Alphra Behn: Unbiased Narrator or Omniscient Story-teller?

As Grace mentioned, readers of Oronooko can’t help but to become enthralled in the writing style that Behn incorporates into the narrative. Her style is captivating, which is important because, as readers, we must rely on a well-informed narrator to guide us through the narrative since there are no clear divisions and it at times can be confusing to follow. However, as a reader, I found myself also questioning some areas where I thought Behn was blurring the line between fiction and fact, which led me to further ponder the question of her role as narrator. Ultimately, is she an unbiased narrator, strictly adhering to Oronooko’s account or is she an omniscient story-teller, crafting her story from various accounts and adding details as she saw fit, or is she a combination of the two?

One of her most important assets is the detail with which she spends describing the various characters. We not only know what their outward physical appearances are, but we are given a glimpse into their inner workings. Behn alludes to this notion in her dedicatory to Lord Maitland: “An ill hand may diminish, but a good hand cannot augment history. A poet is a painter in his way, he draws to the life, but in another kind; we draw the nobler part, the soul and mind” (3). This level of detail enables readers to have a well-rounded perspective of each character and allows them to make judgments for themselves regarding these individuals. For example, several people have noted the detail with which she describes Oronooko. She uses the same level of detail when describing those around him as well, as seen in the description of Oronooko’s new owner, Mr. Trefry. Of his physical appearance, she writes: “… so extraordinary in his face, his shape and mein, a greatness of look, and haughtiness in his air” (41).

However, I would argue that there are areas where, I find myself questioning Behn as the narrator. For example, Behn does not meet Oronooko until he is on Surinam. Yet, the level of detail in the first half of the novel does not change or become greater in the second half. Also, with regard to her level of detail, how did Behn so accurately know the feelings of her characters? For instance, she writes: “Trefry soon found that he [Oronooko] was something greater than he confessed; and from that moment began to conceive so vast an esteem for him that he ever after loved him as his dearest brother, and showed him all the civilities due to so great a man” (42). Unless Behn was present at that exact moment, I find it hard to believe that she knew exactly how Trefry felt. Yet, the narrator does not appear to be unsure of herself when making this declaration.

Thus, I would argue that Behn’s narrative is somewhat biased in the sense that we are only being told the story through Oronooko’s eyes, and as such, it is a limited perspective. That said, Behn does her best as an artist to paint an accurate portrayal of Oronooko’s life as he has told it to her. Although there are some embellishments and exaggerations, these are elements of the story that make it so great and have allowed it to be passed on through generations of readers. Nonetheless, from the simple fact that we are still reading Oronooko today, it can be said that Behn, as a narrator, achieved her ultimate goal. That is, creating a narrative with the “power to preserve this great man” (5).