“I pray you despatch me quickly.”
There was a LOT at stake if you were going to be executed. A lot of mishaps happened during beheadings and hangings. During the former, your death could be drawn out depending on the skill of the executioner, whether or not they were sober, well paid, or their attitude. Definitely don't want to have your execution scheduled on an executioner's first day
tarrying
stay longer than intended
Suffer me not to be tempted above my power,
This seems to be a reoccurring sentiment in her prayers. She wants to be seen as humble before God. I'm not sure if she means she doesn't want to be perceived as thinking herself near God's power, or she is referring to her social rank as royalty.
Prayer which displays at once her anguish and resignation; offering it up to the throne of Mercy, it was no doubt heard with the mercy it deserved and recompensed by an increase in spiritual strength which enabled her to support the sharpness of death which led her to life eternal:
I think this exemplifies what the introduction to Lady Jane meant when it said she was romanticized. To me, there is nothing romantic about a woman whose life is cut short because of some political squabble. But, especially through religious statements like this, her death makes her a martyr.
dolours
A state of great sorrow or distress
Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplex’d in the extreme; of one whose hand,
I find it very problematic that Othello is killing himself because he found out he was tricked and killed his innocent wife, but a wife presumed to have slept with another man was justified for the sake of his honor.
Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands’ faults If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps; Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us. Or say they strike us, Or scant our former having in despite. Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know Their wives have sense like them: they see, and smell And have their palates both for sweet and sour, As husbands have. What is it that they do When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think it is. And doth affection breed it? I think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs? It is so too. And have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well: else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.
I think this is my favorite passage from the play. Especially since this play is so racist and misogynistic. Emilia boldly says wives/women are human to, and are subject to the same good and bad deeds that men/husbands are. But unlike men, women are held to a double standard, and are abused when they take part in the same liberties their husbands do. If anything, a husband bears responsibility: their behaviors are seen and known by their wives, so is it any surprise that their wives in turn behave in the same way?
Faith, I have heard too much, for your words and performances are no kin together.
I find it kind of funny that Shakespeare has kind of portrayed Roderigo as stupid, he is the only one who is on to Iago's scheming.
The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave, Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow. O heaven, that such companions thou’dst unfold, And put in every honest hand a whip To lash the rascals naked through the world Even from the east to the west!
On second thought, given that Shakespeare has thus far been overly dramatic in people's ignorance, I don't think Emilia is in on it.
I will be hang’d, if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devis’d this slander. I’ll be hang’d else.
I wonder if Shakespeare is intending to get across that Emilia is complicit and knows of the plan? She hasn't really been explicitly brought in on it, but she has been involved in some schemes of Iago's. And I think she knows what her husband is like and who he hates. Or is she ignorant?
Truly, an obedient lady. I do beseech your lordship, call her back.
A modern read of this is really rough. She is being praised for her obedience in leaving since Othello is angry and slapped her.
horned man’s
A man who has been cheated on
Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her! Come, go with me apart, I will withdraw To furnish me with some swift means of death For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.
What a rapid escalation of behavior. I think Shakespeare really did Othello discredit to write him as a character that can move so quickly from rationality and forgives to someone who slanders his wife and wants to kill her.
I’ll tear her all to pieces.
Again, Othello displays his potential for violence if the rumors are true. Doing a modern read, this is really problematic. First, because he is willing to hurt or kill his wife on the presumption of an affair, which is domestic abuse. And second, because the racist dialogue has set up Othello as someone who is basic and acts on instinct, this is just confirming the racist suspicions people have of Moors.
If there be cords or knives, Poison or fire, or suffocating streams, I’ll not endure ’t. Would I were satisfied!
This is the first time we are confronted with the possibility of violence by Othello. He is saying that as long as these instruments of death are available to him, he will do harm if the rumors are true.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Woo’d me to steal it. But she so loves the token, For he conjur’d her she should ever keep it, That she reserves it evermore about her
I imagine that the loss of this important gift that Othello gave Des. is a kind of symbolical beginning of the end for the couple.
