I personaggi principali di Oronooko, Appunti di Letteratura Inglese

Scarica I personaggi principali di Oronooko e più Appunti in PDF di Letteratura Inglese solo su Docsity! PERSONAGGI PRINCIPALI DE “OROONOKO” PRINCE OROONOKO L'ultimo discendente del re di Coramantien, Oroonoko fu sollevato lontano dalla corte per essere un abile guerriero dal padre di Imoinda. Il narratore sottolinea che è straordinariamente bello, in- telligente e onorevole, nonostante sia nero. Oroonoko ha forti no- zioni di dovere e segue perfettamente i codici della sua società, tranne quando il suo amore per Imoinda lo costringe a proteggere e onorare il loro matrimonio prendendo la sua vita per proteggere lei e il loro bambino non ancora nato. Egli assume erroneamente che la sua nozione di onore significhi la stessa cosa per i cristiani bianchi con cui viene in contatto - un errore che diverse volte fini- sce per privarlo della sua libertà. Trefry batte Oroonoko come "Ce- sare" e da quel momento in poi viene chiamato tale. Oroonoko/ Caesar è anche incredibilmente coraggioso, e compie molte im- prese abili e audaci durante la caccia in Suriname. CITAZIONI DEL PRINCIPE OROONOKO NEL TESTO 1. OROONOKO IN CONRAMANTIEN QUOTES a. “I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this Royal Slave, to en- tertain my reader with adventures of a feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poet's pleasure; nor in relating the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents but such as arrived in earnest to him” (pag.1-2) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: libertà e schiavitù b. “He was adorned with a native beauty, so transcending all those of his gloomy race that he struck an awe and reverence even into tho- se that knew not his quality; as he did into me, who beheld him with surprise and wonder, when afterwards he arrived in our world” (pag. 5) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: razzismo c. “The whole proportion and air of his face was so nobly and exactly formed that, bating his color, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable, and handsome” (pag.6) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: razzismo d. “Imoinda is as irrecoverably lost to me as if she were snatched by the cold arms of death… Oh! she is never to be retrieved… unless I would either ignobly set an ill precedent to my successors, or aban- don my country, and fly with her to some unknown world who never heard our story” RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker), Imoinda (aka Clemene), King of Coramantien, Aboan RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza e. “And I have observed, 'tis a very great error in those who laugh when one says, "A negro can change color": for I have seen 'em as frequently blush, and look pale, and that as visibly as ever I saw in the most beautiful white. And 'tis certain that both these changes were evident, this day, in both these lovers” (pag.12) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: razzismo f. “To describe her truly, one need say only, she was female to the no- ble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars; as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have seen a hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all in vain, and unsuccessful” (pag.7) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore 2. KIDNAPPED QUOTES a. “Some have commended this act, as brave in the captain; but I will spare my sense of it, and leave it to my reader to judge as he plea- ses” (pag.23) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, the Captain RELATED THEME: razzismo; tradimento; libertà e schiavitù; onore that delicate body, pregnant as it was with the fruits of tenderest love” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore b. “He tore, he raved, he roared like some monster of the wood, calling on the loved name of Imoinda. A thousand times he turned the fatal knife that did the deed toward his own heart, with a resolution to go immediately after her; but dire revenge, which was now a thousand times more fierce in his soul than before, prevents him” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza c. “Look ye, ye faithless crew,” said he, “'tis not life I seek, nor am I afraid of dying” (and at that word, cut a piece of flesh from his own throat, and threw it at 'em), “yet still I would live if I could, till I had perfected my revenge. But oh! it cannot be; I feel life gliding from my eyes and heart; and if I make not haste, I shall fall a victim to the shameful whip” (pag.51) RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker) RELATED THEME: tradimento; libertà e schiavitù; onore d. “My friends, am I to die, or to be whipped?” And they cried, “Whip- ped!”