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Name: Institution Affiliation: Instructor: Date: Article Review Author’s message/agenda Olaudah Equiano's narrative was meant to inspire people to take action against the slave trade. His narration about his awful experience during pre-slavery in West Africa and dreaded accounts of victims in his letter captured the attention of the British who later managed to end the slave trade. At the start of Equiano's letter, he shows confidence that his work will be a source of hope to his friends in captivity. His main agenda was to criticize slave trade through his Narrative. His personal life during pre-slavery depicts how it affects everyone. Africans were mercilessly abducted from their homes. “I was immediately tossed up to see if I were sound…" Equiano explains how he was converted to terror when he was on board. Mothers and children were separated and subjected to mistreatments and nasty punishments for no reasons. “… and it was very moving on this occasion, to see and hear their cries at parting..,” he recalled. Moreover, Christians were led astray. This account of horrible punishments and abuse was meant to show the British navy their wrong ways and subsequently the consequences. Equiano's other agenda also focuses on the loss of identity as a result of being enslaved. He describes how he was deprived of identity early in his life but was able to mold himself despite his suffering. He had no status. He was imperceptible and had no freedom of movement, his family or property. Equiano embarked on a journey to discover his self, but slavery was a hindrance. He later acquired self-gratification only after he was freed. He converted to Christianity
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