The most remarkable thing to me about Phillis Weatley's poetry is Phillis Weatley. To be honest, I don't care much for her poems --except one which I'll get to--but her life is fascinating. The fact that she was a slave while being a published poetress (is that a word?) is unbelievable. I've often wondered how a person could keep another enslaved when they're aware of their feelings and beliefs and...humanity. Perhaps I still have alot to learn about slavery from a slaveholder's perspective, but the concept of slavery seems so unbelievable to me that I never have reconciled myself to it.
Anyhow, moving on. I was not aware that her slaveholders were kind people and educated her in literature and Latin and the Bible. Which brings me to my favorite poems of hers, "On Being Brought from Africa to America." This is my favorite, again, because of how fascinating a route she takes with it. Speaking of one's home country where one's mother and father live as a "pagan land" seems harsh and cold. I could not imagine Equiano speaking of his villiage like that. And mercy? I'm pretty sure that most slaves did not feel this way. But the rest of the poem is wonderful to me. A reminder to "Christians" that slaves are human beings who deserve the love of the same God as their slaveholders.
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Poetess is the word you're going for...so poetress is kind of a real word :)
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at how Wheatley wrote of her homeland, too, and how she said that "mercy" put her in slavery and showed her God. I suspect that Wheatley's atypically kind owners (I can't get over how icky "owners" sounds) and unusual situation influenced her view of God in relation to her enslavement. I agree that most slaves probably didn't view their captivity as merciful. I can't see Equiano speaking so negatively of his homeland, either. In writing, at least, he made it out to be an idyllic, good place.
Great post!