Summary Of Chapter 2 Horrors Of A Slave Ship

The definition of slavery can be known as a condition of a slave in respect to arduous labor work and/or extremely limited freedom. Therefore, three different forms of slavery are depicted in Olaudah Equiano’s “Chapter 2: Horrors of a Slave Ship.” These consist of the slavery that Equiano endured while still in Africa, suffered through on the slave ships, and saw the beginnings of in Barbados. The only thing we learn about slavery hardships, in Barbados, is the buyers of the slaves purchase them in such a fashion that leads to family and loved ones being forever separated, with no hope of reuniting. Equiano rhetorically asks the reader wonderfully,

Are the dearest friends and relations, now rendered more dear by their separation from their

This is expressed, with regards to the above quote, when he ends the chapter with, “Surely, this is a new refinement in cruelty, which…thus aggravates distress and adds fresh horrors even to the wretchedness of slavery” (396). The things he underwent in Africa are never described in detail, per say, but he did refer to it in the quote before and when he claims, “…I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which I was filled with horrors of every kind, still heightened by my ignorance of what I was to undergo” (393). The main form of slavery seen in this chapter is what he describes of his time on the slave ships. The men on these ships were such brutes they were said to even flog one white man to death. They stripped Equiano and the other slaves of almost every ounce of freedom, upon these ships. They were required to eat when too sick, but were not allowed much food in general and otherwise. The slaves were scared into staying aboard and not jump to sea to quicken their death. Also, against their greatest will, the slaves were forced to stay packed under the decks with smells, diseases, and conditions that led to many horrid