Liberty Defined Essay -- Slavery

Liberty, can be defined as independence from control, captivity, or restraint where all are equal and have the ability to do whatever is in their will, that none can be hindered by race, class or sex. While freedom is mostly brought within the ideas of slavery, as is within the contexts of Olaudah Equiano and Phillis Wheatleys works, it can also be that of women from their husbands and places in life, as with bloody shame Astells work.Equiano has a firsthand account on the effects of slavery and the indispensability of freedom. While describing a childhood that was ended quickly by cosmos snatched and placed into slavery, his story is a reflection of one within some stories that are no doubt similar in fashion. The most memorable, and by chance disturbing narration involves his experiences within the slave ship.One day, when we had a facile sea, and a moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen, who were chained together (I was just them at the time), preferring oddment to such a life of misery, somehow make through the nettings, and jumped into the sea immediately another quite dejected fellow, who, on account of his illness, was suffered to be push through of irons, also followed their example and I moot many more would soon have done the same, if they had not been prevented by the ships crew, who were instantly alarmed. Those of us that were the most active were, in a moment, put down under the deck and there was such a noise and confusion amongst the people of the ship as I never heard before, to stop her, and get the boat to go out after the slaves. However, two of the wretches were drowned, but they got the other, and afterwards flogged him unmercifully, for thus attempting to prefer death to slavery. (Equiano 749)It is almost unbeliev... ... and unsubstantiated.Works CitedAstell, Mary. A Serious Proposal To The Ladies. The Broadview Anthology of British publications The take And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black et all. Peterborough, Onta rio Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 291-296.Astell, Mary. A Reflections Upon Marriage. The Broadview Anthology of British literary productions The Restoration And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black et all. Peterborough, Ontario Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 297-301.Equiano, Olaudah. Olaudah Equiano. Handout. Print.Equiano, Olaudah. Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano. The Broadview Anthology of British Literature The Restoration And The Eighteen Century. Joseph Black et all. Peterborough, Ontario Broadview Press, 2006. Print. Pages 743-750.Wheatley, Phillis. Poems On Various Subjects. Handout. Print.