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williamwallace's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lizetteratura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Rape
amandathereader's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Uni reading
cjones16's review against another edition
3.0
This was super interesting from an analytical perspective, but not the most compelling read.
kaymunckton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
umbrelina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Oroonoko is, simply put, a tale of honour, injustice, love, and revenge. It is interesting in its hash of ideologies. At times, the narrator is critical of slavery and its cruelties; nevertheless, she still acknowledges the (mostly financial) benefit of this practice to the empire. Colonialists and slave traders are often depicted as morally corrupt and infringing on the rights of the natives who, perhaps telling of the author’s prejudices, are naïve and unfamiliar with laws and morality- though innocently happy in this state.
It is important that this novel is one of the first written in English and, remarkably, written by a woman. Not only do we get a sense of how colonialism (and everything surrounding it) was viewed by contemporaries, but also the way it was viewed and engaged with by a member of a likewise oppressed group. Then, it is true that Behn’s narrative is largely fabricated (with exaggerations which are reflective of her Western mind-frame), but its departure from the view of the majority is considerable.
Though a little hard to read at times due to the structural and grammatical conventions of the time, Oronooko is a worthwhile read. Though most readers will find themselves in disagreement with a lot of the ideologies presented, it certainly presents an interesting viewpoint which, in my opinion, is important in considering the way colonialism functioned and affected those oppressed by it.
It is important that this novel is one of the first written in English and, remarkably, written by a woman. Not only do we get a sense of how colonialism (and everything surrounding it) was viewed by contemporaries, but also the way it was viewed and engaged with by a member of a likewise oppressed group. Then, it is true that Behn’s narrative is largely fabricated (with exaggerations which are reflective of her Western mind-frame), but its departure from the view of the majority is considerable.
Though a little hard to read at times due to the structural and grammatical conventions of the time, Oronooko is a worthwhile read. Though most readers will find themselves in disagreement with a lot of the ideologies presented, it certainly presents an interesting viewpoint which, in my opinion, is important in considering the way colonialism functioned and affected those oppressed by it.
lilrusski's review against another edition
4.0
4,75/5*
delving into the psychosexual politics of roving and privilege in the 16th century, we turn to aphra behn for the deliberation of a viscerally personal account of loss and pride twisted by the divisions of class and race. recently, i have been able only to concentrate on books within my syllabus, as classes pick up at an unprecedented speed. i am grateful that i am able to consider a portion of these novel(las) a pleasurable read, rather than an overwhelming assessment.
at 70 pages, behn unfolds and annotates locke-ian understandings of human nature and structured society, and highlights the hypocrisy of imposing western politics on worlds created and functioning within their own socials folds. oroonoko begins as a prince revered for his intellect, ease of tongue, and physical beauty. there is an underscoring discussion of respect being dictated by familiarity. oroonoko continues to receive the same privileges he had as royalty when he is betrayed and enslaved by trade merchants, by virtue of his erudition and close physical semblance to desirable western characteristics.
the definition of what is “foreign” then begs extrapolation. that which is known unknown is placed under such pejorative terms as “other” but in fact comprehends both sides of extremity in matters of religion, martial politics, colonialism, and many more topics broached within the folds of behn’s stunningly expressive hand.
questions of self-sacrifice and dignity come to the fore in highlighting the hypocrisy within psychosexual politics of privilege. when was a man’s word no longer considered worthy of promise? what of the man who breaks this word in order to get ahead of the game? does not this moral conjecture equal judicial crime? such questions i found myself annotating with fervour in the margins, between the lines, on post-it notes, sitting on a stack of discarded crates in my backyard, counterintuitively slowing my reading process down substantially in order to fully appreciate the nuance of a 16th century writer eons ahead of her time — lauded, in fact, by virginia woolf, as the first female writer to make a living within the vocation.
— full review @grandepoque instagram!!
delving into the psychosexual politics of roving and privilege in the 16th century, we turn to aphra behn for the deliberation of a viscerally personal account of loss and pride twisted by the divisions of class and race. recently, i have been able only to concentrate on books within my syllabus, as classes pick up at an unprecedented speed. i am grateful that i am able to consider a portion of these novel(las) a pleasurable read, rather than an overwhelming assessment.
at 70 pages, behn unfolds and annotates locke-ian understandings of human nature and structured society, and highlights the hypocrisy of imposing western politics on worlds created and functioning within their own socials folds. oroonoko begins as a prince revered for his intellect, ease of tongue, and physical beauty. there is an underscoring discussion of respect being dictated by familiarity. oroonoko continues to receive the same privileges he had as royalty when he is betrayed and enslaved by trade merchants, by virtue of his erudition and close physical semblance to desirable western characteristics.
the definition of what is “foreign” then begs extrapolation. that which is known unknown is placed under such pejorative terms as “other” but in fact comprehends both sides of extremity in matters of religion, martial politics, colonialism, and many more topics broached within the folds of behn’s stunningly expressive hand.
questions of self-sacrifice and dignity come to the fore in highlighting the hypocrisy within psychosexual politics of privilege. when was a man’s word no longer considered worthy of promise? what of the man who breaks this word in order to get ahead of the game? does not this moral conjecture equal judicial crime? such questions i found myself annotating with fervour in the margins, between the lines, on post-it notes, sitting on a stack of discarded crates in my backyard, counterintuitively slowing my reading process down substantially in order to fully appreciate the nuance of a 16th century writer eons ahead of her time — lauded, in fact, by virginia woolf, as the first female writer to make a living within the vocation.
— full review @grandepoque instagram!!
vegandanimal's review against another edition
2.0
Almost tempted to give it an extra star, but even though it's well written (though tedious in places) and indeed rather progressive for the time, it is a product of its time - and I can't get past the racist language and depictions of non white characters.
Indeed, the central message seems to be not that slavery is wrong, but that white people need to be more careful about who they enslave as some "negroes" can be *almost* as good as Europeans. I found it a difficult read - despite its short length it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through.
Unless you are interested in early English novels, this might be one to skip.
Indeed, the central message seems to be not that slavery is wrong, but that white people need to be more careful about who they enslave as some "negroes" can be *almost* as good as Europeans. I found it a difficult read - despite its short length it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through.
Unless you are interested in early English novels, this might be one to skip.