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Phillis Wheatley’s Contribution to American History

Alexander Pope, Anne Bradstreet, Elegy, John Milton

The story of Phillis Wheatley is one of tragedy, though it can also be deemed one of the greatest stories about the excellence of the human spirit ever told. Born circa 1754, Wheatley was kidnapped from Africa and into slavery and sold to John and Susannah Wheatley of Boston, MA, around 1761. During captivity the Wheatley’s 18 year old daughter, Mary taught her to speak, read and write English. Wheatley succeeded rapidly and by age 12 she began to excel at both Latin and English literature. Eventually Wheatley gained popularity as a slave girl whose writing talent exceeded most whites. At 20 years old she was sent to England with Nathaniel Wheatley, her master’s son. While there, her first piece, an elegy to the evangelical preacher George Whitefield, was published in 1770. Soon Wheatley was bid home due to Susannah’s failing health and eventual death. She was freed by John Wheatley, shortly before his own death, and married grocery store owner John Peters in 1778, during the Civil War. Peters’ business failed, along with several other ventures. Unable to generate enough income from her writing, Wheatley became a servant and the couple remained impoverished. They had three children, all of whom died in infancy. Wheatley herself, abandoned by her husband during her last pregnancy, died penniless from childbirth complications at about age 31. The infant passed soon after. Though she lived and died in poverty, her legacy and contribution to American literature is priceless.

Over the course of her career, Wheatley wrote over 100 poems though more than 30 were lost. Her poetry focused primarily on religious and moral themes. Being the first African American woman to become published, Wheatley is credited with starting the African-American literary tradition. Not only was she the first African -American woman, but she is also the second American woman to be a published poet. While Wheatley’s writing style was piously religious and neo-classic in nature with restrained emotion, it is said to have undercurrents of subtle, veiled rhetoric regarding slavery and racism. Her work was strongly influenced by writers like John Milton, Alexander Pope and possibly Anne Bradstreet. She held George Washington in high esteem and even dedicated a poem, “To His Excellency General Washington” him. Washington was honored and invited her to visit him. Wheatley also served as an inspiration to other poets, namely slave Jupiter Hammon.

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Today Phillis Wheatley, once an internationally acclaimed poet, is celebrated for her rich contribution to American history. Her name lives on in memorials and honorariums across the country.

http://lead.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap2/wheatley.html

http://www.africaresearch.org/Papers/N06/Whit1.pdf

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2925190