Humans have struggled with power and morality throughout time, recognizing that the issue is far more complex than the simple distinction between good and evil . Aphra Behn's story, Oroonoko: the Royal Slave, focuses on the relationship between those in power and those in submission, allowing the reader to decipher what motivated Europeans to continue the cycle of slavery, too. horrible as it is. Due to Oroonoko's contradictory status as a royal slave, a morally ambiguous conflict arises between the oppressor and the oppressed. The complex social hierarchy established by the Europeans creates tension throughout Oroonoko, emphasizing internal struggles to balance power and morality, particularly in the lives of Trefry and Aphra Behn. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay From the beginning of the story, Trefry draws a thin line between respect and oppression of Oroonoko. Upon meeting Oroonoko, Trefry quickly notices his intelligence, befriends Oroonoko and "loves him as his dearest brother and shows him all the civilities due to a great man" (2157). Trefry looks past Oroonoko's skin color difference and focuses on the content of his character, and in doing so, Trefry soon learns of Oroonoko's many problems. By putting his dominance aside, Trefry is able to focus on equalizing Oroonoko instead of alienating her, and in his desperation to help Oroonoko, Trefry promises to reunite Oroonoko with her family. However, Trefry cannot keep his word to Oroonoko without great repercussions, and although Trefry quickly becomes friends with Oroonoko, he never gives up his dominant role. For example, Trefry renames Oroonoko, which is a common practice for new slaves, proving that Oroonoko's royal status does not absolve her of her fate (2158). By giving Oroonoko the name Caesar, Trefry not only rids Oroonoko of her royal name, but he also removes Oroonoko's personal identity. Furthermore, Caesar's name itself foreshadows the great betrayal that Trefry will inflict on Oroonoko. Trefry's inner indecision tears him in two: part of him knows that Oroonoko deserves freedom, and the other reminds Trefry of his allegiance to the very system that keeps Oroonoko captive. Soon, Oroonoko tires of waiting for Trefry to fulfill his promise of freedom. Trefry's inability to follow through on his word pushes Oroonoko over the edge, leading to Oroonoko's rebellion, torture, and death. As Oroonoko is torn apart piece by piece, Trefry is unable to intervene (2178). The rigid socio-economic structure of his culture renders Trefry helpless in the face of this situation, and although he knows that Oroonoko deserves freedom, he cannot grant the release of one family of slaves while the others suffer. Despite his power, if Trefry freed Oroonoko, he would be responsible for arbitrating which slaves deserve freedom and which must remain in captivity. Trefry must sacrifice his relationship with Oroonoko in order to maintain order within his complex social system. Ergo, Trefry is guilty, but not solely responsible for Oroonoko's death. Just as Trefry depicts the difficult position of a slave master struggling with morality and power, Aphra Behn offers a more multifaceted view of the precarious role of upper-class women. When Behn first meets Oroonoko, she immediately notices his regal appearance and intellect. Behn notes that "the most illustrious courses could not have produced a more courageous man, both for his greatness of courage and for his greatness of spirit", thus giving the reader a deeper perception.