...And then he replied, smiling, “A blessing on thee”; and assu- red them they need not tie him, for he would stand fixed like a rock, and endure death so as should encourage them to die; “But, if you whip me,” said he, “be sure you tie me fast” (pag.52) RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker) RELATED THEME: onore e. “I hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive all the ages, with that of the brave, the beautiful, and the constant Imoinda” (pag.52) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: onore IMOINDA (AKA CLEMENE) Imoinda è descritta come una “Venere nera”, che corrisponde a Oroo- noko come “Marte nero”. Per il narratore, Imoinda integra perfettamen- te Oroonoko nella bellezza e nella virtù. La sua bellezza spesso porta le sue attenzioni indesiderate dagli uomini, tuttavia, anche nel Nuovo Mondo. Questo è un problema particolarmente grande in Coramantien, dove Imoinda cattura l'attenzione del re. La prende come sua concubi- na, anche se sa che ha promesso il suo amore a Oroonoko e lo ha spo- sato. Imoinda rimane fedele a suo marito, tuttavia, ma questo provoca la sua rovina quando il re la vende in schiavitù. Non molto tempo dopo essersi riunito con Oroonoko in Suriname, Imoinda rimane incinta. Combatte quindi con Oroonoko per ottenere la libertà e una vita miglio- re per il loro bambino non ancora nato. È a portata di mano con arco e frecce e ferisce il governatore Byam durante una rivolta degli schiavi. Imoinda è anche incredibilmente ubbidiente nei confronti di Oroonoko, e accetta la propria morte e l'omicidio del suo bambino non ancora nato tra le sue mani dall'abbondanza del suo amore per lui. CITAZIONI DEL PRINCIPE OROONOKO NEL TESTO 1. OROONOKO IN CORAMANTIEN QUOTES a. “Imoinda is as irrecoverably lost to me as if she were snatched by the cold arms of death… Oh! she is never to be retrieved… unless I would either ignobly set an ill precedent to my successors, or aban- don my country, and fly with her to some unknown world who never heard our story” (pag.10) RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker), Imoinda (aka Clemene), King of Coramantien, Aboan RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza b. “And I have observed, 'tis a very great error in those who laugh when one says, "A negro can change color": for I have seen 'em as frequently blush, and look pale, and that as visibly as ever I saw in the most beautiful white. And 'tis certain that both these changes were evident, this day, in both these lovers” (pag.12) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: razzismo c. “To describe her truly, one need say only, she was female to the no- ble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars; as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have seen a hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all in vain, and unsuccessful” (pag.7) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore 2. SLAVERY IN SURINAM QUOTES a. “I hasted presently to the place where these lovers were, and was infinitely glad to find this beautiful young slave (who had already gained all our esteems, for her modesty and her extraordinary pret- tiness) to be the same I had heard Caesar speak so much of…we paid her a treble respect; and though…we took her to be of quality before, yet when we knew Clemene was Imoinda, we could not enough admire her” (pag.31) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore 3. OROONOKO’S REVENGE QUOTES a. “All that love could say in such cases being ended, and all the in- termitting irresolutions being adjusted, the lovely, young, and ado- red victim lays herself down before the sacrificer; while he, with a hand resolved, and a heart breaking within, gave the fatal stroke, fir- st cutting her throat, and then severing her yet smiling face from that delicate body, pregnant as it was with the fruits of tenderest love” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore b. ”He tore, he raved, he roared like some monster of the wood, calling on the loved name of Imoinda. A thousand times he turned the fatal knife that did the deed toward his own heart, with a resolution to go immediately after her; but dire revenge, which was now a thousand times more fierce in his soul than before, prevents him” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza c. ”I hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive all the ages, with that of the brave, the beautiful, and the constant