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Example research essay topic: 18 Th Century Slave Trade - 2,136 words

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On reading both texts, the difference in gender of the writers becomes apparent in regards to the representations of women. Both texts have women as central characters, and in both the women serve as the story tellers. Hence, we are given a womans perspective and first hand experiences in one text, and what a man thinks a womans actions and reactions would be to, at times, extreme situations in the other. Issues such as the social positioning of women, the relationships between men and women in the 18 th Century and the degree of power that women had, are addressed in totally different, and at times confusing, ways by both writers.

In both texts, the social positioning of women is a main theme. In Oroonoko, Behn deals with the underlying themes of racism, slavery, and womans position within colonialism and the slave trade. It shows a resistance to categorizing in terms of these differences, but on the other hand perpetuates exactly what it is trying to resist. Behn defines her position, and her use of language in this respect is rather interesting. When talking about the abuse that the slaves were subject to, the colonists become they when the topic, however, is living in peace with the slaves, the Indians become we for those they make use of here, are not the natives of the place, for those we live with in perfect amity At time she refers to the colonists as they, implying that she does not belong to this category either, but when there is threat to the colony, she chooses to use we. It seems that Behn will align herself with the colonists, but only together with other women and children in the same category in a collective we the ones that are forced to flee when threats arise.

In including herself in this category in times of crisis, she is thus absolving herself of any responsibility of the brutal actions of the colonial leaders. This is one way of looking at her style of writing using her position as an excuse to prove herself, and other women, blameless where the slave trade was concerned. Another way of viewing her writing style, however, is that Behn was displaying exactly what it would have been like being a woman of her position in that time. Behn refers to her apparent position of power and influence with the colonists but we also find that she is not able to do anything to change the situation in regards to the way Oroonoko is eventually treated for I suppose I had authority and interest enough there, had I suspected any such thing, to have prevented it... I found that this quote, and the feelings evoked by it, may have been indicative of the real position of women in the 18 th Century revolutionaries such as Behn may have believed that they had the ability to change things, but in essence they were powerless. The juxtaposition of her claims of power, and the different groups she includes herself in throughout the text, emphasises her powerlessness.

She is caught between knowing what is going on is not good, and having to watch it happen. Thus it can be said that her attempts at positioning herself within the colonized society represents the confused and perplexing position of upper class women in this period. Her treatment of Imoinda's character is also rather interesting; the role of physical descriptions in both Imoinda's and Oroonoko's are also important making them look like white black people highlights the racist undertones of the time. Initially, Imoinda is described as in possession of all the qualities that women of the 18 th Century were encouraged to nurture. She has honour, virtue and intelligence I have seen a hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all vain, she was, indeed, too great for any, but a prince of her own nation to adore. In the beginning, it is easy for the narrator to celebrate these qualities in Imoinda but as the story progresses, Behn decides that some qualities are white, and some black, and thus distributes them between the female narrator and Imoinda.

The narrator being a white female, ascribes metaphysical talents to herself, while inscribing the black female, Imoinda, with a physical value only. Also, the narrator is free of any constraints that may have been applied by a man she has no father, no husband and no lover this adds to the freedom of her narrative. Freedom of narrative is also apparent in Richardson's Pamela. Since the novel in epistolary form, with Pamela writing letters to her parents, and keeping a journal for personal reflection, there are a lot of things that go unsaid and unacknowledged. Pamela ends up marrying her Master, the same man who made ruthless and vile attempts on her much valued virtue. There are undertones in this novel that imply Pamela was indeed aware of her attractiveness and charm, and chose to use them upon Mr.

B. In order to secure a higher social standing for herself. However, her letters and journals are filled with episodes of fainting away and weeping with aprons thrown over heads, sighing and fits the general impression I got of Pamela was obviously not a very positive one. I feel that Richardson has made her look rather vain and silly, but always in full possession of her female wiles. I felt that she was the classic weak heroine who needed to be dominated by a strong, controlling man. Female virtue and class differences are the main themes in this novel, and it is interesting to see what kinds of actions are considered justified when written by a male author.

Issues such as rape versus seduction, privacy, class struggle, the way Pamela reacts to Mr. Bs advances and her imprisonment by him are all true indicators, I believe, that the author is male. The novel is, in essence, a re-enactment of the classic battle of the sexes, won by the woman because she stands for what is right and good, what will ensure the stability of family and society by overcoming the anarchic threat of unbridled male sexuality. This brings us to the point of Mr. Bs sexual interest in Pamela, and the ways in which he expresses them.

There are a few scenes recounted by Pamela of her attempted rape by Mr. B. The fact that Pamela is put through such torment, and still sees it fit to be in his company contradicts the high esteem she places on her virtue. After the first attempted rape in Bedfordshire, in the presence of Mrs. Jervis, Pamela says to Mr. B on his saying she is welcome to stay Welcome to stay, sir!

