Comparing Harriet Jacobs And Phillis Wheatley's Poetry

642 Words2 Pages

Slavery in America created a legacy that has been both troubling and poignant. For instance, many of the tensions which exist between African-Americans and White Americans today are the result of this legacy. At the same time, there were individual acts of heroism by slaves (and by their sympathizers) which have been fortunately captured for posterity. Yet, sympathy isn’t what was wanted from two women; Harriet Jacobs and Phillis Wheatley. Both women use their horrific experiences not to gain sympathy, but to help abolish slavery. Phillis Wheatley is a gem of her time; the first African-American woman to have her poetry published. Though purchased as a slave, her life was far from most African-Americans during the 17th century. She was educated …show more content…

From a different point of view, her life may be viewed as an adopted child rather than a slave to the Wheatley family. However, she did not forget where she came from or those that didn’t have the same luck as she had. On Being Brought from Africa to America, one of Wheatley’s most famous poems, goes on to show how she doesn’t want sympathy and that she benefits from slavery. Although most can agree that there aren’t many advantages to slavery, Wheatley is one of the few lucky ones to have a more pleasant experience. The poem with the first few lines “Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand. That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.”, by declaring that being brought from her “pagan” land of a home, Africa, to America is a blessing. Wheatley also feels “mercy” in her life is responsible for enlightening her soul. At this point, she gains knowledge about her new religion of Christianity and that she is now a believer in God. The next lines go on to introduce the prejudice that colonizers had against the Africans. “Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die" Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin'd, and

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Shoemaker And The Tea Party

    1097 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wheatley was born in West Africa around 1750, and was captured when she was 7. John Wheatley purchased Phillis for his wife, Susanna; together they taught Phillis how to read and write, and as early as 12, Phillis was writing poetry and her first poem had been published. Wheatley’s poems implicitly advocated for racial equality, while condemning slavery. Her work received some negative feedback from political figureheads, such as Thomas Jefferson. White America classified a human as having the ability to read, write, and reason; therefore, leaving no room for the uneducated Africans, seeing Africans as nonhuman. Jefferson claimed Wheatley’s work was not literature because the moment he admitted Wheatley’s work was indeed literature, he would have had to admit she was a human being. The way Phillis Wheatley handled the adversity she faced is admirable. Wheatley definitely impacted American history, and “owes her place in history to advocates of inequality” (Young 1999

    Read More

  • Phillis Wheatley: What It Means To Be An American

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Readers unfamiliar with Phillis Wheatley may wonder of her background and who she was in particular to be able to gain rights to be mentioned in early American literature. Wheatley was born in 1753 and was captured by Africans, and sold to an American family known as the Wheatley’s. She quickly became a member of the Wheatley family, living in the home, and being tutored on reading and writing.

    Read More

  • How Phillis Wheatley's History Affected Her Poem, Being Brought from Africa to America

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley was born in Senegal, West Africa in 1753. She was kidnapped in 1761 at age eight and bought by John Wheatley so she could serve his wife Susan. Due to the fact that Phillis was extremely intelligent and a fast learner Susan did not train her to be her servant. Phillis was taught English, Latin, and Greek, and other subjects including the Bible. She slowly became a part of the Wheatley family. Thanks to the lessons that Phillips received she started writing poems, one of the poems she is known for is “Being Brought from Africa to America.” In this poem Phillis Wheatley uses some poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, hyperboles to illustrate color and darkness, multiple meanings of words, and the relationship between skin tone and salvation.

    Read More

  • Harriet Jacobs Incidents And A Slave Girl: An Analysis

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Slavery is a term that can create a whirlwind of emotions for everyone. During the hardships faced by the African Americans, hundreds of accounts were documented. Harriet Jacobs, Charles Ball and Kate Drumgoold each shared their perspectives of being caught up in the world of slavery. There were reoccurring themes throughout the books as well as varying angles that each author either left out or never experienced. Taking two women’s views as well as a man’s, we can begin to delve deeper into what their everyday lives would have been like.

    Read More

  • Slavery and the Life of Harriet Jacobs

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is well known that slavery was a horrible event in the history of the United States. However, what isn't as well known is the actual severity of slavery. The experiences of slave women presented by Angela Davis and the theories of black women presented by Patricia Hill Collins are evident in the life of Harriet Jacobs and show the severity of slavery for black women.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Religion in Phillis Wheatley's Life

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley overcame extreme obstacles, such as racism and sexism, to become one of the most acclaimed poets in the 18th Century. Her works are characterized by religious and moral backgrounds, which are due to the extensive education of religion she received. In this sense, her poems also fit into American Poetry. However, she differs in the way that she is a black woman whose writings tackle greater subjects while incorporating her moral standpoint. By developing her writing, she began speaking out against injustices that she faced and, consequently, gave way to authors such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Countee Cullen.

