Oroonoko

The issue of truth is raised on the first page when the narrator assures us that what follows is a true story, rather than invention or fabrication. There are a number of possible reasons for this emphasis on truth, one being that the author is attempting to deflect any sexist criticism of her work. The numerous references to the Dutch conquest of Surinam might also suggest that Behn was making a case for the English to regain control of the colony, a case that would be bolstered by claiming that the novella and its descriptions of Surinam’s natural resources were true. 

Within the narrative itself, truth and honor are significant at a number of key moments. For example, Oroonoko’s attempt to save face in front of his grandfather by pretending not to care about Imoinda backfires; it is only when the king realizes that Oroonoko loved her all along that he begins to feel remorse. More significant, however, are those moments in which truth and honor are conflated in the form of an oath. Two particular instances are Oroonoko’s exchanges with the English captain and Deputy Governor Byam.