During the 17th and 18th centuries in America, women were not a part of the literary construction and were limited to the traditional roles perceived of women during this time. Two exceptional authors, Phillis Wheatley and Anne Bradstreet, proved to their patriarchal society that any woman, despite their race or color, can overcome their struggles in life as long as they were aligned with a belief system and stayed true to their mission on Earth. Christianity provided a means for both authors to express their creativity and emerge as published writers who were able to use religion as the driving force of their literary success. Wheatley and Bradstreet maintained respective roles in society and through their literary works, and the reflection
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People perceived slaves as illerate and uneducated, and certainly could not believe that a slave could create such intense and creative poems and become a successful published writer. In the powerful poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, the ideas of religion, slavery, and salvation expose the advantages and disadvantages of Wheatley’s life in America. Wheatley was grateful when she was introduced to Christianity through her enslavement, which brought her peace and salvation when she says, “’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” (lines 1-3). Wheatley uses the term “benighted” to explain that her homeland natives were unaware of Christianity and the potential it had in saving her life. The author expressed that she is now in the land of Christianity, which is divine and merciful and represents God, her savior. In lines 5-6, Wheatley says, “Some view our sable race with a scornful eye/ Their color with a diabolic dye”, emphasizing that blacks are viewed as inhumane and atrocious forms of being, and the color of their skin is associated with the taint of evil or the devil. Although America has saved her religiously, Wheatley had experienced the ultimate mistreatment of being enslaved, prejudice, and racism; something …show more content…
Wheatley reminded the students that they owe their education to God because without him, they would not be there. She says, “And mark the systems of revolving worlds/ Still more, ye sons of science ye receive/ The blissful news by messengers from Heav’n/ How Jesus’ blood for your redemption flows” (lines 9-12). The author encouraged the students to be educated as she mentions “revolving worlds”, which references to the American Revolution, in which the colonies fought for their independence from England, implying that the end result will bring equality. She addresses the students as “sons of science”, sarcastically letting the students know that science doesn’t explain their existence in the world, and they owe it to God, who was crucified for their behalf. Wheatley warns the students when she says, “Improve your privileges while they stay/ Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears/ Or good or bad report of you to Heav’n”, emphasizing that they should take advantage of their opportunities of learning about the world and practicing their faith because all of their deeds, whether they be good or bad, is reported to God. She also suggested to the students that they should be aware
People perceived slaves as illerate and uneducated, and certainly could not believe that a slave could create such intense and creative poems and become a successful published writer. In the powerful poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, the ideas of religion, slavery, and salvation expose the advantages and disadvantages of Wheatley’s life in America. Wheatley was grateful when she was introduced to Christianity through her enslavement, which brought her peace and salvation when she says, “’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” (lines 1-3). Wheatley uses the term “benighted” to explain that her homeland natives were unaware of Christianity and the potential it had in saving her life. The author expressed that she is now in the land of Christianity, which is divine and merciful and represents God, her savior. In lines 5-6, Wheatley says, “Some view our sable race with a scornful eye/ Their color with a diabolic dye”, emphasizing that blacks are viewed as inhumane and atrocious forms of being, and the color of their skin is associated with the taint of evil or the devil. Although America has saved her religiously, Wheatley had experienced the ultimate mistreatment of being enslaved, prejudice, and racism; something …show more content…
Wheatley reminded the students that they owe their education to God because without him, they would not be there. She says, “And mark the systems of revolving worlds/ Still more, ye sons of science ye receive/ The blissful news by messengers from Heav’n/ How Jesus’ blood for your redemption flows” (lines 9-12). The author encouraged the students to be educated as she mentions “revolving worlds”, which references to the American Revolution, in which the colonies fought for their independence from England, implying that the end result will bring equality. She addresses the students as “sons of science”, sarcastically letting the students know that science doesn’t explain their existence in the world, and they owe it to God, who was crucified for their behalf. Wheatley warns the students when she says, “Improve your privileges while they stay/ Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears/ Or good or bad report of you to Heav’n”, emphasizing that they should take advantage of their opportunities of learning about the world and practicing their faith because all of their deeds, whether they be good or bad, is reported to God. She also suggested to the students that they should be aware