Who Robert King is
Robert King is a merchant and one of the people who own Equiano during his enslavement. While under King's ownership, Equiano works at sea and earns money through trading goods on his own account.
This arrangement gives Equiano a practical way to save toward buying his freedom. The account places this effort within a world where work and useful skills do not themselves bring independence.
Robert King and the others in the story
King's relationship with Equiano combines commerce with the unequal power of an owner over an enslaved person. King requires forty pounds for Equiano's freedom, making saving money a specific goal rather than a distant hope.
Equiano's efforts depend not only on his own work but also on King's willingness to accept payment. Their relationship helps explain why the narrative pays such close attention to money, promises, and control over another person's life.
Questions
Who is Robert King?
Robert King is a merchant who owns Equiano and permits him to earn money by trading.
How does Robert King affect Equiano's search for freedom?
King allows the trading through which Equiano saves toward the forty pounds he requires for freedom.
Is Robert King the same person as Michael Henry Pascal?
No, they are different owners of Equiano. Pascal is a British naval officer, while King is a merchant.
