Comparing Phillis Wheatley's A Hymn To Humanity

Phillis Wheatley was a phenomenal poet who was given more opportunities than an average slave and an average African American poet at the time she lived. Wheatley was blessed to get more chances than the rest of the slaves in her time. For example, the Wheatley’s “did not excuse Wheatley from her domestic duties but taught her to read and write”(3). Wheatley’s slave owners were very wealthy people with children. Giving Wheatley teaching lessons gave her a step ahead in poetry and showed her the faith that people had in her, creating a great deal of encouragement. Wheatley’s first poem was written when she was 12 and “by the time she was eighteen, Wheatley had gathered a collection of twenty-eight poems.”(5) Wheatley’s poems spoke to more than

those she expected, which is why she made it so far in the poetry industry before and even after her death. For example, whites read her poems and caught messages. Whites reading her poems was a good thing because all African Americans wanted during this time was to be listened to and this is how that begun to start happening. When writing, “Wheatley applied biblical symbolism to evangelize”(8)... Wheatley became a strong believer in Christianity after her move from Africa to America. She spread her word through her poems. Not all the attention on her poems inspired her to continue to write. For example, “Another fervent Wheatley supporter was Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence”(9). Wheatley was getting recognized by important people. Although Wheatley did not live the “slavery” lifestyle, she was still a slave. Wheatley was officially released from slavery some three months after Ms. Wheatley died “in 1774,”(9) “...but she had experienced neither slavery’s treacherous demands nor the harsh economic exclusions pervasive in a free-black existence. Wheatley didn't let anything stop her from creating new poems causing her to be a phenomenal woman poet from slavery.
Phillis Wheatley’s poem “On Being Brought From Africa to America” is being spoken by a slave. The speaker indicates her that she was "brought" (1) out of nn slavery to the Americas. Her “benighted soul”(2) was susceptible to anything because of what she was not taught. She lived in a “Pagan land”(2), knowing no specific God initially. Once she arrives to the Americas, she realizes that she needs obtain “redemption”(4) to succeed in converting from the unknown religion she was practicing to Christianity. In trying to do so, she faces obstacles because of what people think of her. People say that her “ colour is a diabolic die” (7). However, towards the end, the speaker reminds her audience that blacks and recovering slaves will be accepted to heaven.
“On Being Brought from Africa to America” is basically poem in which Phillis Wheatley inspires her audience to have faith in God by telling her story and giving thorough examples. Wheatley uses the word “benighted”(2) to emphasize that her soul was dark and lost, but then she says, “...Mercy brought me from the Pagan”(1), giving thanks to God for His help to get her from Africa to America and introduce her to Christianity. She reminds African Americans to keep faith because she’s living proof. She warns them by saying “Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train”(7-8). Her quote initiates a friendly gesture of a reminder. The speaker explains to whites that being introduced to Christianity implies that blacks will also be eligible for the afterlife. However, blacks allow whites to make them believe otherwise. Phillis Wheatley became a strong believer and she thanked God for it throughout this poem.
In Phillis Wheatley’s poem “To the University of Cambridge, in New England” she is writing a letter presented to the University of Cambridge and its students. The poem shows a different perspective or view, one from the view of an African; the speaker’s tone in the poem shows that she is very thankful for leaving Africa. She describes Africa as the “Land of errors” (4). However, she makes it her business to thank God for her release instead of complaining. She says, “Father of mercy, ‘twas thy gracious hand/ brought me out in safely from those dark adobes” (5-6). Next she speaks directly to students “to traverse the ethereal space” (8), Wheatley goes into giving advice to acknowledge where God has taking these kids and reminds them it’s all because of him. Wheatley tells these students “how jesus blood for your redemption(6)”. Explaining to these students how much he has done for us. Wheatley gives them reasons to want to thank by even giving them reasons why she does.
In Wheatley’s poem “To the University of Cambridge in New England,” she emphasizes to the students to be thankful for where they are but also who got them there and the ability to always remember that and thank God. The main literary device Wheatley uses to get this point across is hyperbole. Wheatley exaggerates how important religion is and what Jesus did for the students and how He died for everyones lives. When explaining His importance to the students she says, “How jesus blood for your redemption flows”(12). What Wheatley says reminds the students to acknowledge his work and understand why he should be thanked. Also, Wheatley uses hyperbole when exaggerating religion itself for their deeper understanding. Wheatley goes on about explaining how sin is “...baneful evil to the soul”(24) instead of just stating that we will all sin. She reminds these students that everyone knows that you cannot hide from sin but it is still bad. Telling them, will create a new mindset for the students and how they live, and help them realize that their potentially messing up their lives. Toward the end of the poem, her message becomes a preached sermon; however, her essential message is the same either way it’s given. She wants the students to understand the reality of how they really are getting where they are in life rather than feeling as if it’s just their luck and these students can go without thanking Him.
Phillis Wheatley’s speaker in “On Imagination” emphasizes that imagination can take someone beyond reality. She speaks on it as “wond’rous acts.”(4) She describes that she worships imagination because of its access to happiness. She considers herself in “captivity”(13) so any lead to happiness she take. However, captivity and freedom being in the same situation can only be available when imagination is involved. Wheatley states that imagination is like a God given gift that everyone has and should use to escape their humanity. Imagination helps Wheatley leave the “rolling universe behind” (19). Imagination gives the normal or damaged human a chance to release themselves from any obstacles from real life. She gives an example of where her imagination takes her: “Th’ empyreal palace”(17). Wheatley plants the idea of imagination to her audience's’ mind to allow them to imagine without feeling unconfident of what the outcome of imagination might be.
Wheatley’s poem “On imagination” expresses that imagination is the key to success in difficult situations. Wheatley uses personification when describing imagination. When she says “Thy various works, imperial queen , we see...”(1), she is inquiring her audience that she considers imagination as a queen. Giving this inanimate object life exaggerates the importance of imagination.
In Phillis Wheatley’s, “An Hymn to Humanity” she expresses how Humanity makes people aware of the fact that though “nothing lasts forever except the time a thing is born till the time it dies”(7), it is truly beautiful and adorable. Every living being on Earth, or little flower is an “exclusive”(12) design of God and everyone should love and respect each and every creation of God. Wheatley emphasizes that “the divine”(4) is what deserves praise but Christians should worship the fact that humanity is given. Wheatley then states that “Each human heart inspire,”(14) meaning everyone is created individually and differently. This poem expresses that every living thing on Earth, should be loved and respected. Lastly, Wheatley reminds her audience to value the little pleasures that nature provides, and to understand that happiness can also be found in little things.
In Wheatley’s poem “A Hymn to Humanity” Wheatley re-tells the creation story of Humanity in her own personal view, ending off with the understanding that what used to be, isn't necessarily the same.

