british lit

the im willing to pay does not reflect what will pay this is just some docs and price arrangements will be made with the tutor

Doe 1

Question: How does Oroonoko embody this code of virtue (and the title “Noble Savage”)?

Jane Doe

Instructor Boutwell

English XXXX, Sec. XXXX

12 December 2012

Final Formal Essay – Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave

In the story, Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave, written by Aphra Behn, the main character Oroonoko is described as an African prince who, along with the primitive Indians and noble Africans of this region, strictly adheres to a code of virtue that many “civilized” Christians appear to either disobey or disregard. When oppressed by the adverse and negative attitudes depicted by this “civilized” white society, Oroonoko maintains his code of virtue and espouses the title of “Noble Savage” by upholding his honor, his religious beliefs, and his intellectual supremacy throughout his adversities.

First, Oroonoko maintains his code of virtue by preserving his tenet of honor regardless of his circumstances. Despite the cunning and deceitfulness of many people who try to trick him, capture him, and eventually trigger the deaths of himself and his only love, Imoinda and their baby, Oroonoko holds onto to his strong principles, which he learned in part from his French tutor growing up. Oroonoko displays these values when the slave captain requests Oroonoko visit his ship wherein the captain seized Oroonoko and intended to sell Oroonoko as a slave. Oroonoko and his men preferred death in honor to imprisonment as a slave. The captain, in order to prevent Oroonoko and his men from committing self-starvation while on the slave ship, sends a message that he, in hindsight, believes that he has wronged Oroonoko and that he will release him and his men once they are near land:

And Oroonoko, whose honor was such as he never had violated a word in his life himself, much less a solemn asseveration, believed in an instant what this man said, but replied, he expected for a confirmation of this to have his shameful fetters dismissed. (2332)

The captain responds that his deed was too horrible and worries that Oroonoko might retaliate against him:

Oroonoko replied, he would engage his honor to behave himself in all friendly order and manner, and obey the command of the captain, as he was lord of the King’s vessel and general of those men under his command. (2333)

As part of the captain’s continued treachery, he released only the fetters from Oroonoko and not from Oroonoko’s men. The captain lies and deceives Oroonoko in order to capture him as a slave. Oroonoko demonstrates honor even when confronted by the dishonor of others.

Secondly, Oroonoko maintains his code of virtue by embracing his religious beliefs; even when those who claim to be Christians personally violate him, his morals, and his people, Oroonoko remains true to his beliefs. The captain informs Oroonoko that he does not trust him to be released from his shackles because he feels that Oroonoko is a heathen since he does not believe in the same God that the captain worships. The captain gives his word to Oroonoko as a Christian and swears by the name of his great god and says that should he default on his word, he will be in everlasting torment in the next life:

Oroonoko then replied, he was very sorry to hear that the captain pretended to the knowledge and worship of any gods who had taught him no better principles than not to credit as he would be credited; but they told him the difference of their faith occasioned that distrust. (2333)

Oroonoko states that the captain errs if he believes that “he who will violate his honor will keep his word with his gods” (2333). Oroonoko declares that for a man to violate his honor, it will be “eternally offending and diseasing all mankind,” and he says, “But punishments hereafter are suffered by one’s self, and the world takes no cognizances whether this god have revenged ‘em or not, ‘tis done so secretly and deferred so long” (2333). Oroonoko uses his religious understanding and beliefs to stress to the captain that his honor is more important than the captain’s supposed Christianity.

Finally, Oroonoko maintains his code of virtue by exhibiting his intellectual supremacy over his fellowman. During the many wrongdoings which Oroonoko encounters: his grandfather’s treachery to marry Oroonoko’s wife Imoinda himself, to his wrongful kidnapping by the slave trader, and finally to the deaths of his beloved wife Imoinda, their unborn child and to his own death, Oroonoko demonstrates his superior intelligence. Behn explains that Oroonoko had “nothing of barbarity in his nature, but in all points addressed himself as if his education had been in some European court” (2317). Oroonoko spoke both English and French and had been taught by his French tutor “morals, language, and science” (2317). According to Behn:

Oroonoko was as capable even of reigning well, and of governing as wisely, had as great a soul, as politic maxims, and was as sensible of power, as any prince civilized in the most refined schools of humanity and learning, or the most illustrious courts. (2317-2318)

Oroonoko uses his magnificent intelligence to lead his men in battle, to conduct business as a slave merchant, to shield his wife and unborn child from a life of slavery, and to finally die with honor and with dignity as a noble king.

Oroonoko endures many treacherous and evil wrongdoings by his grandfather, the ship captain, and the slave owners. During all of these injustices, Oroonoko continues to maintain his code of virtue and the title of “Noble Savage” by never comprising his honor, his religious beliefs, or his intellectual supremacy during these hardships.

Work Cited

Behn, Aphra. “Oroonoko; Or, The Royal Slave.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 9th ed. Vol. C. New York, N.Y. Norton & 2012. 2317-2318, 2333. Print.

Doe 1

Question: How does John Updike’s Sammy in “A&P” fit into the loss of innocence mold as an initiation story?

Jane Doe

Instructor Boutwell

English 1302

June 17, 2012

Short Response Essay 1 –“A&P” An Initiation Story

In John Updike’s short story “A&P,” the main character, Sammy, fits the loss-of-innocence mold as an initiation story because innocence is present in this character, the character takes a course of action, and this course of action leads him to have an epiphany, consequently changing his point of view on wide scale.

Updike presents Sammy as a character whose innocence can be displayed through his lack of previous experience due to his age as well as his immaturity. In the story, Sammy mentions that he has just turned nineteen years old: “I was nineteen this April” (6). Also, Updike shows signs of Sammy’s immaturity; in one of these instances, Sammy compares himself to his older co-worker, Stokesie, where he implies that they are both immature and that the only difference between them is the fact that Stokesie is “married with two babies” (6). Since innocence is often linked to youth and immaturity, this is evidence of Sammy’s innocence, which allows for there to be a fundamental change later in the story.

The second way in which Sammy fits the loss of innocence mold as an initiation story is when Sammy quits his job as a cashier to try to be a hero to a group of girls and is forced to go through with it. Specifically, Updike shows that Sammy thinks about the option of not quitting in order to not disappoint his parents, but instead goes through with quitting: “But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it”(8). Sammy’s decision to stick with a course of action that before is uncharacteristic to his nature shows that he is maturing from the young boy he once was.

This leads to the fundamental change which occurs through an epiphany that Sammy has at the end of the story where he realizes the consequence of the path he has chosen and becomes aware of the reality that awaits, hence a loss of “innocence.” The short story ends with Sammy realizing how tough the world would be to him now that he had chosen to be the hero: “And my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me from here on in”(8). A loss of innocence is felt since Sammy’s view of the world has changed from what he had thought it was or would be.

Works Cited

Updike, John. “A&P.” Literature Craft & Voice. Nicholas Delbanco & Alan Cheuse. 1st ed, Vol. 1.

New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 5-8. Print.