Dq Wk6 Lit210
1. Consider Trefry, as a character. Is he presented sympathetically? Are we meant to like him at all?
Trefry as a character in this story seems like a man who was ahead of his time. Here is a "man of great wit and fine learning," a mathematician, linguist, manager and a slave master displaying such emotions toward slaves that were unprecedented at that time (Behn, 1688). A man of great stature, poise and dignity was intrigued and fascinated by the presence Oroonoko (a man who was above the rank of common slaves). Trefry was so captivated with the Prince Oroonoko that he loved him like a brother and treated him with great respect from that moment on. Becoming friends so to speak with Oroonoko, Oroonoko recounts the saga of his existance and how he was captured to Trefry. Trefry showing such concern and passion feels like Oroonoko has been wronged and ledges to return him home, "And he promised him on his word and honor he would find a means to re-conduct him to his own country again; assuring him, he had a perfect abhorrence of so dishonorable an action" (Behn, 1688).
Oroonoko had little trust in men since his capture but felt that Trefry was sincere and honest. Trefry is not presented as sympathetic but as a man with morales and a sense of honor. The character of Trefry is displayed when he and Oroonoko are talking about a beautiful female slave (Clemene/Imoinda) who's beauty captures the heart of slave mean and English whites. Oroonoko asks why don't you just have your way with her being the slave master; Trefry responds, "When I have, against her will, entertained her with love so long as to be transported with my passion even above decency, I have been ready to make use of those advantages of strength and force nature has given me: but oh! she disarms me with that modesty and weeping, so tender and so moving that I retire, and thank my stars she overcame me" (Behn, 1688). I believe that any other slave master at that time would have easily
Trefry as a character in this story seems like a man who was ahead of his time. Here is a "man of great wit and fine learning," a mathematician, linguist, manager and a slave master displaying such emotions toward slaves that were unprecedented at that time (Behn, 1688). A man of great stature, poise and dignity was intrigued and fascinated by the presence Oroonoko (a man who was above the rank of common slaves). Trefry was so captivated with the Prince Oroonoko that he loved him like a brother and treated him with great respect from that moment on. Becoming friends so to speak with Oroonoko, Oroonoko recounts the saga of his existance and how he was captured to Trefry. Trefry showing such concern and passion feels like Oroonoko has been wronged and ledges to return him home, "And he promised him on his word and honor he would find a means to re-conduct him to his own country again; assuring him, he had a perfect abhorrence of so dishonorable an action" (Behn, 1688).
Oroonoko had little trust in men since his capture but felt that Trefry was sincere and honest. Trefry is not presented as sympathetic but as a man with morales and a sense of honor. The character of Trefry is displayed when he and Oroonoko are talking about a beautiful female slave (Clemene/Imoinda) who's beauty captures the heart of slave mean and English whites. Oroonoko asks why don't you just have your way with her being the slave master; Trefry responds, "When I have, against her will, entertained her with love so long as to be transported with my passion even above decency, I have been ready to make use of those advantages of strength and force nature has given me: but oh! she disarms me with that modesty and weeping, so tender and so moving that I retire, and thank my stars she overcame me" (Behn, 1688). I believe that any other slave master at that time would have easily