My lord, I would I might entreat your honour To scan this thing no further.
This back and forth is comical. The back and forth of Iago saying "oh don't worry about this" and Othello saying "I'm not" and Iago again insisting "Please please don't worry" until Othello, indeed, begins to worry. Acted out in such a way, it could be a comedy.
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.
It's like Iago is trying to reverse psychology his way to getting Othello suspicious about some affair that is happening. Given how these stories normally turn out, I imagine Othello will end up doing exactly what he is being warned not to do.
have your instruments been in Naples,
A joke about syphilis. Naples was perceived as an easy place to contract syphilis, which in the later stages of the disease the victim's nose would decay
honest Iago
I feel like Shakespeare is way too forward about how Iago is deceiving people. I roll my eyes at this obvious evil deceitful character being so forwardly called honest and praised. Maybe Shakespeare was using this really dramatic characterization to translate his themes and ideas plainly to the audience
When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor, very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice.
Iago really relies on the idea that people act on basic desires and wants. It kind of makes me think of Shakespeare's sonnets, and how he was so concerned with the departure of beauty and how disparities in age and beauty doom a relationship. It feels like Iago is an iteration of Shakespeare's worst fears.
I prattle out of fashion, and I dote In mine own comforts.
Shakespeare is really leaning into expressing how happy Othello is just to presumably ruin it dramatically
IAGO. [Aside.]
For how horrible Iago makes out other people to be, he really projects the image of being a hunched over little troll twiddling his fingers in anticipation of misfortune.
Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.
What's Iago's angle here? We know he sucks- racist and a misogynist. But he is also pretty cunning in his plans. I suspect Desdemona would report to Othello how terrible Iago is.. so why is Iago acting like this if he wants to act like a good guy to trick Othello?
Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon.
Sounds fake, Iago
My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee.
I anticipate Shakespeare is doing the classic "Oh! This will never happen to me." And then it does happen, and someone ends up dead.
To please the palate of my appetite, Nor to comply with heat, the young affects In me defunct, and proper satisfaction,
A very small detail but slightly troubling to me. I wonder by stripping Othello of his sexuality, Shakespeare thought he would appease his audience, whom I'm sure had racist ideas of their own. Or maybe Shakespeare thought he was writing Othello and Des. as two people truly in love, because their love is not guided by lust. However, I think it'd be reckless not to read past possible racist implications.
When remedies are past, the griefs are ended By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended. To mourn a mischief that is past and gone Is the next way to draw new mischief on
When something has happened that cannot be changed, don't grieve about it. If you do, you will invite more of the things that pain you into your life
Her father lov’d me, oft invited me, Still question’d me the story of my life, From year to year—the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have pass’d.
Kind of what I expected out of Brabantio. Even though he is a senator and thought to be a man of status, he is no better than Iago and Rodrigo. All three of them are bitterly racist once they feel like something precious has been "stolen from them" by Othello.
Of such a thing as thou—to fear, not to delight. Judge me the world, if ’tis not gross in sense, That thou hast practis’d on her with foul charms, Abus’d her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
YIKES
My parts, my title, and my perfect soul Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?
I wonder if Skakespeare is setting up Othello as a naive character- to think that his station and his innocence will nullify the racism and bigotry that people have towards him.
Call up my brother. O, would you had had her! Some one way, some another.
Brabantio didn't seem to engage with the racism Roderigo and Iago were spouting, but I think this line reveals that there is still bigotry amongst those who (thus far) don't have anything against Othello. Even though Othello is of a higher military rank that Roderigo, and Brabanito previously said he would never give his daughters hand to Roderigo- he suddenly changes his mind when he thinks his daughter might be marrying a Moor.
Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business. In which regard, Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love,
Interesting how Iago does admit to Othello's military skill, but fosters such a hatred- seemingly only out of racism and bigotry.
To swear against the truth so foul a lie!
I much preferred the later sonnets to the earlier ones. I think the earlier sonnets where exactly the type of poem Shakespeare mocked in 130. I also got extremely tired of this man's obsession with how time ruins beauty. The later sonnets I found more honest, and more genuine than the first. He experienced heartbreak, a rebound, and reconciled with more personable feelings.