    Read More

  • The World Of Phillis Wheatley Analysis

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the article, The World of Phillis Wheatley, James Rawley’s main thesis is to show that Phillis Wheatley's work was mainly influenced by the religion. Rawley shows evidence for this claim by bringing up the person Wheatley held the tightest bond with was Suzanne Whitley, with Rawley describing her as "This remarkable woman was active in religious, humanitarian enterprises, and conducted a wide correspondence with philanthropic persons in England” (668). The relationship between the two women provided the main reason why Wheatley’s work became known to the public. “It was Susanna who planned for the publication of the Poems, and in England enabled the poet to meet distinguished personages, and ultimately secured the slave's freedom.”

    Read More

  • Phillis Wheatley's To MAECENAS and On the Death of a young Lady of Five Years of Age

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    The poetry of Phillis Wheatley is crafted in such a manner that she is able to create a specific aim for each poem, and achieve that aim by manipulating her position as the speaker. As a slave, she was cautious to cross any lines with her proclamations, but was able to get her point across by humbling her own position. In religious or elegiac matters, however, she seemed to consider herself to be an authority. Two of her poems, the panegyric “To MAECENAS” and the elegy “On the Death of a young Lady of Five Years of Age,” display Wheatley’s general consistency in form, but also her intelligence, versatility, and ability to adapt her position in order to achieve her goals.

    Read More

  • Phillis Wheatley’s Fight against Slavery

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley is a gem of her time; the first African-American woman to have her poetry published. Though purchased as a slave, her life was far from most African-Americans during the 17th century. She was educated and became deeply rooted in her faith, Christianity. From an outsider, her life may be viewed as an adopted child rather than a slave to the Wheatley family. However, she did not forget where she came from or those less fortunate than herself.

    Read More

  • Phillis Wheatley Research Paper

    398 Words  | 1 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley was the first african american woman to publish a book of poetry in 1773. She was born in Senegal/Gambia in 1753, at the age of 8, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston Massachusetts in a slave ship in 1761, she was bought by John Wheatley to be a personal slave for his wife. Instead of using Wheatley being used as a slave full time they also educated her, she was taught how to read and write. She mastered Latin and Greek and soon was able to write poetry marvelously.

    Read More

  • Phillis Wheatley On Being Brought From Africa To America Analysis

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    Paraphrase: Wheatley begins by saying that it was a blessing that she got off Africa. She then states that turning into a Christian gave her knowledge and redemption. Wheatley then states that black people are seen very egregiously. Finally, she reminds Christians that black people are not evil and that all Christians are equal, no matter the color.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Phillis Wheatley

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley was one of America’s most profound writers who has contributed greatly to American literature and not only as a writer, but also as an African American woman. Phillis has influenced many African Americans by improving their knowledge of and exposure to their native heritage and native literature. As one of America’s most well known writers, Wheatley was said to be the mother of African American Literature. She is best known for her sympathetic portrayals of African American thought. Wheatley’s literary contributions are gigantic in nature and differentiate her apart from most writers of her era. Her writings have helped in the construction of the African American tradition and are favored by people of all ethnic backgrounds

    Read More

  • On Being Brought From Africa To America By Phillis Wheatley

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    The poem by Phillis Wheatley, “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, gives the reader a glimpse into her life. She was taken from her country and was fortunate enough to have been purchased by a wealthy family. In this poem, we gain a brief insight into her inner feelings about her situation and the life of a slave girl in the 1770’s. This piece has historical and psychological elements of literature.

    Read More

  • What Is The Difference In Phillis Wheatley's Work?

    263 Words  | 1 Pages

    Phillis Wheatley's work consisted mostly of poems and letters about freedom and independence. Philip Freneau basically wrote about the same thing. The only difference in their arguments was that while Freneau wrote for independence of the white man, Wheatley wrote for the black. Her poems were a strong voice during a time when America was crying out for freedom from Britain. Wheatley mainly focused on slavery. She believed that American independence and American slavery could not co-exist. When she says this it basically mean how can you have American independence if slaves aren’t independent. In Freneau's "To Sir Toby," we can find a different way of speaking entirely. He has a more violent way of looking at slavery and names the poem in

    Read More

  • John Wheatley's Poem

    174 Words  | 1 Pages

    Notably, I expected the poem to convey a different message, which remains why I’ve chosen to employ this poem in my discussion. Furthermore, I found interest in reading what has transpired during that time. With regards to this poem, the first line captured my attention for the reason that I can surely relate. Wheatley states, “Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a savior too:”(p. 403) to begin the poem. In other words, she has pledged that she has never known God. Not only does God exist, but also Wheatley goes on to explain that even blacks can find savior despite how they’re viewed in the world. (p. 403). To illustrate, this poem expresses a sincere gratefulness

    Read More

More about Comparing Harriet Jacobs And Phillis Wheatley's Poetry

Open Document