Imoinda” (pag.52) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: onore RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, The Captain RELATED THEME: tradimento; onore 3. SLAVERY IN SURINAM QUOTES a. “He saw an honesty in his eyes, and he found him wise and witty enough to understand honor: for it was one of his maxims, A man of wit could not be a knave or villain” (pag.27) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Trefry RELATED THEME: libertà e schiavitù; onore b. “He begged Trefry to give him something more befitting a slave, which he did, and took off his robes: nevertheless he shone through all, and his osenbrigs…could not conceal the graces of his looks and mien; and he had no less admirers …the royal youth appeared in spite of the slave, and people could not help treating him after a different manner, without designing it” (pag.27) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Trefry RELATED THEME: schiavitù; tradimento; onore c. “But as it was more for form than any design to put him to his task, he endured no more of the slave but the name, and remained some days in the house, receiving all visits that were made him, without stirring towards that part of the plantation where the negroes were” (pag.28) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: libertà e schiavitù d. “I hasted presently to the place where these lovers were, and was infinitely glad to find this beautiful young slave (who had already gained all our esteems, for her modesty and her extraordinary pret- tiness) to be the same I had heard Caesar speak so much of…we paid her a treble respect; and though…we took her to be of quality before, yet when we knew Clemene was Imoinda, we could not enough admire her” (pag.31) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore e. “Much more to this effect he spoke, with an air impatient enough to make me know he would not be long in bondage; and though he suffered only the name of a slave, and had nothing of the toil and labor of one, yet that was sufficient to render him uneasy; and he had been too long idle, who used to be always in action, and in arms” (pag.32) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: libertà e schiavitù; onore f. “And it's by a passive valor they show and prove their activity; a sort of courage too brutal to be applauded by our black hero; never- theless, he expressed his esteem of ‘em” (pag.40) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko RELATED THEME: razzismo 4. OROONOKO’S REVENGE QUOTES a. “All that love could say in such cases being ended, and all the in- termitting irresolutions being adjusted, the lovely, young, and ado- red victim lays herself down before the sacrificer; while he, with a hand resolved, and a heart breaking within, gave the fatal stroke, fir- st cutting her throat, and then severing her yet smiling face from that delicate body, pregnant as it was with the fruits of tenderest love” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza; onore b. “He tore, he raved, he roared like some monster of the wood, calling on the loved name of Imoinda. A thousand times he turned the fatal knife that did the deed toward his own heart, with a resolution to go immediately after her; but dire revenge, which was now a thousand times more fierce in his soul than before, prevents him” (pag.49) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza c. “I hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive all the ages, with that of the brave, the beautiful, and the constant Imoinda” (pag.52) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Imoinda (aka Clemene) RELATED THEME: onore KING OF CORAMANTIEN Più di 100 anni, il re è il nonno di Oroonoko. Ha molte mogli, sia vecchie che giovani. Poiché la cultura della sua società è altamente patriarcale, la parola del re è legge, e la sua lussuria non conosce limiti. Anche se sa che Imoinda è sposata con Oroonoko, il re la prende come sua con- cubina, al sicuro sapendo che sarebbe un tabù per Oroonoko portarla mai indietro, anche se il re stesso morisse. Il re è generalmente ritratto come malvagio e depravato e privo del senso dell'onore di Oroonoko. Spesso si impone su Imoinda, e sebbene Imoinda ritorni a Oroonoko una vergine, la relazione del re con lei è intesa come natura sessuale: è disposto ma incapace di esibirsi. Il re mente anche a Oroonoko, dicen- dogli che aveva messo a morte Imoinda, quando in realtà la vendette in schiavitù - una frase molto più umiliante. CITAZIONI DEL RE NEL TESTO 1. OROONOKO IN CORAMANTIEN QUOTES a. “Imoinda is as irrecoverably lost to me as if she were snatched by the cold arms of