Phillis Wheatley: Life, Works, and Themes

Phillis Wheatley: Life and Works

  • Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784)

    • Early Life: Born in Africa, possibly in present-day Senegal or Gambia.
    • Captured by slavers and brought to Boston in 1761.
    • Purchased by John Wheatley, a wealthy tailor, as a companion for his wife, Susanna Wheatley.
    • Named after the ship that transported her to America.
    • Education:
    • Taught to read and write due to the sympathetic nature of Susanna Wheatley.
    • Became familiar with Latin writers and the Bible, as well as English poets:
      • John Milton
      • Alexander Pope
      • Thomas Gray
    • Influences: Introduced to a circle of enlightened Boston Christians, recognizing slavery's incompatibility with Christian life.

  • Literary Achievements:

    • In September 1773, published her first book, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," in London at age 19 or 20.
    • Gained public attention as a child prodigy and as an enslaved person.
    • Includes a testimonial from prominent citizens like the governor of Massachusetts and John Hancock, asserting her qualifications to write.
    • International Fame:
    • Gained recognition after writing a poetic eulogy for George Whitefield, an English evangelist.
    • In June 1773, traveled to London with Nathaniel Wheatley to seek support for her poetry.
    • Significant Events:
    • Returned to Boston upon learning of Susanna Wheatley’s death in 1774.
    • Granted manumission (freedom) in the fall of 1773.
    • Married John Peters, a freedman, in 1778, leading a life marked by poverty and loss, including the death of her three children.
    • Later Life and Legacy:
    • Attempted to publish a second volume of poetry, including letters and poems, but failed to gain subscribers.
    • Work rediscovered in the 1830s by abolitionists, providing a broader interpretative context for her poetry.
    • Political Stance:
    • Advocated for American independence and the abolition of slavery.
    • Dilemmas faced by African Americans during the fight for liberty highlighted in her works.
    • Public letter to minister Samson Occom, decrying slavery and asserting the innate human desire for freedom.

Themes and Style in Wheatley’s Poetry

  • Major Themes:

    • Spiritual Liberty: Exploration of liberation through Christ and the universal nature of freedom.
    • Political Liberty:
    • Critique of the oppression of African Americans; emphasized the connection between civil and religious liberty.
    • Recognition of the “Love of Freedom” principle implanted by God in all humans.
    • Nature's Beauty:
    • Exalted views of nature and the divine, using sensory language to describe its wonders.
    • Suffering and Redemption: Poems reflect her personal struggles as an enslaved person and the hope for spiritual and social redemption.

  • Style Influences:

    • Utilized the Neoclassical Verse Form: The heroic couplet was her predominant style, characterized by:
    • Rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter lines.
    • Romantic Themes: Elements of vision and imagination that align with the emerging Romantic tradition.

Notable Poems

  • "On Being Brought from Africa to America"

    • Acknowledges the duality of her experience:
    • Introduces the idea of Christian salvation for all races.
    • Challenges the racist outlook on her race, stating that even dark-skinned individuals can be refined morally and spiritually.

  • "To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth"

    • Celebrates the arrival of Freedom in America:
    • Laboring over the unjust and tyrannical practices that enslaves the land.

  • "To His Excellency General Washington"

    • Composed in honor of George Washington:
    • Appeals for unity and valor in the pursuit of freedom for all, incorporating classical references.

  • "Thoughts on the Works of Providence"

    • Reflects on the natural world as a manifestation of divine goodness:
    • Asks for strength and understanding in the face of human suffering and ungratefulness.

Legacy and Impact

  • Wheatley’s poetry represents a vital voice in both literary circles and the abolitionist movement.
  • Her unique position as an African American woman and an enslaved individual who achieved literary acclaim remains an important topic in American literature and historical discussions on race and gender.
  • Recent scholarship emphasizes Wheatley’s role as a sophisticated commentator on her social conditions, her literary prowess, and her forward-looking advocacy for rights.