And all my honest faith in thee is lost:
He's admitted they've both been unfaithful- but because she was previously in a marriage (or marriages), and took vows, he has lost faith in her?
know’st I am forsworn,
I guess Shakespeare has also been unfaithful. I anticipate some hypocrisy in this sonnet.
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.
A truly scathing line to his mistress. I find it a little hypocritical- he still desires her and keeps her around, yet he gets made at her for sleeping with other men. Shakespeare kind of seems to be devolving in these last sonnets. He is becoming bitter and views his lust and love as a burden
The uncertain sickly appetite to please.
Shakespeare seems disgusted by his need to still be sexually satisfied
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be.
Such a dramatic turn in Shakespeare's love life and attitude surrounding love. In the earlier sonnets, he admitted his age gap between him and his male lover gave him anxiety, but his writing was still full of flowery images and lively feeling. In this relationship, he simply accepts the fact that this dark woman and him have a love that sustains itself on lies, and approaches it more practically than his other lover.
As any she belied with false compare.
A humorous sonnet that mocks the language of other love poems. Instead of making flowery metaphors between nature and his lover, Shakespeare does the opposite and describes her as dull, and sort of ugly. Ironic, given his earlier sonnets are full of this love poem trope
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.
I think this is my favorite sonnet. It moves away from the superficial makings of love: desire, beauty, lust; and places emphasis on the actual substance behind love: friendship, security, and faithfulness.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love does not equal beauty
It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Really striking lines. To Shakespeare, love is a fixed point (lighthouse, star) that guides people through the journey. In that way, saying love should be persistant throughout life, which I think is refreshing after all of his associations between love and beauty.
Mine appetite I never more will grind On newer proof, to try an older friend, A god in love, to whom I am confin’d.
It seems like he is trying to close the chapter on his old lover. He seems to acknowledge how much his old lover will mean to him, but he needs to move on.
So all their praises are but prophecies
All of the former poets were just guessing what beauty would be later on?
ladies dead and lovely knights
I like that he killed of the lady muses and beautified the male muse. Perhaps re-contextualizing what gender the muse of a love poem should be.
Since all alike my songs and praises be To one, of one, still such, and ever so.
Maybe Shakespeare anticipated my annotations that criticized his broken-record-ness in eulogizing his lover. Okay, Shakespeare.
But if that flower with base infection meet, The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
I suppose he is using a metaphor to say that if a beautiful person (flower) uses his beauty for malicious means (infection), his deeds will tarnish what respect he could have had
They rightly do inherit heaven’s graces,
Shakespeare has essentially said those who are physically beautiful (inherit heaven's graces) have rightful possession of that beauty if they conduct themselves properly. According to Shakespeare, if they keep themselves steady and rational in tempting situations (where their beauty can be used to their advantage), they are good people.
Then if he thrive and I be cast away, The worst was this,–my love was my decay.
If I'm following a possible narrative here, it seems that Shakespeare's lover is probably now seeing another poet, for whom he has become a muse. While this sonnet does have familiar melancholy and feelings of inadequacy, I think the mild competitiveness with the boat/ocean metaphor is a unique feature of this sonnet.
And mock you with me after I am gone.
Clearly Shakespeare is extremely concerned with morality and how quickly things decay overtime. This sonnet struck me as a different approach- here he seems more concerned with the perception of the relationship with his lover. He seems to be compelling his lover to let his identity and the relationship die with him, for because of Shakespeare's age, and probably sexuality, his lover will be judged.
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Again, maybe I'm being too critical, but here we go again with how time is the destroyer of beauty and and life. Only this time, the chosen metaphor for time being a storm. Go outside for a walk Shakespeare!
For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense,– Thy adverse party is thy advocate,– And ‘gainst myself a lawful plea commence: Such civil war is in my love and hate, That I an accessary needs must be, To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.