I hope you will forgive me for saying, that I shall rejoice when I am out of this house! However, it is also seen that she finds a reason to stay on she needs new clothes, but she must make them herself; later on in the story, her escape attempts (or lack thereof) from her imprisonment at Lincolnshire. This makes the reader wonder as to whether Pamela values her virtue because she is virtuous, or because she knows that the only way Mr. B. Will be able to have her is to marry her. Pamela's marriage to Mr.

B gives her the ability to regard his attempted rape of her as seduction, and her marriage also makes her virtue simply an instrument in the marriage campaign rather than an end in itself. This is one of the many indicators, I feel, that the writer of this text is a man. Another interesting thread in the novel is that of dis empowerment of women, illustrated in the way the story begins, and the continued threat to Pamela's privacy. The novel begins with the loss of female power shown in the death of Mr.

Bs mother she had taken Pamela under her wing and had taught her many things that a girl in her position would not have had access to at the time. It is immediately known that Pamela is to be looked after by Mr. B. , and thus he becomes her Master. When he eventually does marry her, he remains her Master, thus interpreting the popular belief of the time that a good wife was, in essence, a good servant.

This is illustrated perfectly later on in the novel, when Mr. B, . Is planning out Pamela's average day as his wife... you shall have some time you may call your own, till you invite me to breakfast with you: a little after nineteen again will you have several hours at your disposal, till three oclock, when I shall like to sit down at the table It makes one wonder how Pamela's life has changed, if at all, since she was being held at Lincolnshire against her will and yet she is quite pleased with her lot. Mr. Bs constant enquires into what Pamela is writing, and his initial scheme to secure her letters before her parents got them, shows the constant threat to Pamela's privacy.

Mr B demands to see the remainder of her journal after having come upon the first part through Mrs Jewkes. This is met with compliance on Pamela's part after he threatens to undress her, as he suspects that the letters are secured to her person. She complies, and his mood changes dramatically upon reading her journal. Instead of kissing him as he requested and forgiving him of all his wrongdoings, Pamela asks to be sent home to her parents yet again. Mr Bs rage is met with an almost regretful response from Pamela another contradiction in the construction of Pamela in my opinion. If she was to be a virtuous woman, why did she keep proving that she did not have any self worth?

To be virtuous is fine, but to be blind to the bad intentions of someone who has given you reason to doubt them several times before is incomprehensible. Richardson seems to be a firm believer in the ends justifying the means, and this does not do much for defining the strength of character of his heroine. I felt that Pamela should have reacted in a totally different way once she had secured her place as the lady of the house instead, she forgives the repulsive Mrs. Jewkes. When Mr. B.

Suggests that Mrs. Jewkes went beyond her duties in striking Pamela, she responds your kindness makes all past evils as nothing to me; and when I reflect, I owe my happiness to my grievances, it would be wrong if I could not, for the sake of the event, forgive the means. I feel that Richardson is portraying here the ultimate male fantasy woman one who is easily controlled, in a weaker social position than the hero, thus at his disposal; sexually alluring and a bit of a tease she wont actually give in, but she wont get out and justifies it all in the end with a marriage, totally defying social and class barriers of the time. An 18 th Century fairy tale.

The two texts, though two totally different styles of writing, illustrated one main thing which I thought was essentially indicative of the different portrayals of women Behn's women were more real, more believable than Richardson's. Behn's narrator was not apologetic for her shifting position within the groups of black, white, colonisers and slaves the fact that women had no real social hierarchical standing is reflected in her writing. There were no explanations; she was basically trying to tell it like it was. Richardson, on the other hand, does not really have any idea what he wants his heroine to be it seems that Pamela might have been a mixture of all the women he had ever come across in his life. I found Pamela's thoughts, actions and words conflicting, confusing, and at times, frustrating. To sum it up, I felt that Richardson was writing more for an audience like himself, and Behn was writing for other women.

I felt that Behn had much more believable women in her novel than Richardson. BIBLIOGRAPHY Beasley, Jerry C in Albert J Rivers New Essays on Samuel Richardson (Macmillan Press, 1996) Behn, Aphra Oroonoko, The Rover and Other Works (Janet Todd Eds. , Penguin Classics) Ferguson, Frances. Rape and the Rise of the Novel (Representations. Fall 1987 Levin, Gerald Richardson The Novelist: The Psychological Patterns (Rodopi 1978) Moon, Michael &# 038; Davidson, Cathy N (Eds) Subjects and Citizens Nation, Race and gender from Oroonoko to Anita Hill (Duke University Press, 1995) Richardson, Samuel Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (Peter Sabor eds, Penguin Classics) From the Internet The Aphra Behn Page McCracken, Susanne Pamela: Economy, The Novel, &# 038; Women


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Research essay sample on 18 Th Century Slave Trade

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