Of Phillis Wheatley's Poem To The University Of Cambridge In New England

Indeed, Phillis Wheatley’s poem, “To the University of Cambridge, in New England,” can be seen as a radical movement of that particular time period. It was not seen as proper for an African American slave to address herself, with such authority, towards white high class. Therefore, I believe that Wheatley purposely identified the clear distinction between her race and that of the upper class white members of society. I imagine that one of Wheatley’s drives, for sharing this poem, consisted of a cautious attempt to open the eyes of certain upper class students and members of high society concerning the subjects of slavery and salvation. One of her other motives being her interpretation of God’s mercy and salvation: “Life without death, and glory
She described Africa as being a wicked, dark place, and “the land of errors.” In fact, she commented on how grateful she was to have been recued by God from such a place. In my opinion, Wheatley constantly places the white race above hers, emphasizing how pertinent they are to the salvation of her race; thus, she believed that her race needed guidance, with slavery being a minor price to pay, and aid to be converted to Christianity. Her words make me suppose that she viewed enslavement as a blessing, to a certain extent, as well as a facilitator towards a safe haven and salvation from eternal damnation. I can’t help but question, if through her words Wheatley was in some manner betraying her own roots. She was fortunate to have been assigned as a companion in the Wheatley estate and later provided with the opportunity to get an education; thus, in her eyes, reemphasizing God’s mercy for her. Perhaps her own experience did not allow her to see what other slaves truly had to endure day after day. In my opinion, Wheatley couldn’t truly relate to the hard life of other slaves. They might have seen their enslavement only as a malicious curse put on them by the whites. This analysis lead me to also question if her understandings of Africa, slavery, and her race weren’t only a product of what she had been told by others, in particular her