Question

How did Belinda and Olaudah Equiano describe death aboard the slave ship?

a) They described it as a solemn affair met with reverence by the crew.
b) They described it as a sometimes welcome respite from the terror and pain of enslavement.
c) They did not provide much information about death on the slave ships.
d) They only mentioned slaves, never the European crew members, being killed on the ship.

Answer 1

Olaudah Equiano described death aboard the slave ship as a frequent and horrifying event marked by disease, poor conditions, and sui_cides, with both enslaved Africans and crew members suffering and dying under the severe circumstances of the Middle Passage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Belinda, a fictional character, does not provide an account of the Middle Passage, but Olaudah Equiano describes death aboard the slave ship as a terrifying and common occurrence, reflecting the inhumanity and suffering that defined the journey. Equiano vividly depicted the brutal conditions on slave ships in his 1789 memoir, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. He wrote about the deplorable conditions in which enslaved Africans were forced to exist, suffering from infectious diseases, suffocating heat, and poor ventilation, which led to the deaths of many. Sui_cides were not uncommon as enslaved people sought to escape their dire circumstances, choosing death over the continuation of their suffering and the uncertain future that awaited them. The crew, always fearful of insurrection and the spread of disease, harshly punished any attempts at rebellion and were equally at risk of falling victim to the illnesses that plagued the captives.