By the time Olaudah Equiano died in 1797, he had amassed a considerable fortune, visited four continents, and written a detailed account of his enslavement in the British colonies (Carey). It was this last act that reserved him a place in history as one of the first influential black abolitionist authors. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, was an adventure tale, reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe, and coupled with Equiano's gift for compelling narrative, gave critics "no doubt that this was a book of the moment" (Carey). But more importantly, the narrative served as a “highly political act,” a call for the abolition of slavery (Carey). Equiano used his autobiography to convey this appeal in at least four distinct ways: he attempted to dispel the concept of black inferiority, he incorporated religion into his text to influence his devout readers, he presented a pragmatic economic argument for banning trafficking of slaves and fervently used imagery and narrative to connect with his audience on an emotional level. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Using his own character as evidence, Equiano sought to dispel the myth that the African race was inferior because of their skin color. Contemporary audiences should remember to examine the novel in its context; in the antebellum South and for its predominantly Anglo-Saxon readers, one of the prevailing justifications for slavery was the supposed subhuman and animalistic status of blacks. As one scholar stated, “The charge that free blacks should be nothing more than serfs or thieves shocked Equiano and forced him to take a public role in the slavery debate” (Equiano 16). To this end, Equiano cited several studies that demonstrated that "the complexion of the same people varies according to climate" and hoped that this fact would "remove the prejudice that some conceive against the indigenous people of Africa because of their color" (56). . He reiterates this several times in the novel, arguing that “understanding is not limited to features or color” (56). He also pointed out that the slaves were not unintelligent, they simply “ignorant of [European] language, religion, manners and customs” and were held ignorant because they did not “take the trouble to teach them these” (56). As for the alleged moral inferiority of blacks, he argued that it was caused by the error of slavery, demanding “slavery itself does not depress the mind and extinguish…every noble feeling” (56). And finally, in presenting himself as a benevolent, well-spoken gentleman and a skilled businessman, he challenged the theory that free blacks behaved uncivilized. Equiano's arguments may seem painfully obvious to today's readers, but during his time they would have been controversial. Were they effective? Although Equiano directly addresses color prejudice only once in his narrative, the entire novel portrays him as a man who is, in every way, equal to his white counterparts in terms of intellect and etiquette. If people had any doubt that a black man could be accomplished and successful, Equiano's narrative could likely challenge their notions. Religion had a strong place in Equiano's fiction and was an important player in his anti-slavery argument. Equiano must have understood that a deeply held religious faith was prevalent in the nineteenth century and very influential on the politics of the time. Many historians believe that the extent of Equiano's relationship with faith was ambiguous; some say he exaggerated therole of Christianity in his life in an attempt to attract religious readers or to use religion as social criticism (Elrod). Regardless of how influential the faith was in Equiano's life, he certainly used it to argue that the practice of slavery not only violated basic human rights but also “divine” laws. First of all, to make himself recognizable to his devout Christian readers, he portrayed himself as a moral, pious and introspective man, so much so that he was baptised: «I soon got used to seeking God's hand in the smallest event, and to draw from it a lesson in morality and of religion" (214). He then argued that the cruel and inhumane treatment of slaves was "unchristian" and insisted that the presence of blacks in the world was a natural result of God's hand, saying that "God graven them in ebony" (56). Citing numerous passages from the Bible, he claims that abolitionists and slave sympathizers will be rewarded for their Christian views, saying that "the blessings of the Lord [shall be] upon the heads of all who have commiserated with the cause of the oppressed negroes" (212). Equiano was certainly courageous in using religion as a justification for ending slavery, especially considering that his opponents were attempting to do the opposite. Traditionalists sometimes insist that “some people are slaves as part of the natural order of the universe, or as part of God's plan.” (South) These people also noted that “in the Bible Abraham had slaves” (South). Suggesting that slavery was anti-Christian would undoubtedly trigger rebuttal from some, and due to the subjectivity of the debate, it would be difficult to prove both claims. Yet Equiano appeals to religious sentiments in a way that would have made his argument convincing to many of his devout and sympathetic