Olaudah Equiano’s youth significantly shaped his experience and treatment during the Middle Passage and the broader voyage into slavery. Being only about eleven or twelve years old when kidnapped, Equiano’s age made him a sympathetic figure and influenced how he was treated by some of his masters. Early in his captivity, he was bought by a wealthy widow in Africa and lived almost as an equal among her family, receiving good treatment suitable to his youth and abilities, such as regular bathing and fine meals, which made him nearly forget he was a slave

. However, his youth did not protect him from the terrifying and harsh realities of the transatlantic slave voyage. Onboard the slave ship, Equiano was overwhelmed by fear and confusion, partly because of his young age and unfamiliarity with the white people, the ship, and the environment. He describes the ship as a place filled with “bad spirits,” and the cramped, hot, and filthy conditions sickened him. Despite being frequently ill, he was allowed to walk on deck but was closely watched to prevent escape or suicide attempts, which were common among enslaved children and adults alike

. Equiano’s youth also heightened his psychological suffering during the voyage. He was separated from his sister, which added to his emotional distress, and he struggled to understand the new world he was thrust into. His narrative conveys the terror, confusion, and helplessness that children like him experienced during the Middle Passage, making his account a powerful testimony to the cruelty of the slave trade

. In summary, Equiano’s youth made him vulnerable to fear and confusion during the voyage, elicited some degree of kinder treatment from certain African and early masters, but ultimately did not shield him from the brutal, dehumanizing conditions of the Middle Passage and enslavement