Oroonoko Explored

          Welcome to the digital resource that explores the historical and cultural elements of Oroonoko. In this space there are more than a dozen entries which help to flesh out the world that the fictional African prince Oroonoko would have lived in through examining relevant historical, cultural, and economic practices of the time. This website also evaluates the accuracy, and lack thereof, of Aphra Behn’s inclusion of historical truths in her work Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave.

 

          Though the story is fictional, it provides great details on varying subjects such as the transatlantic trade system, the internal politics of the English colony of Surinam, and West African culture. Therefore, I invite you to examine with a careful eye to see what resources and materials Behn drew on in order to create her memorable work. This includes real world cultures as well as different artistic genres and styles that gave her inspiration.

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          Even though there are many entries to browse, they are all categorized under the major topics of Artistic Influences, Forms of Slavery, African Culture, and Surinam.