death… Oh! she is never to be retrieved… unless I would either ignobly set an ill precedent to my successors, or aban- don my country, and fly with her to some unknown world who never heard our story” (pag.10) RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker), Imoinda (aka Clemene), King of Coramantien, Aboan RELATED THEME: amore ed obbedienza b. “He sent a messenger to the camp, with orders to treat with him about the matter, to gain his pardon, and to endeavor to mitigate his grief; but that by no means he should tell him she was sold, but se- cretly put to death: for he knew he should never obtain his pardon for the other” (pag.19) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), King of Co- ramantien RELATED THEME: tradimento; amore ed obbedienza; libertà e schiavitù 
 TREFRY Trefry è un giovane gentiluomo della Cornovaglia in Suriname. È abile in matematica e linguistica e gestisce gli affari del Governatore Byam. Parla anche francese e spagnolo. Trefry compra Oroonoko dal Capitano e, dopo aver conosciuto la storia di Oroonoko, prova grande simpatia per la sua situazione. Dà a Oroonoko il nome di Cesare e promette di aiutarlo a tornare in patria. Diventano grandi amici, e Trefry cerca sem- pre di cercare Oroonoko, sebbene Oroonoko spesso si senta frustrato dalla mancanza di progressi verso il raggiungimento della sua libertà. Trefry introduce Oroonoko in un bellissimo schiavo che conosce come Clemene, ma che Oroonoko comprende in realtà è Imoinda. Dopo che Oroonoko è stato ucciso, Trefry inizia a registrare la sua biografia, ma muore prima che possa terminarlo. CITAZIONI DI TREFRY NEL TESTO 1. SLAVERY IN SURINAM QUOTES a. “He saw an honesty in his eyes, and he found him wise and witty enough to understand honor: for it was one of his maxims, A man of wit could not be a knave or villain” (pag.27) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Trefry RELATED THEME: libertà e schiavitù; onore b. ”He begged Trefry to give him something more befitting a slave, which he did, and took off his robes: nevertheless he shone through all, and his osenbrigs…could not conceal the graces of his looks and mien; and he had no less admirers …the royal youth appeared in spite of the slave, and people could not help treating him after a different manner, without designing it” (pag.27) RELATED CHARACTERS: narrator (Aphra Behn) (speaker), Prince Oroonoko, Trefry RELATED THEME: razzismo; libertà e schiavitù; onore TUSCAN Tuscan è uno schiavo in Suriname che si distingue dai suoi compagni schiavi, non solo perché è più alto degli altri, ma anche perché ha un "nobile aspetto" su di lui. Si unisce alla rivolta di Oroonoko e resta con Oroonoko e Imoinda per combattere contro i coloni dopo che gli altri schiavi si arrendono. Tuscan è frustato insieme a Oroonoko come puni- zione per aver guidato la banda di schiavi in fuga, ma in seguito si ri- concilia con Byam. Tuscan scopre Oroonoko sdraiato accanto al cada- vere di Imoinda e cerca di salvare la sua amica affamata dalla morte. Oroonoko pugnalò toscano al braccio per la sua slealtà e per aver ten- tato di intervenire nei suoi affari. GOVERNOR BYAM Vice governatore del Suriname, Byam non ha paura di usare tattiche basse e disonorevoli per mantenere le cose senza intoppi nelle pianta- gioni di zucchero. Non è ben considerato tra i coloni, che tutti amano Caesar (Oroonoko) e non amano più la manipolazione da parte del go- vernatore. Byam inizialmente finge di essere un grande amico di Cesare e gli promette che un giorno sarà libero, insieme a sua moglie e suo fi- glio, ma in realtà Byam non intende mai liberarli. Mente anche a Cesare durante la situazione di stallo nella foresta, promettendo a Cesare la sua libertà, ma in seguito rompe il contratto che firmano. Prima di que- sto tradimento, tuttavia, Imoinda ferisce Byam alla spalla con una frec- cia avvelenata. CITAZIONI DI GOVERNOR BYAM NEL TESTO 1. OROONOKO’S REVOLT QUOTES a. “But Caesar told him there was no faith in the white men, or the gods they adored; who instructed them in principles so false that honest men could not live amongst them; though no people profes- sed so much, none performed so little” (pagg.44-45) RELATED CHARACTERS: Prince Oroonoko (speaker), Governor Byam RELATED THEME: tradimento; libertà e schiavitù; onore COLONEL MARTIN Colonnello britannico in Surinam, è molto rispettato tra i coloni ed è un caro amico di Oroonoko, che si fida del suo giudizio come un bambino si fida di un genitore. Il colonnello Martin deplora le azioni intraprese da Byam contro Oroonoko e cerca di incoraggiare Oroonoko a rinunciare alla sua vendetta contro Byam.