-place. She was very much surprised to see me, and could scarcely believe her own eyes" We are seeing from Equiano's perspective and the slave's perspective. We are seeing that the woman is in disbelief after encountering the narrator. This sheds light in a way knowing the rough experiences/punishments that slaves were going through during that time, knowing the harsh realities they were facing. This a moment of shock and can be viewed as a moment of joy to the woman that encountered Equiano.

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In this chapter, Equiano's writing is somewhat awry, although not seemingly. His appreciation of his enslaver in the earliest sections of the chapter, despite his enslaver being this door between freedom and slavement is strange (but understanding given the time) to read. On page 76, he writes "for my master treated me always extremely well; and my attachment and gratitude to him were very great. From the various scenes I had beheld on shipboard, I soon grew a stranger to terror of every kind, and was, in that respect at least, almost an Englishman." Although throughout the paragraph, Equiano's situations of bondaged seemed to greatly differ than those in American bondage (ie. Frederick Douglass). Despite Equiano's status, some white people within his company seemed to appreciate his existence. These white people did not subscribe to the typical pro-slavery techniques, ie keep the enslaved ignorant. On pages 77-78, Equiano writes "They often used to teach me to read, and took great pains to instruct me in the principles of religion and the knowledge of God. I therefore parted from those amiable ladies with reluctance..". This power differential between American and British slaves is very interesting to read about.

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On page 77, Equiano states that "[The Miss Guerins] used to teach me to read, and took great pains to teach me in the principles of religion, and the knowledge of God." This is an example of his journey to literacy, making it seem even more credible as he was taught by white women interested in his growth.

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Going into page 59, Gustavus Vassa speaks of his experiences on a slave ship. He writes, "...we continued to undergo more hardships than I can now relate: hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade.--Many a time we were near suffocation, from the want of fresh air, which we were often without for whole days together. This, and the stench of the necessary tubs, carried off many. During our passage I first saw flying fishes, which surprised me very much...The clouds appeared to me to be land, which disappeared as they passed along. This heightened my wonder: and I was now more persuaded than ever that I was in another world, and that everything about me was magic." This is an example of intervening voices in which this fantastical story of mythical creatures and new feelings of wonder/excitement is interrupted with a reminder that slave ships were relentless torture machines that were less appealing than death. This strategy of telling slave narratives as adventure stories and briefly sneaking in a few horrific details of slavery ensures a larger audience, an audience that most likely would never have read a story about the whole truth.

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In this chapter, Equiano states, "and everybody on board used me very kindly, quite contrary to what I had seen of any white people before.. Some of the people on the ship used to tell me they were going to carry me back to my own country.. was soon undeceived when we came within sight of the English coast.. When I refused to answer to my new name, which at first I did, it gained me many a cuff.." The entire page paints the perspective of slave but also shows the small struggles as well. In the first paragraph, Equiano believes he is being treated kindly, but in reality he is being used as property. He misconceives the kindness on the ship. In the second, we see how he uses the term "home" it is his home country, but the white people on board deceive him as they used the term "home" for England, thus giving another angle how slaves were treated or easily used or tricked. Third paragraph was about his name. In history, we can find and read how colonizers stole people and reframed them, renamed them with no respect to the person themselves. We see how Equiano trys to stand up for his name and his respect but is easily put in cuffs and forced to respond to a name given to him, a change that many slaves had to go through and suffer with.

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On page 32, Gustavas Vassa states, "If, then, the following narrative does not appear sufficiently interesting to engage general attention, let my motive be of some excuse for its publication. I am not so foolishly vain as to expect from it either immortality or literary reputation. If it affords any satisfaction to my numerous friends, at whose request it has been written, or in the smallest degree promotes the interest of humanity, the ends for which it was undertaken will be fully attained, and every wish of my heart gratified." In the first paragraph of the entire narrative, Vassa feels the need to tell audiences that he is one of the lucky ones and his struggle cannot compare to those who had it far worse than he did as a slave. He also clearly states that he doesn't feel superior to any other story and this is published for no other reason than to hopefully promote an interest in humanity, a pedagogical purpose to inform the reader of just one example of slavery and how this persons life had been affected by it. This is where the "balancing act" comes into play--he has to find the balance between telling the truth about his pain while also withholding just enough to ensure its publication.

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Equiano begins the chapter by describing how eager he is to finally buy his freedom, which relates to the convention of attaining freedom and the slave's passage from slavery to freedom. He says specifically, "Every day now brought me nearer my freedom, and I was impatient till we proceeded again to sea, that I might have an opportunity of getting a sum large enough to purchase it" (127). Equiano deeply desired his liberty, as would be any enslaved person's dream. This is significant because until (and even during) Equiano's work at sea, he was consumed with misery and despair due to his enslavement. Still, he managed to maintain hope and determination to secure his freedom in the face of such a dehumanizing and oppressive positionality in life. In previous chapters, he explicates a deep uncertainty and the desire to die due to the circumstances and misfortune he endured since he was captured. By chapter 7, his hope is restored by the prospect of purchasing his freedom. Equiano is ultimately able to purchase his freedom close to the middle of the chapter. His transition from the misery and despair of enslavement, to hope, and eventually success and manumission is something that readers must closely analyze. Such a desire for liberty illustrates that even in a situation that attempted to rob Equiano not only of his right to freedom but his dignity, humanity, and intrinsic sense of self-worth, Equiano knew that he was worthy of freedom and the right to full autonomy, and relentlessly strived toward it.

