The Foundation of Christian Sense of Self

This Exhibit seeks to inform about the influence of Christianity on the identities of Olaudah Equiano, as seen in his Interesting Narrative, and the Baek family, whose piety helps guide them throughout the novel Pachinko. 

Throughout his Interesting Narrative, Olaudah Eqiano describes himself in a very holy light, referencing numerous books and verses in the bible and sharing his moral truth with his audience. His piety was palpable; his narrative became a success in England, with many quick to share their thoughts on his work. However, as a freed slave living in England in the late 18th century, Equiano is very deliberate in how he presents himself, so his work can actually be read and considered in schools of thought back then.

Similarly, in Pachinko, Sunja undergoes a complete religious transformation throughout the novel. She goes from never having been in a Church to attending mass weekly with her son later in life. Christianity and her conversion marks her departure from Korea and everything she had known. Min Jin Lee uses biblical characters and stories to represent the Baek family saga, using their religious beliefs as a tool to show Sunja and her children's journey through Japanese society. 

Using the historical context of Colonialism and the spread of Christianity throughout Japan, Korea, and the West Indies, I seek to compare and contrast the two environments represented in Pachinko and The Interesting Narrative of Oluadah Equiano and come to a conclusion surrounding the influence of Colonization and transculturation on the conversion of the peoples oppressed by these systems.