I really like this use of a courtroom situation to exemplify Shakespeare's feelings on his complicated relationship. Even though he is prosecuting his lover for misdeeds committed against him, he also finds himself advocating for his lover. Not only advocating, in the second to last line he admits to being an accessory to his lover's crimes against him. This really struck me as sweet and sensitive to how complicated relationships can be.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restor’d and sorrows end.
Perhaps referencing the same friend (or lover) that gave him comfort in Sonnet 29?
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
I think that this sonnet has been my favorite so far. Instead of obsessing on how time decays superficial beauty, Shakespeare finds solace in love during his depression. This feels less vapid and more warm.
outcast state,
I did a little research on this Sonnet and was surprised to find that these two words in particular have a historical reference. Around the time this sonnet was written, an outbreak of the plague caused London theaters to close. It is speculated that this "outcast state" Shakespeare see's himself occupying is referencing his depression at this disruption in his life
But since she prick’d thee out for women’s pleasure, Mine be thy love and thy love’s use their treasure.
I did a little research on this sonnet to get clued in on the Shakespeare sexuality debate. I find the argument that Shakespeare did actually sexually desire this person but because of homophobia at the time didn't act on it more compelling then the argument that this is just a close male companion. I think specifically the use of the word "passion" in line two, and that nature defeated him by making his love male are indications that Shakespeare very much kept a sexual love for this man
My love shall in my verse ever live young.
Clearly the over-arching theme in these early poems is how time ravages everything. It takes away beauty more than anything, and Shakespeare feels personally attacked by this.
O! carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow,
God it would be so stressful to be in a relationship with Shakespeare. One appearance of a wrinkle and he starts lamenting about the ravages of time.
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st,
I really appreciate this version of Shakespeare's idea of legacy. Unlike Sonnet 3 were he implied that the only valid route for securing legacy was having a child, he is immortalizing this person's beauty in the lines of his poem
lease
Really interesting use of "lease." It almost implies that Summer shorted humankind in some way, humans were cheated by this short lease because the summer is so beautiful that it should last longer
And all in war with Time for love of you,
Sort of sweet, Shakespeare saying that his is going to war with Time because of the love he has for his friend
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
Shakespeare seems to be very pre-occupied by beauty, but specifically how fleeting beauty is. In the previous sonnets, he tried to immortalize beauty by means of having a beautiful child
remember’d not to be,
Interesting that Shakespeare considers only a superficial legacy. To him, if this man does not have a child he will be forgotten. Is there not some alternative- I don't know, being a famous poet/writer to secure a legacy? Maybe I'm reading too much into it- and Shakespeare is just saying it'd be a shame if his beauty isn't remembered
tillage
Starting to believe Shakespeare is the king of sexual metaphors
unbless some mother.
According to Shakespeare this man is SO beautiful that he would be depriving a woman by not giving them a chance to have his children
fresh repair
healthy body
Now is the time that face should form another
I assume this is a continuation of Shakespeare's insisting that his beautiful friend have a child. I would love to know why Shakespeare is so obsessed with reproduction
And tender churl mak’st waste in niggarding:
tender (soft) + churl (rustic, peasant) being an oxymoron, who wastes his time niggarding (being stubborn) - I think Shakespeare is very harshly saying you are wasting yourself by not reproducing
Making a famine where abundance lies,
A really dramatic way to simply say "there's a lot you could impart on an heir, but you refuse to do it"
we desire increase,
Desire for beautiful people to reproduce and have beautiful children
come not unto me, for nothing can rescue me.
I guess this question points to the overall question of the play: Was Faustus truly fated to be damned, or was it Faustus' compliance to being damned that ultimately landed him in hell?
But Faustus’ offence can ne’er be pardoned: the serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus.
Is he saying that Satan could be saved and not him? I feel like comparing his deeds to the devil is a little far fetched.. but then again Faustus has a talent for being dramatic. Maybe he means that his chances of being saved are as likely as the devil being saved.
Ah, Doctor Faustus, that I might prevail To guide thy steps unto the way of life, By which sweet path thou mayst attain the goal That shall conduct thee to celestial rest!
