The Life of Olaudah Equiano: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Since 1777, Equiano notes, his life has been more regular: he asks his reader to have patience as he draws to a conclusion. He was rather disgusted with his unfair treatment while sailing, so vowed not to return to it for a time. In London he saw one remarkable occurrence: a light-skinned black woman had married a white man, and their biracial sons had fine light hair.

In 1777 Equiano was employed as a servant by Governor Macnamara. Equiano often asked other servants to join in prayer, though he was mocked for it. Then Macnamara told him he might have some success as a missionary to Africa. At first Equiano was wary, given his treatment during his last voyage to Jamaica. But Macnamara said he’d apply to the Bishop of London to get Equiano ordained, to which Equiano agreed. Equiano reproduces the letter of application written from “Gustavus Vassa” to the Bishop of London, accompanied by two letters of reference. But the Bishop declined to ordain him.

In 1783 Equiano visited Wales and saw a coal-pit, but while he was there the coals fell in and he nearly lost his life. The next spring he decided to go to sea again, and he set sail for New York. The ship returned to London in 1785 and then shipped off again for Philadelphia; during this voyage the crew slammed into another ship, but managed to repair the ship in time to make it safely to America. Equiano was glad to see the Quakers, who treated the Africans so much better than other white men. He attended a Quaker wedding and marveled at its powerful simplicity.

After another trip to and from London and Philadelphia, Equiano learned that the British government had decided to send some Africans back to their native land, which he found an excellent plan. Equiano was chosen to be in charge, and while he first objected, saying that he would have to oppose any slave dealers he found on the way, he finally agreed to take the job. During his preparation for the voyage, he was struck by the corruption: already paid-for supplies disappeared, for instance, and many of the men lacked basic necessities or bedding. He informed the Commissioners of the Navy of these affairs, but to no avail. They undertook the voyage but arrived at Sierra Leone just at the start of the rains, meaning that they couldn’t establish themselves in farming. This expedition, he concludes, was theoretically sound, but was mismanaged.

Since then, Equiano states, he’s attempted to help the cause of his countrymen. He hopes that the British government will restore liberty and justice to the slaves, and he asks that God give the British senators the light and liberty necessary to make such a decision. He argues that, without the inhuman slave trade, a system of commerce could be adopted in Africa so as to increase demand for British goods and promote assimilation to British manners and customs. Abolishing slavery would be thus a universal good.

Equiano argues that torture, murder, and other barbarities are performed against the slaves with impunity. It’s in the interest of all to abolish slavery, except those engaged in manufacturing chains, handcuffs, muzzles, and other instruments of torture. But if each African were to spend five pounds a head per year, the potential for wealth would be enormous.

In May 1791 Equiano sailed to Dublin and traveled around Ireland. After returning to London, he learned that editions of his Narrative had been published in Holland, Germany, and New York. In April of that year, he married a woman named Susannah Cullen in Cambridgeshire. He concludes that while he isn’t so vain as to think there’s merit in his narrative, he hopes people will consider that it was written by someone unwilling to adorn truth with imaginative coloring. If any incident seems uninteresting, his excuse is that it made an impression on his own mind, and affected his conduct. He has learned to look for the hand of God in all affairs, even the most trifling.