She uses hyperbole to stress the fact that blacks weren't usually given what whites were given during her time period but also adds her difference in that situation. She says “... Descended the celestial nine.” (line 28) She states that 9 muses- inspirational women- were handed out and she was the only African American given one. Wheatley’s quote implies to her audience that a change was occurring. Also, Wheatley uses personification to give inanimate objects life to exaggerate specific importances. She says “Each human heart inspire.” (line5) Exaggerating the life of a heart implies the inspiration of her pen flow or some type of importance. Wheatley gives appreciation throughout the poem for getting a muse and then essentially becoming one for

others.
Phillis Wheatley “On Being Brought From Africa to America” and “To the University of Cambridge” are similar in thanking God. Wheatley emphasizes how important it is to thank God for setting her free in both poems. In “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Wheatley explains to her audience that this is when she realized that there is a God and Saviour. Beginning her poem off with “Twas Mercy brought me from the Pagan land”(1), emphasizes that she is now growing some type of faith in religion. Wheatley refers to God or his work as “mercy” and she thanks him through this line for freeing her from the “Pagan” land. Throughout “To the University of Cambridge,” Wheatley advises these students to remember who got them where they are. Again, in her opening of the poem she includes “Father of mercy, ‘twas my gracious hand(5),” thanking God for her freedom. Wheatley makes it clear that God should be appreciated for what he does before anything. To contrast, Wheatley makes “On Being Brought From Africa to America” a poem of advice and info to her readers; however, “To the University of Cambridge” was a message to specific people. Wheatley tries to spread her good news in as many places and ways as possible. She uses her story of moving to the America’s as a general inspiration to everyone because this can happen to anyone. Throughout this poem, she states our equality saying, “Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train(5-6)”. Wheatley explains that everyone is welcome into heaven, which is why she dedicates this to everyone. On the other hand, “To the University of Cambridge” is simply dedicated to the students there to remind them of who has them where they are. The students are already in a good place, which is why this is a different type of advice from the people she dedicate her story on moving to the America’s too. Wheatley reminds the students “how jesus’ blood shed for our redemption(6)”. Wheatley is trying to get these students to understand who and why God should be thanked daily. She even goes on to say what he’ve done for her, saying he’ve “Brought me from those dark adobes (3).” Telling them what he’ve done for her gives them more encouragement to thank her as much as she does.
Phillis Wheatley biography and critical analysis suggest that she was a very lucky, acknowledged, and appreciated African American slave.

In Wheatley’s critical analysis she is given congrats for being the poet she became. The author of the analysis states, “Wheatley was one of only three Americans who were able to publish poetry...(1)” Wheatley was being acknowledged for her incredible ability of faith in herself. Wheatley’s biography it emphasizes how young and inexperienced she was in the beginning. However, it’s mentioned in Wheatley’s critical article that “Wheatley was the abolitionists’ illustrative testimony that blacks could be artistic and intellectual. Wheatley was very well acknowledged and appreciated for speaking up for ones who couldn’t. In both articles Wheatley was spoken highly of and respected by both races for her “works of

art(29)”.