44 pages • 1 hour read
Olaudah EquianoThe Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1789A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 9-12Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 9 Summary
Equiano swore never to return to Georgia. His new captain brought the ship to the West Indies without any problems. Equiano was a long time in getting back to Mr. King, however, because the new captain refused to return money he borrowed from Equiano. Equiano needed the money for the trip to England, but racist laws prevented him from pursuing the matter in court because the captain was white. He reluctantly sailed with the captain to the island of St. Kitts, where the captain finally paid him back.
By then, it was late in the season to be sailing, but Equiano found a ship to take him to Montserrat and his old master. His status as a formerly enslaved person was a problem because freed people were legally required to advertise that they were leaving the island (likely to prevent the escape of enslaved people). The intervention of friendly white acquaintances once again saved him. Equiano visited Mr. King to say goodbye and ask for a letter of reference, the text of which Equiano includes in the book. It is short and perfunctory. Equiano then leaves for England, traveling for seven weeks as a seaman.
