b'Georgia Burlingbeginning of the play. Look you, I have done my part byto be sold to Blanford, who respects that Oroonoko was you; I have brought the number of slaves you bargainedonce a prince, therefore he doesnt treat him badly and for (Southerne, Captain, 1.2), this demonstrates thatgives him a fairly comfortable set up, promising to be his Oroonokos status starts off as low as he is a one of thefriend and that he will employ my power, and find the slaves that the captain has brought over. The captainmeans to send you home again (Southerne, Blanford, when talking about him does not change his opinion of2.2). Unlike Aboan, a fellow slave who describes how him after learning that he was a prince; hes the devil ofslaves were really treated, for senseless beasts to bear then a fellow, I can tell you; a prince every inch of him. Youthinking men. Then if you saw the bloody cruelties they have paid dear enough for him, for all the good hellexecute on every slight offence how worse than dogs do you: I was forced to clap him in irons, and do notthey lash their fellow creatures (Southerne, Aboan, 3.2). think the ship safe neither (Southerne, Captain, 1.2).This shows how class is important because learning that The dialogue here also suggests that the captain is of theOroonoko is a prince, Blanford wouldnt dare treat him mind-set that being part of the Indians, a different race,badly. However, for the others they are nothing more than that he is a slave, particularly as Blanford has paid forslaves and have been paid for so can be treated how their him and therefore he will remain a slave. masters please. Oroonokos class would have been represented on stageThe most frequently articulated anxiety is that stewards through his appearance. He would have been given nicerand gentlemen ushers will overstep the boundaries they clothes to wear in comparison to the other slaves whothemselves were enjoined to maintain, thereby damaging would be dressed in rags that dont necessarily fit. Hethe households symbolic role (Burnett 1997; 181). The would have had fitting clothes made out of good materialsplays of the restoration period as shown in The Widow and perhaps more colourful as the brighter colouredRanter and Oroonoko want to limit the extent of disorder. clothes conveyed to society that you were of a higher class.This is conveyed through Oroonokos character because The actor playing the role of Oroonoko (in this case Mreven though he is a prince, he has been brought over as Verbruggen) would be made up in blackface; remindinga slave, the captain will not allow him to go free and he the audience that although he is a prince, he is lower inmust go with Blanford, who has paid for him. Blanford status than the British characters because of his ethnicity.as previously mentioned, is impressed that he is a prince When Oroonoko speaks he holds an upper status becauseand promises to treat him nicely, Ill study to deserve you he speaks in verse which shows he is well educated, andto be your friend. (Southerne, Blanford 2.2). By doing sophisticated, more so than the slave owners; this Blanford is keeping Oroonoko happy and helping to maintain order of hierarchy. Aboan comes in to challenge The dog that skid me did profess as much this, reminding Oroonoko of his role as prince, and as As you can do.But yet I know not why leader of upper status, should come to the aid of his people; Whether it is because Im falln so low, remember who you are, a prince, born for the good of And have no more to fear.That is not it: other men against oppression, and set free mankind I am a slave no longer than I please (Southerne,(Southerne, Aboan 3.2). Patricia Godsave says servants Oroonoko 2.2) often take matters into their own hands with both good motives and bad (Godsave 2018;2), Aboan does this by Oroonokos princely lifestyle is shown when he is talkingmanipulating Oroonoko into leading the rebellion by using about his past and having been involved in the slave tradeOroonokos unborn child (Oroonoko doesnt want the himself, if we are slaves, they did not make us slaves,child to grow up in slavery) to motivate him to lead the but bought us in an honest way of trade; as we have donerebellion. They both then take it upon themselves to rally before em, bought and sold many a wretch, and neverthe other slaves together and put forward the idea of a thought it wrong. They paid our price for us, and we arerebellion for liberty. now their property, a part of their estate, to manage as they please (Southerne, Oroonoko, 3.2). This suggestsBurnett, in his article about the noble household and that Oroonoko having traded slaves himself doesntservants says, senior servants who stray from their path see anything wrong with it and therefore, feels that heof domestic virtue are stripped of their badges of their shouldnt do anything about it, as Aboan is suggesting.profession (Burnett 1997; 181). He is arguing that if you This could also be due to the fact that Oroonoko is luckydont stick to your role within society you will be punished, 31'