Oroonoko Cultural Alterity

Oroonoko Cultural Alterity

            Alterity refers to a state of diversity between different groups. Thus, cultural alterity is a cross-cultural phenomenon of otherness between a set of individuals. Aphra Bern’s book, Oroonoko, is set within a place of aesthetic dynamics. As of 1688, when the author published the historical novel, Suriname was a British colony that thrived because of the availability of cheap labour from the slaves. Therefore, Bern uses this setting to elaborate on the state of Western civilization and how it collided with the African perspectives of civility. The British used imperialism to advance their economic and political interests at the expense of people from other cultures. For instance, the Africans were primarily captured or brought as slaves by the white men, and they had to abandon their cultural values and fit into the standards of the western nations. This paper argues that the cultural alterity as expounded in Oroonoko is centred around the effects of slavery and colonialism on the non-western civilizations. The female voice adopted by the author to narrate the events that occurred in Surinam is crucial in providing a divergent perspective of the social norms which were typically presented from the male standpoint.

Analysis

Behn depicts heroism as a character that was inherently bestowed on the royals. The author was strongly affectionate towards the systems and procedures of feudalism and royalism. Throughout the text, the narrator speaks of her admiration of one, Lord Maitland, who is described as a teacher of divine precepts. The religious leaders were esteemed within the feudalism system. The author posits that leaders such as Lord Maitland had a significant role in setting the societal standards that were to be adhered to by their subjects (Southerne, 1806). Essentially, it is the values that the royals and religious leaders pose that makes the world a better place. Also, the hero of the story was able to access certain privileges because of his royal blood. For instance, as a slave, he received better treatment because of his ability to speak two foreign languages; English and French. As a prince, he was exposed to western civilization at an early age.

The author has strong perceptions of the social standing of a monarch. Orooonko was a prince who benefitted from selling his captives to slavery. The trade is portrayed as legitimate because it had the direct involvement of a royal. However, once the prince is captured and taken out as a slave, then there arises for his emancipation. The author accepts the slavery system as long it is from a particular group of people. Eventually, the royal Oroonko is presented as a hero for his actions in planning a revolution that would have freed his fellow workers from the shackles of slavery. The attitudes towards royalism by the author point towards cultural alterity. For instance, the prince only gets to appreciate the ills of the slavery once he is subjected to its cruelty. As an activity that he did for personal gain and gratification, he could not bear the thought of having his child borne to as a slave. Furthermore, the death of Oroonko is depicted as an embarrassing one for the royals. The enslavers, who were white imperialists, are portrayed as inhumane in the manner in which they kill the prince. His followers remain full of admiration because even in death, he upheld his royal dignity. One’s royal blood was sufficient to set them far apart from the rest in the way that they are treated and socially accepted.

Behn uses the social attitudes towards colonialism to portray the differences in civilization between the white enslaves and the people from Cromiante. The colonizers are individuals who have been exposed to western culture that encompasses formal schooling and a functional economy. On the other hand, the slaves come from places that are considered primitive and are not yet for the New World that was setting in. However, the actions associated with the two groups point to the complete opposite. Behn portrays the slave masters who have undergone civilization as barbaric individuals who are heartless. They are an unforgiving lot that would do anything as long as it serves their interests. For instance, when the masters realize that Oroonko intends to revenge against his betrayers, they annihilate and torture him. However, on the other hand, the Oroonko’s people who are considered uncivilized exhibit the full traits of civilization. They are a composed group that have functional systems. The western culture is intended to usher in a New World. Instead, the author illustrates a broken order that is centred on brutality and aggression to serve the interests of a few individuals. The revolution orchestrated by Oroonko is an indicator that imperialism was a faulty system which did not serve the needs of humanity. Furthermore, the author’s description of the voyages made by the people to faraway countries was an indicator that the European population was not satisfied with the feudal system perpetuated by the ruling class. The long journeys were in search of better destinies. The Europeans desired a New World that could offer rational and moral progress beyond the mere economic gains. Hence, both the Africans and the Europeans had different reasons for disliking the colonial system.

Oroonoko is a piece that present divergent ideologies on the issue of slavery. From a generalized outlook, the novel illuminates the ills of the system. The brutality meted out to the black slaves, depicts the faults of western civilization. The system relied on safeguarding the interests of masters while remaining inhumane to the needs of the subjects. The story of Oroonko is a compelling call for anti-slavery. As much as the slaves were crucial for the success of the sugarcane farms in Suriname, the treatment that the workers received required complete review. The revolution organized by the hero of the story served as a bitter reminder to the feudal system of the dangers posed by the harsh treatment accorded to the slaves. Failure to deal with the faulty system meant that the reality of a revolt remained ever-present.

Moreover, the ‘otherness’ as presented by Behn, is centered on the concept of the different beliefs held by the Europeans and the blacks. Evidently, the white masters strongly relied on white supremacy to sustain slavery. The black civilization was considered primitive and less desirable. Colonization was the blueprint of the white supremacy ideology. Due to his royal lineage level of education, Oroonko was viewed as a threat to the colonial system in his land. The success of the system depended on the sustenance of a power balance whereby the whites would remain on top while the blacks would occupy the lower positions of the society. Thus, it was crucial to bring down the most significant threat; Oroonko. Through systematic evaluation, the black people were stripped off anything that they associated. They were disposed of their lands through capture and transportation to countries that are far away from their homes. Oroonko’s and Imoinda’s name were changed to Christian alternatives of Cesar and Clemen. Such a shift was intended to make the African natives lose their identity completely. Christianity was part of the broader western civilization. Thus, giving a native prince a Christian name reinforced the superior position that the white masters had according to their own culture. At the end of the subjugation, the native is left with no option other than embracing western civilization. The people who are able to take up the culture of the west quickly enough are able to enjoy a better treatment from their masters.

The author uses a female narrator to elaborate on social gender biases that were present during the 17^th century. Women were not allowed to be decision-makers on matters that had a significant bearing on society. For instance, as much as the narrator was unhappy with the treatment meted out to the slaves, she was powerless to make things any better. Also, character Imoinda is a loud female voice that highlights the position of women in society further. She is objectified by the prince and his father, who both desire to have her. The king quickly gets rids of her when he gets information about her affair with Oroonko.