It seems like the Old Man is the last ditch effort to get Faustus to repent and turn his head back to Christ. Given that this late in the play, perhaps he really did have a choice to find salvation during all the times Faustus lamented over whether or not he still had a choice to turn back to God
I’faith, he looks much like a conjurer.
How embarrassing that Faustus sacrificed his soul for this power and knowledge, yet he is perceived merely as a conjurer
FAUSTUS. I thank you, sir.
I guess this is the foolishness that Faustus decided his powers were good for. Really disappointing that this man seeking knowledge just plays pranks on the Pope in exchange for being eternally damned
Is’t not too late?
Interesting that Mephist. refusal to answer the question "who made the world" made Faustus reconsider his decision. Maybe it startled his idea that he made the right allegiance?.
And long ere this I should have slain myself, Had not sweet pleasure conquer’d deep despair.
Faustus considers pleasure his savior from despair. He is all in all, probably better for hell than heaven given how hedonistic he comes off.
Come, I think hell’s a fable.
Reminds me of the hubris main characters often have in older famous texts. He is mocking the existence of hell, as he promises his soul to the devil. He thinks himself above it in a way?
Consummatum est; this bill is ended,
Really striking given these were written as the last words Jesus said dying on the cross. It one, underscores the commitment Faustus has to revoking his allegiance to God, and two, strikes as extremely ironic that it is being said in the context of signing off a soul to the devil.
Now, Faustus, must Thou needs be damn’d, and canst thou not be sav’d: What boots it, then, to think of God or heaven? Away with such vain fancies, and despair;
Faustus sees no point in thinking about be saved by God, he considers himself damned and he might as well shut it out of his mind. Perhaps a little narrow-minded- is he truly damned or would he have the chance to be saved if he begged for salvation?
poverty jesteth
In essence, poverty personified- commenting on how the clown comes across
What, is great Mephistophilis so passionate
The ego of this man. Mephist. just told him explicitly of the torment he feels being rejected from God's presence- and Faustus responds in a mocking way, as if his decision to turn from God will have a different result.
That was the cause, but yet per accidens;[56]
Telling that the "conjuring" had nothing to do with his appearance- it was all the smack talk Faustus was doing. Perhaps Mephistophilis thought Faustus would just be an easy dude to turn to the dark side.
MEPHIST. O, by aspiring pride and insolence; For which God threw him from the face of heaven.
This explanation comes off less as an answer to Faustus' question and more like a warning. Faustus has already shown that he is extremely prideful and nothing will get in the way of what he wants- apparently so was the devil, and that was the cause of his downfall. Hint hint.
Go, and return an old Franciscan friar;
The fact that a devil turned into a friar might suggest the author trying to commentate on what he perceives as corruption/hypocrisy of holy men.
Here, Faustus, tire[21] thy brains to gain a deity.
By studying the black arts Faustus reasons he will attain what he previously yearned for: the acquisition of god-like powers.
Who aims at nothing but external trash;
Trash being money, and the things that money can buy. Said with an obvious distaste for it
Exhoereditare filium non potest pater, nisi, &c.[15]
He keeps saying "etc" and interrupting the latin phrase to offer his opinion.. pretty egotistical
Couldst[12] thou make men[13] to live eternally, Or, being dead, raise them to life again, Then this profession were to be esteem’d.
He wants his power to extend beyond just healing people- he wants to be able to allow people to live forever or resurrect them. In essence, he wants to be a God with god-like powers
Summum bonum medicinae sanitas,
Physicians are supposed to care for the body, but Faustus' only care is discovering some wondrous cure and getting money- setting him up as a character that is greedy and vain.
Ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus:
Maybe Faustus is complaining that eventually his philosophizing only gets him so far, he had to eventually do something profitable, like becoming a physician
magnanimous
Again, Gulliver is so, sorry, stupid for being so enchanted by this magnificent royal who he could so easily squash under his foot. I guess Smith is trying to underscore how much worth we assign and enchantment have towards "upper-class"/people in power.
