"The Life of Olaudah Equiano" is a compelling story in which Equiano, the author, reflects on his life from slave to free man during the 19th century. Through his experiences and writing, Equiano paints a vivid picture of the atrocities and cruelties of European slavery. Ultimately, through his narrative, Equiano intends to persuade his audience, the British government, to abolish the Atlantic slave trade and warn them of the harsh treatment of slaves. He successfully achieves his goal by subtly arguing through the use of character, action, and setting. Character creation is an instrumental part of Equiano's strategy in convincing the intended audience. One of the characters who plays a crucial role in this strategy is himself. Through the creation of his own character, he is able to establish credibility, relate to his audience, and extinguish general stereotypes about Africans. One way Equiano does this successfully is by exhibiting qualities that present him as morally righteous and loyal. For example, in chapter 7, Equiano buys his freedom and is intent on including the information that he obtained his freedom through legal means. He says, “The captain then said that he knew that I had obtained the money very honestly, and with much industry, and that I was especially careful” (page 131). By including this in the chapter, Equiano limits the questions his audience might have about how he got the money and shows his character's goodwill overall. He continues in this chapter showing his good character in not immediately leaving his slave master (Mr. King) after receiving freedom, but remaining with him in appreciation and gratitude. Furthermore, he is also capable... middle of paper... of pigs, so much so that in the end we were forced to load them onto the boat and take them ashore by force” (144) . He uses the argument that white people would have done nothing but sit there and drown if it weren't for them. In a way, all the credit for their rescue goes to the black slaves on the ship. Even though according to European culture whites are supposed to be superior in intelligence, they stupidly sat back without helping to save their own lives. By creating this action, he shows how perceived notions can be equal regardless of race. Equiano uses character, setting, and action to further his persuasion points. He skilfully paints his argument to the British government in terms and events that they will understand and appreciate. Each part of the narrative is designed to elicit a specific reaction and make a persuasive overall point.