In the late 17th ceuntry, artistic minds recognize the need for education to enhance the world 's content. The expanded conciousness and perception that results from learning is a huamn gift that distinguishes man from beast. The difficult answers of the human condition, such as purpose on earth, are revealied to each individual depending on their educational and cultural expreinces. All three poems To S. M. A Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works, by Phillis Wheatley, Learning to Read, by Fances Ellen Watkins Harper, and George Moses Horton, Myself, by George Horton, express education heightening the human expreince. The authors are all grateful for their abilities, and appricate their gifs, but also lament the overwhelming struggles
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Looking forward to death is sad, but she knows only in heaven will their minds and talent will not be denied.
In Learning to Read Harper writes the narrators main motivation for learning to read was so she could read the 'precious words ' in the Bible. People are often defined by their relationship to religion, which gives them purpose, answers, and security in life.
“And I longed to read my Bible, For precious words it said,” (Harper, 1992).
Even though the old woman would undoubtedly know the stories from the Bible, being able to independently read them made Chloe confident, content, and closer with her religion. After Chloe learns to read, the former slave feels like a queen. This metaphore,
“And I felt independent As the queen upon her throne, “ (Harper, 1992). shows that literacy is enough to drasticly improve conciousness and attitude. In Horton 's poem, Myself, he writes that his natural born genus is his gift from heaven. Feeling like his time is running out as death approaches, Horton still hopes to prove his genius. He uese the methaphor that his talent is like beauty only heaven can create.
“Or mount up from the earth into the …show more content…
The slave owners denying African American 's of the ability to learn dehumanized the salves into submission. “Our masters always tried to hide Book learning from our eyes;
Knowledge did’nt agree with slavery— ’Twould make us all too wise,” (Harper, n.d.). The slaves were raised by the opressors to believe that they were unworthy of eduaction. However, as Harper 's story describes, slaves stole literature and learned in private. Again studying Chole refering to herself as a queen shows that reading expanded her idenity,
“And never stopped till I could read The hymns and Testament...
And I felt independent As the queen upon her throne,” (Harper, n.d). Horton 's tone is slightly resentful as he recognizes that no person deserves to have their talent stifeled. He feels like the potential of his life is not realized since his mind has expanded, but he is still physically held back by his race and age.
“I feel myself in need Of the inspiring strains of ancient
Looking forward to death is sad, but she knows only in heaven will their minds and talent will not be denied.
In Learning to Read Harper writes the narrators main motivation for learning to read was so she could read the 'precious words ' in the Bible. People are often defined by their relationship to religion, which gives them purpose, answers, and security in life.
“And I longed to read my Bible, For precious words it said,” (Harper, 1992).
Even though the old woman would undoubtedly know the stories from the Bible, being able to independently read them made Chloe confident, content, and closer with her religion. After Chloe learns to read, the former slave feels like a queen. This metaphore,
“And I felt independent As the queen upon her throne, “ (Harper, 1992). shows that literacy is enough to drasticly improve conciousness and attitude. In Horton 's poem, Myself, he writes that his natural born genus is his gift from heaven. Feeling like his time is running out as death approaches, Horton still hopes to prove his genius. He uese the methaphor that his talent is like beauty only heaven can create.
“Or mount up from the earth into the …show more content…
The slave owners denying African American 's of the ability to learn dehumanized the salves into submission. “Our masters always tried to hide Book learning from our eyes;
Knowledge did’nt agree with slavery— ’Twould make us all too wise,” (Harper, n.d.). The slaves were raised by the opressors to believe that they were unworthy of eduaction. However, as Harper 's story describes, slaves stole literature and learned in private. Again studying Chole refering to herself as a queen shows that reading expanded her idenity,
“And never stopped till I could read The hymns and Testament...
And I felt independent As the queen upon her throne,” (Harper, n.d). Horton 's tone is slightly resentful as he recognizes that no person deserves to have their talent stifeled. He feels like the potential of his life is not realized since his mind has expanded, but he is still physically held back by his race and age.
“I feel myself in need Of the inspiring strains of ancient