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The Royal Slave Oroonoko: Once bitten, neer shy? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Everyone in this day and age is familiar with the aforementioned platitude. However, it must not have been around during the time period of Aphra Behns Oroonoko. If youll allow me to explain, you will be made aware that in the novella, an indigenous prince is fooled not once, not twice, but at least four times. In the text, Behn seems to convey the maxim tough luck kid, thats show business for you, always get it in writing. However, our protagonist never does learn. Is it naivety or trust? What makes Oroonoko routinely play the fool? The answer is simply this: people will tell you anything, as long as they get what they want in the end. In the text, Aphra Behn was trying to make the reader aware of betrayal, and communicate that it is the main focus of the story. The first time Oroonoko gets burned in the novel, it is by his own grandfather. Yes, the lusty old king, whom of which is over 100 years old, caught a glimpse of the lovely Imoinda. You cannot blame the guy though, Behn reports Imoinda to be a beauty, that to describe her truly she was female to the noble male, the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars, as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues" (9). This is important not only to explain his motive, but also to show why she caught Oroonokos eye. Anyway, in private Imoinda is already verbally bound to marry Oroonoko. However, we soon see why its so good to be King. The King simply gives Imoinda a veil that binds her to him, making her do "what love could not oblige Imoinda to do, duty would compel her to" ( Behn 12). Ah, the old Bill Clinton routine; works every time. Seriously though, an analysis of the kings actions is very simple. He wanted to fornicate with Immoinda, more so than he cared for his own grandson! However, the King isnt all bad though. Instead of killing Imoinda, like he told Oroonoko, he simply sold her into slavery; what a charming guy.

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Nevertheless, there is still more lessons about trust for poor Oroonoko to learn. The prince is proper torn up about Imoindas death. In fact it is only the heroics of his personal French tutor that he does not sink into, as Behn puts it, "the disease of melancholy and languishment," which certainly would have killed him" (31). Moving on, Oroonoko is feeling much better, thanks to his recent triumphant return from battle. Of course, when you win a battle you have to go see the King and have a feast. As I recall, at said feast, Oroonoko drank his fill as well (hope he wasnt driving). Anyway, at the banquet Oroonoko sees his merry old friend, the Captain. Lo and behold, one thing leads to another and the Captain invites Oroonko (and all of his colored friends) to his ship. Soon after, to their great surprise, Behn explains the treacherous captain "gave the word and seized all his guests, locking him down fast, secured him and betrayed him to slavery (33). As a side note, this is completely ironic and poetically just, seeing as how Oroonko sold this Captain slaves before! Are you keeping score at home? This is betrayal number two. Analyzing this, I honestly give fault to Oroonoko on this one. Call me suspicious, but if I were an African, and a white slave ship captain had gotten myself and a bunch of my African pals drunk; I would respectively decline his offer to come aboard his boat. You know, because of the whole slavery bit. Lastly, we shall hear the tale of the Treyfrys betrayal. To avoid any confusion, Oroonoko is now renamed Caesar. To sump things up, upon conversing with Caesar, Master Treyfry sees that Caesar has as a great mind and a superior education. So much so, that the men become great friends; Behn even goes as far to say that Trefry "ever after loved him as his dearest brother and showed him all the civilities due so great a man" (38). In fact, Trefry even promises upon his word of honor that he will find a way to someday return Oroonoko to his own country and that he will find out what happened to Caesars enslaved friends. Wouldnt you

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know that dear, sweet Caesar actually believes Treyfry. Ready for a twist? It turns out that the dead Imoinda is not dead at all, she is actually alive and well here in Surinam. However, her name is now Clemene. Fast forward a bit, and we find out that Clemene is now with child; which makes Caesar even more desirous of liberty. Im going to stop right here and ruin the story. The someday which Treyfry promised to Caesar never comes. Turns out he has been duped yet again. In summation, he is angered by this and leads a slave revolt which is, get this, betrayed by a man named Tuscan. The revolt fails and Caesar kills Clemene and their unborn child because he believes that it is better to die, then to live as a slave. After this incident, he is then killed by a man named Bannister. The analysis is this, if someone gives you hope, you will continue to live out your days in search of that hope. Treyfry was never going to free Caesar, he only said he would. Just like the Captain probably said he just wanted to give Oroonoko a tour of his vessel. Lastly, through the aforementioned examples and subsequent analysis. It is painfully apparent that Aphra Behn wanted to tell her readers to trust no one. If this not be the case, she wouldnt have written a novel about a man being tricked over and over and over again.