readers, especially if they believed him to be the pious man portrayed in his novels. In today's world, using religion to support an argument is inadvisable, but Equainus was a man of his time; his religious arguments would have warranted serious contemplation in his day. One of Equino's most obvious calls for the outlawing of slavery, cleverly placed at the end of his tale so as to stick in the reader's mind, was in his analysis of its economic influence on Britain; he argued that slavery was economically illogical and that ending the institution would create vast new consumer markets that would prove financially profitable. Calling on British political leaders to heed his demands, he proposed that stopping the slave trade would allow the African population to regenerate itself, which in turn would allow “the establishment of a system of trade in Africa [causing] demand for products manufacturing. [to] increase rapidly as the native inhabitants... adopt fashions, customs, customs, etc. British” (Equiano 212). Simply put, Equiano believed that the inhabitants of Africa (and freed slaves) would create a huge consumer base from which British industries would benefit. He also believed in Africa's potential to become an important trading partner for Britain, reminding readers that "the continent [is] nearly twice the size of Europe, [and is] rich in plant and mineral products" (212) . Perhaps Equiano's arguments against the slave trade were logical, but was it based on real evidence? Probably not, considering that slavery was still widespread and any predictions about the economic effects of its future abolition would be pure speculation. But what really matters is whether or not Equino's economic argument carried enough weight during his time to convince his readers. Thecounterarguments of the period included the prediction that the abolition of slavery would “have a profound and deadly economic impact on [areas with agriculture-based economies] where dependence on slave labor was the foundation of their economy” (Southern). Equiano's argument, while introducing an optimistic possibility, does not discredit or refute such opposing arguments, and yet he calls it “a theory founded on facts, and therefore infallible” (Equiano 213). While his argument is articulate and common sense, it is certainly not “foolproof” because it ignores some realities (for example, that maintaining slaves is relatively cheap) and lacks the comprehensive analysis that would make it truly effective. Therefore, it is the weakest of his arguments against slavery. The final and most obvious argument Equiano makes against slavery is that it is a cruel and unjust practice, and he does so by describing its injustices in a way that plays on readers' emotional feelings. Especially to his potential allies in the North, he conveys a more accurate and frightening image of slavery than that spread by biased pro-slavery authors. It is imperative to consider that Equiano's fiction was one of the first of its kind; few slaves were literate enough to document their experiences, let alone publish them to appeal to a wide audience (Halsall). So, while the evils of slavery are well accepted at one time, during Equiano's era, it is not far-fetched to assume that many Northern whites were provided with imperfect and distorted information about the practice. Equino's experience certainly produced new emotions of anger and disgust towards slavery and eliminated some of the ignorance of its cruelties. Equiano described horror stories of slaves killed to collect insurance money, whipped beyond recognition, and overworked until their life expectancy was just seven years. He documented various torture instruments used on slaves, “neck yolks, collars, chains, handcuffs, leg bolts, drags, thumbscrews, iron muzzles, and coffins; cats, [and] scourges” and described the “human butchers, who cut and mangled the slaves in a scandalous manner on the most trivial occasions, and treated them in all respects like brutes” (Equiano 105, 213). He explained his mistreatment due to racism, detailing an incident in which a ship captain punished him without a warrant: “He forced some of his men to tie a rope around each of my ankles… and lifted me up without letting my feet touch anything." . So I hung, without any crime being committed” (194). He also described his pain at being forced to separate from his beloved sister, saying: “My sister and I were then separated… while I was left in a state of indescribable distraction. I cried and grieved continuously; and for several days I ate nothing” (58). Equiano's personal experiences are rich enough to draw readers in and informative enough to leave audiences with a distinct and negative image of slavery. Her character is lovable and keeps readers invested in her fate, and her accounts of the experiences of others also help demonstrate the universally negative effects of slavery. Equiano presents the horrors and slavery with vividness and clarity and arouses the sympathy of readers. Emotional appeal is clearly the most effective tool Equiano employs in his anti-slavery argument; he often uses it to his advantage and with great skill, but never reaches the point of appearing histrionic. Equiano could have faded into obscurity, but he used his exceptional intellect and his affinity for>.