Asher Sisneros

There is one inescapable attribute of the universe: Time. Regardless of world events, individual action, or anything in man’s control, time will continue. It helps us divide our existence into sections and track it. However, time also seems to have one universal effect on everyone—regardless of how hard one tries—nobody can escape it. This truth goes beyond measuring age. Yes, men will continue to age; they can’t flee that. However, time also takes its toll on human personality. People change as time goes on. In many ways, they’ll continue being the same person; but nobody is precisely the same twenty or thirty years later. The change might be minimal, but there is always change. That is a product of time. This essay will dissect how Equiano/Gustavus Vassa changed during his tenure in the British Navy. 

Equiano was born in Eboe, a city in Guinea. The town was small and uncivilized. There was hardly any commerce. Unfortunately, since it was in a poor, third-world country, they were prime targets for European kidnappers. Equiano and his sister were kidnapped and sold into slavery in the mid-18th century, during the peak of the British slave trade. When first encountering Englishmen, he suspected they were cannibals intent on eating him. His master made it worse. Since he knew Equiano was scared of that, he often said he would eat Equiano eventually. While he wasn’t serious, it had a negative impression on Equiano. He was also superstitious. Whenever something alarming happened at sea, he thought the Europeans would offer him as a human sacrifice. He said, “As the waves were very high, I thought the Ruler of the Seas was angry, and I expected to be offered up to appease him. This filled my mind with agony, and I could not anymore that night close my eyes again to rest.” When the English first abducted him, he was scared. Not only of them. He was scared of everything from snakes and Europeans to canon fire. 

As time went on, the hostility he had for the British vanished. For some time, he and his master lodged with a family. They were very kind to him. He was still scared, but the fear was different. Instead of thinking they would eat him, Equaino thought the family would betroth him to their six-year-old daughter. Eventually, his suspicions vanished, and he didn’t think Europeans would sacrifice or eat him. Additionally, he started to admire them. Habits he initially thought were strange made sense. He viewed them as refined. So, he tried to imitate this higher class and his master in every way. Remarkably, they Europeanized him. 

Equaino encountered multiple battles while at sea. Slowly, they chipped away at his fear. His master received the privilege of commanding the British ship, Roebuck. As they sailed for London, a press gang boarded the Roebuck. Everyone on board was scared. However, this incident had a mark on Equaino. He said, “My surprise began to diminish as my knowledge increased.” He continues, “I was so far from being afraid of anything new which I saw that, after I had been some time in this ship, I even began to long for a battle.” 

When Equiano first encountered Europeans, he was scared. He was scared of them and battle. Eventually, he wanted to imitate them and sought battle wholeheartedly. Through his naval expeditions—and time—Equiano transformed from a timid boy into a brave man. For better or for worse, time has a similar effect on all of us. Time changes us. The question isn’t whether you will change. The question is how will you change? That is your choice.