Comment on the custom of the Royal Veil in “Oroonoko”.

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Comment on the custom of the Royal Veil in Oroonoko In Aphra Behn s - Oroonoko the Royal Veil is a cruel custom in the African kingdom of Coramantien The Royal Veil is a special cloth sent by the King of Coramantien to the beautiful women he desires For women it is a symbol of the king s sexual invitation and their helpless forced submission The Custom of Royal Veil When the Coramantien king wants a woman he sends her the Royal Veil The woman must accept and go to the king s Otan king s pleasure house According to the custom rejecting the Royal Veil is A most impious disobedience If she refuses she can be punished with death Once accepted she belongs only to the king No other man can look at her or touch her If someone breaks this rule they are punished with death Imoinda a

beautiful woman is forced into this custom Imoinda and Oroonoko love each other Even though the king Oroonoko s grandfather knows this he desires Imoinda He sends her the Royal Veil Imoinda has no choice but to accept She goes to the king s palace She tells the king that she has already promised engaged to another man The king vows to kill that man When the king finds out that Oroonoko and Imoinda have secretly met he becomes angry He sells Imoinda into slavery He also lies to Oroonko that Imoinda is dead Comment on the Custom The Royal Veil shows how traditions can be unfair Women like Imoinda have no choice their lives are controlled by men The king uses the veil to satisfy his desires He does not care about others feelings Though the story criticizes European colonists it also shows flaws in African royal customs The veil represents power abuse and the lack of freedom for women In short the Royal Veil is a cruel tradition The king abuses his power with this just like the Europeans abuse power over slaves

Oroonoko

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Comment on the custom of the Royal Veil in “Oroonoko”.

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Aphra Behn

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