He is taller, by almost the breadth of my nail, than any of his court, which alone is enough to strike an awe into the beholders.
It is becoming clear that the size difference/comparisons are meant to belittle these people. Their greatness and intelligence is constantly undermined in the context of Guilliver's perspective- perhaps Smith belittling the human race for their supposed superiority and intelligence.
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning.
Gulliver is really gullible. Despite his obvious strength and ability to overpower these people who have taken him prisoner, he is charmed by the attention he is receiving and taken with their supposed intelligence.
who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature, as I must appear to them.
This line strikes me. If Swift uses Lilliput to represent English politics/politicians, their boldness for walking all over Gulliver who is much larger than them might suggest Swift is trying to convey that the English government has the ego to tromp over the English population with politics and laws- even though the population greatly outnumbers them.
who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood not one syllable
Maybe it is possible that he is satirizing here (or at least mocking) the sense of superiority politicians feel, but their political jargon, code, and law comes off as gibberish to the general population. Perhaps a stretch, but I know when I read political documents/law it sounds like a lot of gibberish to me.
and, besides, they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe,
From what I have read and understand doing some preliminary research on Gulliver's Travels, the first chapter satirizes English politics and politicians very directly. Not sure if this is the first parallel he has made to England thus far, but it definitely is the first explicit parallel.
Lemuel
Lemuel means "belonging to God" in Hebrew, also the name of a king in the bible who is only mentioned in one verse.
might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends to toil for your luxury and lust of gain? Must every tender feeling be likewise sacrificed to your avarice? Are the dearest friends and relations, now rendered more dear by their separation from their kindred, still to be parted from each other, and thus prevented from cheering the gloom of slavery with the small comfort of being together and mingling their sufferings and sorrows? Why are parents to lose their children, brothers their sisters, or husbands their wives?
An incredibly powerful way to end this chapter. Turning the obvious questions of how white people can justify such brutality on themselves- forcing them to look at themselves.
I was immediately handled and tossed up to see if I were sound by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me. Their complexions too differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke, (which was very different from any I had ever heard) united to confirm me in this belief.
A child trying to rationalize and understand his situation, horrible (being an understatement) that at such a young age the parallels he tries to make are so grim.
All the nations and people I had hitherto passed through resembled our own in their manners, customs, and language: but I came at length to a country, the inhabitants of which differed from us in all those particulars.
Interesting how the narrative in chapter two has been a gradual shedding of a life he has known and recognized. I think about the other narratives of enslaved people (namely Roots) where the journey from Africa to Europe/Americas was very stark and clear cut. Not to say that this wasn't the experience for enslaved people, but this journey is much more gradual.
Yes, thou dear partner of all my childish sports! thou sharer of my joys and sorrows! happy should I have ever esteemed myself to encounter every misery for you, and to procure your freedom by the sacrifice of my own. Though you were early forced from my arms, your image has been always rivetted in my heart, from which neither time nor fortune have been able to remove it; so that, while the thoughts of your sufferings have damped my prosperity, they have mingled with adversity and increased its bitterness. To that Heaven which protects the weak from the strong, I commit the care of your innocence and virtues, if they have not already received their full reward, and if your youth and delicacy have not long since fallen victims to the violence of the African trader, the pestilential stench of a Guinea ship, the seasoning in the European colonies, or the lash and lust of a brutal and unrelenting overseer.
A really heartbreaking passage. It seems almost like a eulogy to his sister. His yearning to relinquish his liberties as a free man to her is just utterly awful.
From the time I left my own nation I always found somebody that understood me till I came to the sea coast.
An extremely sad moment. Through his grief and sorrow of being kidnapped and enslaved, at the very least he could be comforted by someone he related to. But when he got to the coast, this small comfort would end, almost marking the end of his childhood and his identity.
I still look back with pleasure on the first scenes of my life, though that pleasure has been for the most part mingled with sorrow.
