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What are some of the emotions Equiano experiences when he is first aboard the slave ship?
He is terrified of the Europeans because they look like bad spirits. He was, "overpowered with horror and anguish."
Describe the conditions of the ship's hold-where the slaves are kept.
The hold is packed full of sick people vomiting. People are crying and dying. It is very hot and smells horrific and there is little food
Why is Equiano allowed to stay mostly on the deck?
He is allowed on deck to help keep him healthy, and he would not be considered a risk since he is so young.
How does the crew's disposal of their leftover fish show their cruelty?
They do not want the slaves to be healthy. The crew wants to keep them weak, so they will not overpower them. The crew throws away the extra fish.
They do not want the slaves to be healthy. The crew wants to keep them weak, so they will not overpower them. The crew throws away the extra fish rather than give some to the slaves.
He wants to sway public opinion about slavery.
What physical hardships do the captives suffer during their passage across Atlantic Ocean?
The captives suffered cramped conditions, heat exhaustion, loathsome smells, sickness, and eventually death.
What do some captives do to escape the misery of the Atlantic crossing?
They commit suicide and jump into the sea.
Why does Equiano blame the illness aboard ship on the 'improvident avarice' of the slave traders?
By forcing many slaves into the small space under deck, the slave traders lost a number of them to illness and suicide.
How does Equiano's youth affect his treatment during the voyage?
He was allowed on deck and was not put in fetters (chains).
What happens to the captives when the ship reaches Barbados?
They were sold.
