Study Notes on Philip Freneau and Phillis Wheatley

Philip Freneau is often described as having failed at many endeavors.
- Notably recognized as a journalist, political pamphleteer, and poet.
- Struggled to achieve financial stability through his writing.
- Cause of financial challenges: Immature print market in the United States at the time.
- Later writers like Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper succeeded in supporting themselves through writing.

Freneau's style is a source of literary conflict.
- Supporters argue his lyrical abilities were hindered by his political writing.
His poems suggest a struggle between two literary traditions:
- Neoclassical Augustan poetry (e.g., Alexander Pope).
- Emerging Romantic poetry of the late 18th century (e.g., Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads published in 1798).

Romantic poets called for a more natural and personal form of expression.
- Aimed to foster a voice of a poet that resonates with ordinary people.
- Advocated for freer verse forms compared to the traditional heroic couplet.
Freneau and contemporaries like Phillis Wheatley leaned towards Romantic themes but did not achieve the same poetics transformation as their British counterparts.

Raised in Manhattan, Freneau was privileged, enjoying social and economic advantages.
- Early exposure to the arts due to visits from influential writers and artists to the Freneau home.
Educated by tutors and entered the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) at age fifteen.
- Formed a deep friendship with James Madison and connected with fellow classmate Hugh Henry Brackenridge.
Co-composed an ode titled "On the Rising Glory of America" during their senior year:
- Excerpt from the ode:
- "Paradise anew
  Shall flourish, by no second Adam lost,
  No dangerous tree with deadly fruit shall grow,
  No tempting serpent to allure the soul
  From native innocence…"
Briefly taught school, pursuing writing as a career.

Accepted a role as a secretary on a plantation in the West Indies in 1776.
- Resulted in near three years in St. Croix where he produced evocative lyrical works.
- Acknowledges a harsh reality in To Sir Toby that contrasts the idyllic nature he described with the exploitation and poverty of slaves in the region.
Returned home in 1778, served as a seaman on a blockade runner in the American Revolution.
- Captured at sea, imprisoned aboard the British ship Scorpion, where he faced cruelty:
- Documented this experience in The British Prison Ship (1781), which became popular among contemporaries.

After gaining his health, moved to Philadelphia, gaining reputation as a journalist, satirist, and poet.
- Became the editor of the Freeman’s Journal.
- Authored impassioned poetry supporting the American Revolution and critiquing loyalists.
Hired by Thomas Jefferson in 1791 as a translator, continuing to advance in journalism.
- Edited the National Gazette, aligned with Jefferson’s political beliefs (Democratic-Republicans), opposing the Federalists.
- Freneau held a disdain for Alexander Hamilton, reflecting the political tensions of the time.
Despite his contributions, he faced challenges as his newspaper concluded publication in 1793.
- Subsequently shifted between ship captaincy and newspaper editing in New Jersey and New York.

Spent his final years struggling on a New Jersey farm, ultimately impoverished and isolated.
- Sold inherited land over the years, living primarily off a pension as a veteran of the Revolution.
Freneau was a prolific writer whose work covered various themes:
- Revolution, slavery, relationships with Native Americans, and natural beauty.
His poetry effectively merges lyricism with the thematic exploration of beauty, nature, and ethical considerations.

Theme: The transient nature of beauty and existence.
Key Lines:
- "Fair flower, that dost so comely grow…"
- "The space between, is but an hour, The frail duration of a flower."

Theme: Different cultural views on death and the afterlife.
Discusses the practice of Native Americans burying their dead in a seated position to suggest an eternal return to life.
Significant Lines:
- "In spite of all the learned have said, I still my old opinion keep."

Theme: Critique of slavery and its inhumanity.
Describes the horrors faced by slaves in a metaphorical 'hell' setting.
**Key Lines: **
- "If there exists a hell—the case is clear—
  Sir Toby’s slaves enjoy that portion here."

Theme: Critique of monarchy and advocacy for rights of man.
Reflects Enlightenment ideas and the revolutionary spirit.
Highlight: Calls for the overthrow of monarchy and promotes the inherent rights of all individuals.

Theme: The harmonious relationship between nature and religion.
Promotes an idea of natural religion free from dogma.
Significant Lines:
- "Religion, such as nature taught,
  With all divine perfection suits;"

Phillis Wheatley published Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in September 1773 at approximately 19 or 20 years old.
Captured public attention as a child prodigy and an enslaved person.
- Publishes with a testimonial from notable figures vouching for her capabilities despite her status as a slave.
Born in Africa (likely Senegal or Gambia), transported to Boston in 1761.
- Purchased by John Wheatley, a tailor, intended as a companion for his wife.
Received an education in reading and writing thanks to the support of Susanna Wheatley.
- Influenced by prominent literature and poetry from writers like Milton, Pope, and Gray.
Gained international fame through her poetic tributes, notably eulogizing George Whitefield, leading to broader public recognition.