Oroonoko(1688) tells the story of a young Coramantien prince who is sold into slavery. Oroonoko, the prince, is a successful military leader trained by Imoinda’s father. Imoinda’s father saves Oroonoko’s life by taking an arrow to the eye, and after this heroic act Oroonoko becomes general. Oroonoko meets Imoinda for the first time when he goes back to the court, and he falls in love immediately. The two marry, but shortly after, and before consummation, Oroonoko’s grandfather sends Imoinda a royal veil. She must leave Oroonoko to become one of the king’s concubines. Oroonoko and Imoinda communicate secretly, and he sneaks into her quarters to consummate their union. The king, suspicious that something is happening, sells Imoinda into slavery while Oroonoko fights on the battlefield, but he tells Oroonoko that she has been killed. The news devastates the warrior, but he rouses himself in order to lead his troops to a victory. He, and one hundred of his men, are received as royal guests on an English sea captain’s boat, but once on board they realize they’ve been tricked and they will be sold into slavery.
Oroonoko winds up in Surinam, where he is sold to a slave-owner named Trefry. Trefry treats Oroonoko kindly, and unwittingly reunites Oroonoko with Imoinda—now Clemene. The reunion fills them with joy, and it’s not long before they conceive a child. Trefry continually ensures Oroonoko—now Caesar—that he will free him, but with a child on the way Oroonoko begins to grow restless and suspicious of this promise. When his restlessness reaches its peak Oroonoko leads a slave revolt. The colonists catch them and the slaves are convinced to surrender after Deputy Governor Byam agrees to fulfill Oroonoko’s demands. Byam breaks the agreement immediately, and Oroonoko realizes that they will never know freedom again.