Oroonoko

Cormantien, the narrator tells us, is an African nation that acts as a trading post for slaves. It is a warlike country and has many slaves—people captured in battle—to sell. The King of Cormantien is an old man with many wives whom the narrator notes are beautiful, even though they are black. His sons having all been killed, the King’s heir is his grandson, Prince Oroonoko, who possessed a “Beauty, so transcending all those of his gloomy race” (10). 

As well as being astoundingly handsome, he is a natural warrior and a capable leader. He is also intelligent, having been tutored by a Frenchman, and can speak some English and Spanish too. In fact, “in all Points [he] address’d himself as if his Education had been in some European Court” (11). Though the narrator had heard of Oroonoko before she met him, she tells us that she was still surprised by greatness. 

During a battle, Oroonoko’s life was saved by his grandfather’s most senior general, who died to save the prince. This general had a daughter, Imoinda, and after the battle, Oroonoko visits her to pay his respects and to present her with the slaves that would have been her father’s.

Imoinda is incredibly beautiful, as well as graceful and modest, and Oroonoko immediately falls in love with her. She reciprocates his affection and Oroonoko promises, contrary to custom, to be monogamous and to love and marry only her. Imoinda agrees to marry him and the ceremony takes place in secret; the narrator cannot give us details of the wedding because she “forgot to ask” (16).

Meanwhile, having heard of Imoinda’s beauty, Oroonoko’s grandfather, the king, has decided that he wants her as his wife and is furious to learn that she is his grandson’s mistress. The king sends a trusted servant to Imoinda with a gift, pretending it is from Oroonoko to try and gauge her feelings for him. He is disappointed to learn that she loves Oroonoko; however, he refuses to let that stop him. He is used to being treated not just as a king, but as a god, and he will compel her to do what he wants. 

To this end, he sends the Royal Veil to Imoinda, a ceremony of invitation to be the king’s mistress, which no one can refuse; the punishment is death. Imoinda is distraught, but she complies and is brought to the King’s Otan, or harem. There she begs him to release her because she is married. He demands to know who married her without his permission and she admits that it is his grandson, Oroonoko. The King doesn’t care; he is only concerned about whether or not she is still a virgin. When she admits that she is, he is pleased and tells her that he will kill Oroonoko unless she does as he tells her.

When Oroonoko learns of what the king has done he is enraged. The only thing that consoles him is the possibility that the king is too old to consummate his affair with Imoinda. However, he is unsure how he will get his wife back. Not only do the walls of the Otan stand between Oroonoko and Imoinda, his duty to his grandfather does as well. His friends suggest that Oroonoko is the injured party—Imoinda being his wife—and that it would therefore be lawful for him to retrieve her from the Otan. Oroonoko, however, decides to act as if he no longer loves Imoinda.

The news of Oroonoko’s indifference reaches the king, who is much relieved by it. He had begun to be troubled by the injury he had done to his grandson. In fact, it is only his love for Oroonoko that has stopped him killing Imoinda, who continues to weep for her lost love, especially when the King tells her Oroonoko no longer cares for her. 

Oroonoko’s bravado convinces the King and he soon invites his grandson to accompany him to the Otan. Once inside the palace, Oroonoko cannot pretend to be indifferent to Imoinda, something the king notices immediately. Imoinda distracts the king while she and Oroonoko communicate with their eyes, reassuring each other that they have been faithful. 

When the king leads Imoinda to his bed, Oroonoko falls to the floor with grief. One of the King’s wives, Onahal, and his friend, Aboan, come to his aid and remind him that Imoinda is suffering, too. Oroonoko asks Onahal to speak to Imoinda on his behalf and she agrees. When the King returns, Oroonoko can pretend to be happy again. 

Later, Oroonoko and Aboan agree that Aboan should seduce Onahal so that she will help them. Shortly afterwards, Oroonoko is called to war, but before returning to camp he wants to make one last visit to the Otan. His grandfather agrees and they return to the palace. There, Imoinda and the other women dance for them; Imoinda trips and Oroonoko catches her—risking death for touching the king’s mistress. Imoinda moves away quickly, but the king is furious and exiles Oroonoko from his court on pain of death. He secretly sets spies to watch Oroonoko.

That night, with Onahal’s help, Oroonoko and Aboan enter the Otan in secret. There, Oroonoko and Imoinda—who is still a virgin—consummate their marriage but are soon interrupted by the king’s guards. Awed by Oroonoko’s authority and greatness, they don’t attack him, but instead report to the king. Oroonoko is persuaded by the others to leave for camp immediately and Imoinda assures him that she can appease the king.

When the king arrives, Imoinda lies to him and says that Oroonoko broke into her room and raped her. This lie saves her life but the king has no use for her now, as he is forbidden by custom to sleep with anyone his kinsmen have slept with. Rather than allow her to go to Oroonoko, however, he secretly sells Imoinda—and Onahal—into slavery, pretending to everyone that he has had them killed.