What is the Significance of Oroonoko’s Slave Name?
Oroonoko is a notable literary work by Aphra Behn. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Oroonoko.
Answer
What is the significance of Oroonoko’s slave name?
In Aphra Behn’s (1640-1689) novel “Oroonoko” (1688), the African prince Oroonoko is given a slave name after being captured and sold into slavery. This name, “Caesar,” carries significant meaning. The renaming of Oroonoko symbolizes the loss of his identity. It highlights the power dynamics of the colonial system. The name also indicates to the great Roman emperor Julius Caesar, who was betrayed by his friends.
Loss of Identity: The name “Caesar” represents a forced transformation from a free prince to a slave. By giving Oroonoko a new name, the slave owners strip him of his original identity and heritage. This act of renaming is a common practice in slavery. It is used to assert control over the enslaved and sever their ties to their past. Oroonoko gives his opinion of the colonizers in a speech to his fellow slaves:
We are bought and sold … to be the sport of women, fools, and cowards.
Keeping slaves is a “sport,” or a low-stakes game, for the English colonizers in Suriname. It underscores the dehumanizing nature of slavery, where individuals are reduced to property and deprived of their personal histories.
The allusion to Julius Caesar: The slave name chosen for Oroonoko is “Caesar.” This is the name of the Roman emperor who was betrayed by his friends. He was stabbed on the steps of the Roman Senate. The allusion to Julius Caesar becomes clearer when Oroonoko is literally cut to death by those who promised to free him. Aphra Behn utilizes this name to implant the idea of Oroonoko as a royal and mighty leader. Oroonoko holds on to the dignity he had in his former life as an African prince. As the narrator says,
The royal youth appeared in spite of the slave.
In termination, we can say that the significance of Oroonoko’s slave name, “Caesar,” lies in its representation of his loss of identity and being betrayed. Renaming him also serves to dehumanize and control him, severing his connection to his past.