Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa in 1753 and then sold into slavery in America at around eight years old. John Wheatley from Boston and his family took her in and immediately recognized her talent in writing poetry that they continued to let her do so despite being enslaved. Wheatley learned how to read and write English by the age of nine and even learned Latin, Greek, and the Bible, which increased her level of education even more. Her work and story is significant because of her capability to show others that she could be an educated and talented enslaved African American woman. Wheatley was the first African American poet to publish a book in September 1773 titled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious, and Moral which includes thirty-nine of her poems. Eventually, Wheatley was freed as a slave and then published an antislavery poem and a poem to George Washington. Washington even praised her for her poetry and talent in writing.

Including Phillis Wheatley would be beneficial because she speaks to the events during her time and how audiences would normally neglect her poetry because of her background. Having her work provides insight into the lives of those enslaved and provides a better understanding of their emotions and perspective on America’s slavery. A poem such as A Farewell to America provides insight onto her personal journey and her poetry including her hopes and desires as a writer. Written in the context of her leaving

America in order to publish her work, this reveals more on her perspective and thoughts at the time. In the second stanza she states, “I mourn for health denyd” signifying that in these times she only hopes for good health and hopes in a better life. For readers today, this insight is valuable in understanding the world inside of a slave such as Phillis Wheatley. Additionally, she includes many religious references in her poems showcasing how the dominant ideals of Christianity at the time heavily influenced her work and ideals. This reveals more about the way religion influenced all people at the time, including slaves where they looked for hope in religion for their brutal circumstances.

Links of poems to include:

A Farewell to America: https://poets.org/poem/farewell-america

On Virtue: https://poets.org/poem/virtue

To A Lady And Her Children, On the Death of her Son and their Brother: https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/206/poems-on-various-subjects-religious-and-moral/4906/to-a-lady-and-her-children-on-the-death-of-her-son-and-their-brother/

Works Cited

Wheatley, Phillis, poet. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious, and Moral, 1773. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.