Question

5. What does the following quote describe about the middle passage? "The

closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in
the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn
himself, almost suffocated us......The shrieks of the women, and the groans
of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable."-
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Answer 1

The quote describes the horrific conditions of the middle passage, which was the voyage that enslaved Africans were forced to endure during the transatlantic slave trade. The quote highlights the extreme overcrowding of the slave ships, with people being packed so tightly that they could hardly move. This, combined with the heat and humidity of the climate, created an unbearable and suffocating atmosphere for the enslaved Africans. Additionally, the quote describes the sounds of suffering and agony that filled the ship, with women crying out and dying, creating a horrifying scene that was almost beyond imagination. Overall, the quote shows the inhumane and brutal conditions of the middle passage, where human beings were treated as nothing more than cargo to be transported across the ocean.

Step-by-step explanation: