Comparing and Contrasting: Rowlandson‚ Bradford‚ and Equiano A major element in the narratives of Mary Rowlandson and William Bradford was the presence of God. He is constantly cited as the reason for an event or thanked for a good fortune. God had such an influence on these writings because the writers were Puritans‚ who saw God in everything. They believed their lives were works of God and often kept diaries so they could document their days. In Mary’s narrative‚ we see a personal connection between
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the day‚ the ’superior’ whites could no longer ignore the rising clamor of those they claimed possession over. These enslaved people had voices‚ and they were making it known that they knew the white man’s language. One such voice was that of Phillis Wheatley‚ a young African girl turned slave and saved by the generosity of her owners. While not an outspoken advocate of slave rights‚ she was one of the first to hint that African-Americans could be more than just objects used for menial and mindless
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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
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the “diabolic die” or in other words‚ evil. Wheatley’s writing wasn’t necessarily intended to be used in a political way‚ she wrote because she wanted to‚ and it was the only way she could make money‚ but it was later used in favor of slavery. If Wheatley was here today she probably wouldn’t want it being used that
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The Interesting Narrative of Equiano features a man who experienced several shifts in identity on his journey to freedom‚ as opposed to someone who worked to construct a specific identity. At the beginning of the narrative‚ Equiano presented the reader with his rendering of Africa—a portrayal of Africa often not in agreement with the Eurocentric view that several non-African native people share. He wiped away a misconstrued guise of primitive and inferior beliefs‚ describing the mannerisms of their
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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “benighted” as “existing in a state of intellectual‚ moral‚ or social darkness.” The word “darkness” really strikes me in this definition‚ just as the word “benighted” struck me when reading Phillis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” This use of “benighted” most certainly refers to her time in Africa‚ which she calls a “Pagan” land. This could refer to actual Paganism being practiced in Africa‚ or a lack of religion entirely. She says that
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1. What is the goal of the author? The author goal in this piece of the Atlantic voyage was his story. It was memoir the life of Gustavus Vassa by Oloudah Equiano about his journey and what he experienced during his childhood and the pain and sorrow he felt at cargo ship. He touched how slaves were put to death and he expected to join the dead because he felt any hour or day it may be him. Finally he described when he reached Barbados every object was new to him house were built with bricks. He
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Phillis Wheatley was one of the most iconic African- American poet. Her poems are the voice of the people who were treated as slaves. The short poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” was story of her life‚ and how she used Bible as a weapon to fight for the equality. In the beginning words of “On Being Brought from Africa to America‚” Wheatley used the word “mercy”. I think Wheatley used it because being brought to America‚ the land of Christianity‚ was the chance for her “benighted soul”
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In Phillis Wheatley ’s poem‚ To the Right Honorable William…‚ evokes a spirit of an American vision that undermines that of Thomas Jefferson ’s Declaration of Independence‚ by reminding the Earl of Dartmouth that all should have freedom but for those who have obtained it‚ should not forget to thank God. Thomas Jefferson ’s vision of America is almost the same as Wheatley ’s with one major difference‚ his version doesn ’t include African Americans nor for that matter‚ equality for women. The words
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Franklin‚ J. Hector St John de Cre’vecoeur‚ and Phyllis Wheatley all call attention to humble and lowly beginnings‚ either of themselves or of Americans in general. Benjamin Franklin expressed through his writings that he had a purpose‚ and being blessed by God he succeeded his lowly beginnings. Cre’veceour looks at lowly and humble beginnings from the point of view of an American. He feels that your past is a lesson learned. Phyllis Wheatley on the other hand‚ looks at lowly and humble beginnings
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