Semester reflection

When reflecting on the semester, I realized that a prominent theme in our studies dealt with the downtrodden, rejected members of society. I began to wonder if this was coincidence that the most important literary pieces from the time period of the enlightenment came from many who were outcasts in one sense or the other. In some cases, the author represented the misfortunate character: Mary Wollstonecraft battled men's view of superiority over women, and Equiano personally was enslaved for most of his life. In other cases, however, the author simply took fascination with characters neglected by society, as in the case of Voltaire's Candide. Though the deists writing in this period were not necessarily neglected, they still represent a sense of the "other" from the norm during this period; Alexander Pope, Voltaire, Thomas Jefferson and the other drafters of the Declaration of Independence all fit into this category.
Why is it that revolutionary and remembered pieces from an era come from those with such a different perspective than the rest of society? Could this trend signify the emphasis on equal rights and freedom of religion that now dominates our lawmaking in the 21st Century? I believe so, not only in the sense that these texts influenced their own time period, but in that they can still be referenced today, and can still inspire ideas in those seeking change within modern society.

The Journey of Equianos and Candide

Since we talked yesterday in class about possible essay questions for the upcoming exam, I thought it might be useful to expand on my specific essay topic: What comparisons can be made between the personal journeys of Candide and Equianos?

First of all, both Equianos and Candide were removed from their comfortable homes in a drastic manner. Candide gets kicked out for going too far with Cunegonde, while Equianos is kidnapped from his home village. They share the same feeling of uncertainty about their future, and the same sense of being lost. Both Equianos and Candide embark on epic adventures all over the world, and although they have different aims, they both search for happiness. Candide's happiness is represented in his reunion with Cunegonde, while Equianos works toward his freedom. Although both men eventually find what they are looking for, it is a long, strange trip for both, and the end never quite turns out the way it is supposed to. Candide finds Cunegonde and retires to a life of farmwork; however, Cunegonde is old and ugly, and his work is physically demanding. Similarly, Equianos buys his freedom and begins a life of public speaking, with his wife in England. But, Equiano's ultimate goal of the abolition of slavery is never accomplished. Although both men find what they are looking for in a sense, the journey that takes them there distorts their perfect ending.

Slave narrative

While reading the slave narrative by Olaudah Equiano, and in light of the packet we received in class on Thursday, I can't help but keep wondering WHY the Africans, of all people, took the brunt of this imposed slavery system. I know we mentioned the colonies of the English there, but could there be another reason?
I found this article basically outlining minority work in the US. After browsing through it, I realized that Africans were NOT the only ones forced into slave labor, although often they are the only ones considered when the topic of 'slavery' is brought up. However, can the flow of underpaid Asian immigrants into the US during the gold rush, or even the underpaid Hispanic population in the United States currently, really be considered fair working exchange? In a way, we haven't evolved completely away from the basic principles of slavery: unfair compensation for work, and poor working environments.