Analyzing Gallagher’s Oroonoko’s Blackness Essay -- Oroonoko’s Blackne

Analyzing Gallagher’s Oroonoko’s Blackness  Ã‚      Oroonoko is a fascinating text overflowing with descriptions of complex relations between and within the different races. The attitudes and actions of the Aphra Behn and her characters would make for a rich analysis from any number of behavioral approaches, but there are many more layers to this story than the dominant racial themes. In fact, in "Oroonoko’s Blackness" Catherine Gallagher argues that the main character’s unusually dark skin color actually represents kingship, commodification, and the degree to which he and the author are embodied in the work. Though Gallagher recognizes the significance of Oroonoko’s ethnicity in the conflict between the African and European groups, she writes that it is displaced by these three ideas when examined from other perspectives. At times her arguments for this are difficult to decipher and appear contradictory, especially in the explanations on textuality, embodiment and transcendence, but, overall, the claims of the cr iticism are strong and convincing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this essay the author makes a believable argument for her theories of kingship and commodification. These ideas are interrelated and dependent upon Oroonoko’s blackness symbolizing worth when it usually implies the opposite. Gallagher mentions the question of why Oroonoko’s skin is so much darker than the rest of his people when blackness is almost always associated with moral degeneracy and light colored complexion with nobleness. Her answer is that it actually improves his status as a hero. She explains that his accomplishments, which are comparable to the most famous Europeans, distinguishes him as a leader, but "it is in his blackness that his heroism partakes of t... ...works, it seems pointless to mention a view of The Unfortunate Bride that is contrary to the work she is critiquing without explaining the cause for the difference. By first connecting authorial obscurity to Mooria, the reader assumes that it will again be related to The Royal Slave. But the reverse occurs and causes confusion. If Gallagher does not know the reason for the difference, then she should stay with the original text and not refer to any outside sources that do not agree with her argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Gallagher’s critique may be somewhat lacking, there is no doubt of her superior understanding of Oroonoko and its implications. Her claims are original and calls the audience’s attention to subtle themes. The criticism may require several readings to capture all of its meanings, but its interpretation creates enough interest to make it worthwhile.