Oroonoko is an arousing and compelling protagonist, and his story evokes themes of race, class, gender, and power. The continually shifting social status of the titular character is also a primary motif in Aphra Behn's novella. Oroonoko seems to shift between worlds: the worlds of power and subjugation; master and slave; white and black. The relationship between the narrator and Oroonoko likewise shifts, which is why the point-of-view of the story from a literary perspective is sometimes confusing. Behn is building up ultimately to a portrayal of the protagonist as a Christ figure, albeit an unlikely one. Oroonoko is not a pure Christ, but a very human one who martyrs not only himself but the love of his life. Oroonoko combines elements of classical Greek heroes and their hubris, with the selflessness of the Christ motif.

The narrator idealizes Oroonoko, focusing on his physical, intellectual, and social features. She is...
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