Thoughts On The Works Of Providence Analysis

Close Reading Analysis of "Thoughts on the Works of Providence" In Phillis Wheatley's poem "Thoughts on the Works of Providence", the African American woman of the 1700's utilizes her rare reading and writing skills in order to display the praise that she had developed for God when coming over to the Americas as a slave. Through the education that she was lucky enough to receive during her time as a slave for the Wheatley family, Phillis was able to write a number of poems throughout her lifetime, many of them focusing on her religious beliefs and her love for God. In 1773 she wrote "Thoughts on the Works of Providence" marveling at all of the things around her that are accredited to God, the creator, and in hopes of encouraging others to
During her time working as a servant for the mother of this family, it was hard for Mrs. Wheatley not to notice the natural intelligence Phillis had, and decided to educate her along with her other two children. This is ultimately what placed Wheatley far ahead of many other African Americans of the time period, as she was one of the few given the ability to both read and write and is eventually what allowed her to be the first female to have work published in American history. Writing her first poem at the age of 13, Wheatley carried poetry throughout her life often incorporating her new found religious beliefs into her writing. As she grew up with the Wheatley family, she often was surrounded by the evangelical preaching's of George Whitefield, which heavily encouraged her religious beliefs and led her to become an evangelical herself. She then used her poetry to describe to the world how her religious transformation had an effect on her life, even through a life of slavery. This is especially seen in her "Thoughts on the Works of Providence" poem, as she uses it to explain the amazement she has with the world created by
This is first seen in the first stanza when she states "Of light divine be a rich portion lent / To guide my soul, and favour my intent", immediately describing how her religious beliefs, as well as God Himself are comparable to a light within her that is guiding her through life. This is significant because as an African American woman during the 1700's, Wheatley was subject to hardships and a difficult lifestyle. However, the entirety of the poem carries this "light" that she introduces in the beginning, which goes a step further to make it almost seem as if she has a purpose in encouraging her audience to look towards the same God and the same light as she has. This kind of technique continues further when looking at the second stanza as Wheatley states "Which first ordain'd that mighty Sol should reign", suggesting that the "Sol" (Spanish word for sun) holds a certain power or reign over the world. In a sense, through this Wheatley is implying that the sun is God, as it was created by Him, and in turn the sun and all of His creations hold the same power and "reign" that He does. Wheatley encourages this idea in a positive manner, marveling at the ways in which God has so much deserving power and has used it all for the good of his children in creating such an amazing world. Personification is seen in many other areas of