Compare and Contrast two Authors from Some Readings: Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley

Name
Course
Instructor
Date
Compare and contrast two authors from some readings
Introduction
Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatley are creative writers who bring out the best in a generation. As former slaves, they are essential to the issues surrounding slavery, its effects and impact on the modern global order. Their works share similar themes within them. In the paper we shall examine Olaudah Equiano's Autobiography and some poems by Phillis Wheatley. These poems include: On Being Brought from African to America," "To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth," "To the University of Cambridge, in New England," "To S.M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works," and finally "To His Excellency General Washington." The paper shall evaluate some themes that are common in the works of both writers. These include slavery, faith, betrayal, etc. All these themes can be found within liberty (or freedom) and separation as thematic styles. The paper will evaluate the themes in both works and determine where it manifests.
Separation as a theme is seen in Equiano’s life from the beginning of his autobiographical narration. He is born in Nigeria in 1745 to the Igbo tribe. As a child, separation can be noted in that he is born a free man in his home (Equiano: docsouth.unc.). His father is a respected man in his community. His father has marks on his forehead that indicate his status. Equiano hopes to receive the same marks when he comes of age according to the Igbo culture. The first instance where his liberty is taken away can be seen when he is kidnapped together with his sister. The two are taken away from their home, and their liberty is an unacknowledged. In kidnapping the two children, the kidnappers take away their physical liberty (Equiano: docsouth.unc.). The children can no longer do as they wish and they are subordinate to the kidnappers. The kidnappers separate the children from their families, their natural inheritance, and the community. The kidnappers further take away the future of the children as part of the community. The action destroys the natural right of the community to propagate itself through its children (Equiano: docsouth.unc.).
The children are sold to slave traders, and the two siblings are separated presenting the theme of separation again. The two will meet again once but will be separated and will not meet again. Equiano is sent to the British Colony of Virginia where he is bought up by Michael Pascal. His new owner changes his name to Gustavus Vassa. The name change indicates his lack of liberty and a separation between his personal identities. It is essential to note that Equiano had been previously renamed twice as Jacob and Michael. In changing his name, the new owner indicates to Equiano that his liberty is not his. Equiano attempts to resist the new name and his separation from the previous name of Jacob, for his effort Equiano is punished heavily (Equiano: docsouth.unc.).
Equiano, later on, attempts to wash his face of his pigmentation, in the belief that his color is the reason for his misfortune. He attempts to separate himself from his identity as an African and black man to gain his liberty as a human being (Equiano: docsouth.unc.). When the Seven-year war breaks ...