What a powerful way to introduce an abolitionist memoir. By giving us the opportunity to share in his memory of home, ceremony, family, and experiences; Olaudah presents a clear picture of an individual life before his enslavement. It shows a life that was robbed because of slavery, and humanizes the communities and individuals that I'm sure most white people discount to justify slavery
and we were totally unacquainted with swearing, and all those terms of abuse and reproach
A really interesting small tid-bit on how language can shape behaviors and attitudes.
With us they do no more work than other members of the community, even their masters; their food, clothing and lodging were nearly the same as theirs, (except that they were not permitted to eat with those who were free-born);
I have been going back and forth on whether the Eboe notion of slavery is morally superior to the European notion of slavery. Important distinctions have been made, such as this one where the humanity of an Eboe slave is recognized and as such is treated more or less fairly. Also I think worth noting, the enslaved peoples under the Eboe don't serve as direct an economic purpose as the European notion of slavery. Sure the Eboe peoples probably benefited from having enslaved workers in agriculture- but that pales in comparison to how much the Europeans and Americans benefited economically from the slave trade and the work of the enslaved. Boiled down, slavery was a function of punishment or warfare to the Eboe, while for the Europeans it was an extremely brutal means of wealth and power.
indispensable ceremony.
I think what is clear at this point, is that ceremony tightly unites this culture. This supports the point made in the intro that Olaudah made parallels between his native peoples and other cultures to underscore the humanity of enslaved people. Ceremony is an important bind for cultures around the world.
Let it therefore be remembered, that, in wishing to avoid censure, I do not aspire to praise.
I can't think of one memoir where the first paragraph of the first chapter is so carefully appeasing and re-assuring a sector of its readership. It goes to show that even though Olaudah was writing as a free man, bigotry and racism remain. In order to be taken seriously and his message of abolition to be heard, he needed to "humble" himself.
In doing this, Equiano shows that all people are connected–specifically black Africans to the Judeo-Christian patriarchy–and portrays the humanity of those who are enslaved and then subjected to inhumane conditions.
In my opinion, an important point to make. So much of pro-slavery propaganda focuses on de-humanizing enslaved people, emphasizing that enslaved people are property- not people.
As for Jane, she did not want to be Queen, nor did she want to be set up as a pawn in a marriage to advance the position of her father-in-law.
A really sad detail, given that she would be convicted and killed for treason
troublesome folk.
I think this text serves to showcase how important custom and tradition lends power to monarchs. By going through the motions and including all the important symbolism in traditional English coronations, Mary's reign as queen is, at least on the surface, deemed legit.
and according to the rites of the old religion.
I know the text explicitly says "religion," but in response to the question if this is referencing the protestant or catholic religion, I don't think it means either. After some reading, Mary was very concerned with making this a coronation that followed the long traditions of English king coronations. Following this custom would have lended legitimacy to her reign in spite of the fact that she was a woman. Could be wrong, merely speculation
a thousand-fold more grievous than they could be in any other living creature
I wonder if this borderline (or maybe not so borderline) hyperbole is actually effective in quelling her father's anger? Does he want this dramatic apology? To a modern reader it comes off as so dramatic it warrants an eye roll.
benignity of your most blessed nature doth surmount all evils, offences, and trespasses, and is ever merciful and ready to accept the penitent
Talk about stroking the male ego. "Benignity" or kindness/tolerance of others is not the word that would come to mind for those with even a rudimentary knowledge of King Henry VIII. Although, by assigning these attributes to her father, especially him being "ever merciful and ready to accept the penitent" might be effective in convincing him that he is actually those things and be willing to accept her.
His present glory and his past delight;
Old admiral watches a battle to relive the glory he once felt in battle
If, at my counsel, he repent and drink. Or should some cold-complexioned sot forbid, With his dull morals, our bold night-alarms, I’ll fire his blood by telling what I did
Rochester see's himself as a mentor for the new young and rowdy men. He will give them guidance on all things hedonistic
So, when my days of impotence approach, And I’m by pox and wine’s unlucky chance
Rochester believes that he will one day be made impotent by wine and STDs