This week I have chosen to take on the second forum topic option; what do we know about slavery had how does it compare to slavery in “Oroonoko”? Even though there are various ways the two are similar, I will only focus on a couple: slave relationships and punishment for not obeying the rules.

When people are around each other for a given period of time, relationship tend to form. However, slaves were treated as property no matter how good the relationship between them and their owner may have been. This is evident in “Oroonoko” with the relationship he begins to develop with Trefry. During their voyage up the river, Trefry know something was different about Oroonoko. But Oroonoko was hesitant to disclose his identity. However, “So that before they had finished their voyage up the river, …show more content…
Caesar and his accomplice were “bound them to two several stakes, and whipped them in a most deplorable and inhuman manner, rending the very flesh from their bones, especially Caesar…” (Behn, 2000). The use of a whip was the most common instrument used against enslaved people during the times (Moore, 2016). After the whipping was done to the Governor’s satisfaction, the deed was worsened by pouring Indian pepper on the wounds. After the whippings, Caesar comes up with a revenge plan. The downside…he wants to kill his wife so no man can harm her because of what he has planned to do. Caesar convinces Trefry to let him and his wife go for a walk. During the time they are gone, Caesar kills his wife and buries her. A couple day later Caesar is captured and tortured again. Only this time is worse. Blacks who resisted in anyway were subjected to torture by having hands, arms and legs cut off, or other body parts disfigured (Moore, 2016). Caesar suffered this fate by several body parts cut off and thrown in the fire. After losing both arms, he fell to the ground and was