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In Chapter 5, Equiano writes, "I reproached my fate, and wished I had never been born. I was ready to curse the tide that bore us, the gale that wafted my prison, and even the ship that conducted us; and I called on death to relieve me from the horrors I felt and dreaded" (95). Equiano's desire to die represents a crisis that prompts a decision to escape. Though Equiano would not be escaping on foot, an escape made through death would have had the same reward for Equiano: freedom. Equiano, believing he was being brought to the West Indies contemplated freedom in death "where slaves are free, and men oppress no more." His consideration of death reveals his anguish at his enslavement and the possibility of suffering in the West Indies. The suffering he feared was familiar to him, and the experience was traumatic enough for him to desire freedom in death. Though suffering in the West Indies did not end up being his fate, the immense fear we see him consumed coupled with his desire to die illustrates just how severe and harrowing the circumstance would have been for him.

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In this chapter we hear from a narrative about an experience of a slave being transported and sold. In this narrative, Equiano states, "I thought God might perhaps have permitted this in order to teach me wisdom and resignation." I feel as if this is a representation of how slaves used religion as a coping mechanism. But what is unfortunate about this quotation is that this victim of slavery believes they are the problem and that God is choosing this for them. I feel as if society twists religion to a certain extent, thus resulting in these types of beliefs. The fact of the matter is that white people definitely played a role in what religion they depicted to slaves and the sense of slaves "deserving" it. I feel as if white supremacy resulted in the twisting of this religion, and unfortunately due to slaves denied access to any education, this white supremacy motivated religion is the only framework in which they have to refer to.

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In this chapter, Equiano retells his experience with bondage and being forced from Africa. On page 47, he writes "One day, when all our people were gone out to their works as usual, and only I and my dear sister were left to mind the house, two men and a woman got over our walls, and in a moment seized us both, and, without giving us time to cry out, or make resistance, they stopped our mouths, and ran off with us into the nearest wood. Here they tied our hands, and continued to carry us as far as they could, till night came on, when we reached a small house, where the robbers halted for refreshment, and spent the night." This quote attests to the fact that the transition from freedom to enslavement was swift for many victims. This swiftness is something that is incomprehensible to study, but Equiano does a fine job in formulating his experience. Equiano proceeds to explain this shift in the conditions of his everyday life, how we once went from being adored and fed, to being shaken with constant grief and left hungry.

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In the first 8 chapters of Classic Slave Narratives, the riveting stories of Equiano clearly display the two main themes of the genre.  As we discussed, slave narratives were mainly recorded for pedagogical purposes. Many Americans, both then and now, had a preconceived idea of the events of the Middle Passage. In the first few chapters of Equiano’s story, the audience is educated on many false stereotypes of Africans. Along with breaking these stereotypes, Equiano gives the gift of detailing his emotions throughout his journey. In chapter 2 he writes, “For I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty,” Equiano contemplates on the extreme aggression shown by the Europeans on the ship, and immediately concludes they are a violent people. He was surprised by the aggressiveness they had even with their own kind. Equiano wondered how much worse him and his fellow slaves would be treated, if the Europeans were already so angry amongst themselves. At this point, the audience sees Equiano come to a realization, and experience a big culture shock. The Europeans had little respect for each other, and would definitely have no respect for the slaves. The audience also gets to experience the sad reality that Equiano faces when this story is told. Through this story and many others, the translation of his raw emotions teaches us the unseen moments that salves like him went through while being shipped. The theme of pedagogy is apparent, and the audience gets to humanize Equiano through his narrative.

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The second theme I found very prominent was the self-awareness Equiano had as the author of his story. Throughout the first 8 chapters, Equiano’s religion is constantly following him. We see how he relies heavily on the judgement of God, whether it’s for himself or the people around him. This in itself connects the idea of Equiano’s high level of self-awareness, but I found that in chapter 5, his struggle with his faith proves this idea further. He talks about being a predestinarian, meaning he believes that whatever happens to him is God’s fate, and should not be interfered by human doing. He further explains that he should, “See no means or hope to obtain my freedom,” As an audience member in the 21 century, I read this with anger, thinking of what possible logic he could use to justify not obtaining his freedom by any means necessary. But after reading this chapter I realized how difficult it must have been for Equiano and other slaves to constantly battle in their minds their beliefs versus their situations. Freedom was a such a foreign idea to them, so the acceptance of it on God’s behalf granted them peace. On the other hand, was God testing them? Are they meant to fight for their freedom? If they do fight, will it all be in vain because God intended for them to be slaves? This constant war overtook their existence, and slaves like Equiano had to find a middle ground. Sometimes that middle ground included testing the limits, and being punished, but it was necessary to work towards the larger goal of liberty.