Oroonoko - Aphra Behn

Oroonoko or "the Royal Slave" by Aphra Behn is an interesting story to read. Oroonoko falls in love with a woman he cannot have which is similar to the works of Marie de France. The king is hte reason he cannot have the woman he loves. Oroonoko and Imoinda fall in love with each other, but that does not matter. The king loves her as well so he sends her a veil to show his love and make her one of his wives.

Just like in Marie de France's work, this will not stop the two lovers from seeing one another. When the king finds out that they have been seeing each other, he sends her to be a slave. He tells Oroonoko that she is dead. Oroonoko later becomes part of a slavery group. The two ended up in the same place. It must have been fate as they found each other again, marrying and starting a family. They are still in slavery, but want to escape so that their child is not born into slavery. Because they cannot escape, death is the only option to prevent the child from being born a slave. Oroonoko is later killed, very violently. However, that was typical for this time in history.

I enjoyed how Aphra Behn, a woman writer during this time period, wrote so openly, truthfully, and explicily about life and the reality of the harshness and brutality people faced.