own life because of the exploitative nature of colonialism So the narrator says about Oroonoko The royal youth appeared in spite of the slave Slavery Another significant theme is the exploration of slavery and its dehumanizing effects Behn exposes the brutal reality of slavery She depicts the sufferings and injustices endured by African slaves Moreover Behn explores the nature of the slave-trading system of that time as the Coramantien King sells the prisoners of war to Western ships as slaves The narrator questions the ethics and actions of the slave traders Some have commended this act as brave in the captain but I will spare my sense of it and leave it to my reader to judge as he pleases Love and Sacrifice Love and sacrifice are significant themes in the novel Oroonoko and Imoinda's love is portrayed as pure and powerful with both characters willing to sacrifice for each other To take revenge on the oppressive Colonizers Oroonoko tells Imoinda to sacrifice her life because after Oroonoko s death Imoinda's suffering would increase a lot That is why Imoinda sacrifices her life Honor and Betrayal Honor and Betrayal are recurring themes throughout the novel Oroonoko the African prince is depicted as a figure of great honor and nobility However he is ultimately betrayed by an English sea Captain who captures him as a slave Gender Roles Oroonoko challenges traditional gender roles of the time The character of Imoinda Oroonoko's wife showcases female agency and resilience in the face of adversity On the other hand the lecherous old King keeps concubines He wants to seduce Imoinda and sends her a royal veil a tradition that Imoinda couldn t ignore It points to the oppressive male domination of that society Power and Abuse Oroonoko examines the corrupting influence of power and the abuse that often accompanies it The character of the King who is Oroonoko s grandfather represents this abuse of power The old King tries to seduce Imoinda Oronooko s beloved and later sells her as a slave The character of Byam the English deputy governor represents this abuse of power He uses his position to manipulate and oppress others His abuse of power leads to Oroonko being murdered brutally He told Byam he had rather die than live upon the same earth with such dogs Freedom and Identity The quest for freedom and the search for identity are important themes in Oroonoko The protagonist Oroonoko fights for his freedom and the freedom of his fellow slaves In conclusion we can say that Oroonoko delves into these major themes to shed light on the harsh realities of colonialism slavery and the abuse of power It serves as a critique of the time's prevailing social and political structures nbsp