Orronoko, or The Royal Slave

I too found the beginning of this story hard to get into. I didn't know what angle Behn was coming from.The author describes the people of Surinam as beautiful. "They are charming , novel, extremely modest and bashful. Surianamians walk around naked and no indecent actions or glances take place." They are innocence at its finest. However, i can't help but think of these beautiful, nonthreatening people becoming slaves. They were minding their own business just trying to live. I hate to see people mistreated.
The general's daughter seems to be the female version of Oroonoko. Beautiful, finely built,smart, pleasing to the eyes.
"He had intelligence brought him that Imoinda was most certainly mistress to the Prince Oroonoko." No the King didn't!! He knew Imoinda was Oroonoko's wife but he still sent the veil to her.Such a dirty old man!!! the King is selfish and cares about no one but himself. And to do this to his own grandson is horrible. I know there was such a thing as rule and regulations that Oroonoko didn't follow by not getting the King's permission to marry, but the King should forgive and forget and have respect for a man and his wife. I thin the King did this out of spite. And poor Imoinda! I would have died if I received the veil. When Oroonoko finds out he's going to flip out.
"But as it is the greatest crime in nature amongst 'em to touch a woman after having been possessed by a son, a father, or a brother, so now he looked on Imoinda as a polluted thing..." I don't get how the King can say that Imoinda is impure and polluted and he can't have her after she slept with her HUSBAND. First of all the King should have never sent for Imoinda because he knew Imoinda was Oroonoko's mistress. It was Imoinda and Oroonoko's right to have sex. And then to make matters worse the King sold Imoinda into slavery.
Poor Oroonoko!! The captain waited until he was drunk to capture him. Maybe he was afraid of Oroonoko's strength and stature. Yet he continues to trick Oroonoko while on the ship to get him and his men to eat. Orronoko still shows that honesty and innocense talked about at the beginning of the story.
Trefry seems to be a kind and caring slave master. However, I still have a feeling his kindness will turn to hatred. I was very surprised that he let Oroonoko and Imoinda be together. During the slavery I read about it was uncommon for slaves to be allowed to choose their wives. Also, slaves weren't allowed to go out fishing and hunting by themselves and they definitely weren't put in charge as a guide to lead white people anywhere.
"But they were no sooner arrived at the place where all the slaves received their punishments of whipping, but they laid hands on Ceasar..." Now this sounds more like the slavery we all heard about. They've stripped Oroonoko of his name, taking away his identity and are now going to beat him to make him obidient. Oroonoko realizes that no matter how well he was treated he is still simply a slave to the white man. The white man's promises was just another trick. I let you do what you want and when the time is right you do what I want.
I kind of understand why Oroonoko made the decision to kill his wife and baby. The thought of having your child taken away is enough to make you want to harm anyone. Many slaves had their children taken away only to wonder what type of life they will have. Oroonoko was correct in thinking th baby would have been the property of the slave master. I believe that's why he made the decision to kill his family and self.
WOW!! When I finished reading the sory, I was left speechless. I thought Oroonoko would kill Byam and then himself like he planned. The way they killed Oroonoko was demeaning and dowrn right cruel. The ending was very similar to what we have read anout how slaves were treated when they tried to escape. I was confused at first about the author's role in the story. I wasn't sure if she was a slave or not. But it seems she was a slave.