Aphra Behn's novel, Oroonoko, offers a very different perspective on slave fiction. His characters embody various characteristics not usually attributed to those genders and races. The character of Imoinda represents both the modern feminist and the submissive and mental characteristics of the typical 18th century English woman. Oroonoko becomes the embodiment of what is normally the characteristic of a white man; he is the noble, princely, sympathetic character not usually attributed to black men in general in most slavery novels. Slavers are given the completely opposite character style; the English are seen as barbaric, cunning and brutal characters who are usually portrayed in an opposite and more generous way. Behn's romantic tragedy comes full circle, from Oroonoko fighting a war, falling in love, and being enslaved, to Oroonoko battling her captors, to killing her love, and dying in slavery. The character of Imoinda, like that of Oroonoko, is given English ideals of beauty and personality. Described as “the beautiful Black Venus of Mars [Oroonoko's]” (9), Imoinda is credited with the characteristics of the Roman white goddess and virtues with which English women can identify. Her beauty, like that of Helen of Troy, is what triggers the entire ordeal and eventual death that our heroic Prince Oroonoko suffers. Rather than dwelling on any kind of inner quality, such as that of her courage and strength, Imoinda is reduced to beautiful eye candy for both white and black men, regardless of rank: from the humblest slave, to the white slavers and the governor. , as well as King Coramantien. Imoinda is a mix of Amazonian feminist strength, as well as a delicate English flower who is submissive to her hu...... middle of paper ......, stood by and watched this, no one dared to save him or stop the long and inhumane way in which Oroonoko was killed. Aphra Behn's Oroonoko portrays the slave in a new light, in a form intended to entice the English reader to believe and sympathize with an otherwise underappreciated subject. . He transforms his usually simple characters into great beings that go beyond English visions and brings to light a cruel and otherwise inhuman view of slavery. His loving portrayal of exotic African characters humanizes the men and women who should be considered nothing more than a workhorse in an age of utmost humiliation towards those who profess non-Christian beliefs. Oroonoko and Imoinda's love becomes a tragedy of Romeo and Juliet as slaves, African and beautiful. Works Cited Behn, Aphra. Oroonoko or, the royal slave. A TRUE STORY. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, INC, 1973. Print.