“Oroonoko” – Aphra Behn
This story (pages 198 – 224) were somewhat difficult to
read, since it’s different than other things I’ve read. Long, run on sentences
with lots of semicolons. What I did like was the perspective it was in. I also
thought the part of Imoinda having to bathe with the King; she seemingly didn’t
want to, since she’s married to the Prince. The Prince did seem mad about this,
but also seemed to keep his cool, to a certain degree. I thought these two
paragraphs were interesting and intriguing:
“He was therefore no sooner got to his Apartment, but he
sent the Royal Veil to Imoinda; that is, the Ceremony of Invitation: he sends
the Lady, he has a Mind to honour with his Bed, a Veil, with which she is cover’d,
and secur’d for the King’s Use; and ‘tis Death to disobey; besides, held a most
impious Disobedience.
‘Tis not to be imagin’d the Surprize and Grief that seiz’d
this lovely Maid at this News and Sight. However, as Delays in these Cases are
dangerous, and Pleading worse than Treason; trembling, and almost fainting, she
was oblig’d to suffer her self to be cover’d, and led away.” (P. 207)
I definitely think this passage shows the Kings way of “sending”
for his women, whether it’s his wife or mistress, and tries to entice them with
a nice veil “for the King’s Use.” She seems hesitant and uncomfortable going to
him. She probably knows that she’s not the only one going to his bed; not sure
if she only wants to be with a man who wants to be with only one woman.
I don’t think Oroonoko wanted Imoinda to sleep or be with
anyone else, either; it seemed to make him angry, jealous, and depressed: “The
Captain pondering and consulting what to do, it was concluded that nothing but
Oroonoko’s Liberty wou’d encourage any of the rest to eat, except the
French-man, whom the Captain cou’d not pretend to keep Prisoner, but only told
him he was secured because he moght act something in favour of the Prince, but
that he shou’d be freed as soon as they came to Land. So that they concluded it
wholly necessary to free the Prince from his Irons, that he might show himself
to the rest; that they might have an Eye upon him, and that they cou’d not fear
a single Man.” (P. 221)
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