Likewise, terrible acts of cruelty were experienced by the slaves, much as what was depicted in Adam and Eve's indulgence of "fruit from the poisonous tree". This disobedience to God's instruction led to Adam and Eve's exile from paradise into a harsh, cruel and desperate reality. .
Along with his importance in the slave community, one of the most significant similarities of Oroonoko and Jesus is depicted in the description of their appearances. In the tale of Oroonoko, he is described as resembling that of a European man, with a "nose rising and Roman, instead of African and flat; his mouth was the finest shape that could be seen, far from those great turned lips that are so natural to the rest of the Negroes" (Behn, p. 2187). This portrayal is interesting due to the fact that by describing Oroonoko with features comparable to that of an attractive European man, the readers develop an attraction to him, thereby enabling them to develop compassion for Oroonoko's character as well as sympathize with him much like they would Jesus Christ. Ironically, this "European" depiction has become the most widely accepted image associated with that of Jesus Christ from Christians around the world (Miller, p 49). Furthermore, as the leader of the slaves, Oroonoko himself has a Christ-like figure in him corresponding to how Jesus was portrayed as a leader to his Jews and Gentiles followers. (King James Bible, Luke 23:3).
Another similarity is observed in the manner of Oroonoko and Jesus Christ's death (Chibka, p. 523). Oroonoko was illustrated as virtually the ideal human and a reflection of Adam from Eden. Oroonoko and Jesus both depicted characters that symbolized purity and perished within the presence of grief by women (Erickson, p. 213). While on the plantation Oroonoko attempted to fight the abuse on slavery and even sought to save the slaves; however he was betrayed and eventually executed.
