Poetry on Various Subjects, Religions and Morals by Phillis Wheatley, Negro Servant for Lord John Wheatley, Boston, in New England (published September 1, 1773) is a collection of 39 poems written by Phillis Wheatley, the first professional American African American poet in America and the first African-American woman whose writings were published.
Video Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
Significance
Phillis Wheatley broke down the obstacles as the first American black woman poet to be published, opening the door for future black writers. James Weldon Johnson, author, politician, diplomat and one of the first African-American professors at New York University, wrote of Wheatley that "he is not a great American poet - and in his day there was no great American poet - but he was a poet America is important.The importance, if for no other reason, rests on the fact that, with the exception of one, he is the first in the order of time of all American poets, and he is the first of all American poets to issue volumes.
Maps Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
Verify
Phillis Wheatley has collected 28 poems and advertised for customers in the Boston newspaper in February 1772 with the help of his mistress, Mrs. Wheatley. Can not find publishers in American colonies, as is common among the white-educated colonial elite in America to feel the white racial superiority of blacks. This belief is also found among the prominent Enlightenment thinkers, among them David Hume who wrote that "I tend to suspect Negroes, and in general all other human species (as there are four or five different types) are naturally inferior to whites "and Immanuel Kant who believes that" [he] African Negro naturally has no feelings that rise above trivial things. "The Black Africans are considered incapable of reasoning and therefore are only fit for manual work, and can not produce literature or poetry because they require higher cognitive abilities. They are looking for London for publishers who prefer poetry written by African slaves. Wheatley sent his poem On Pdt. Mr. George Whitefield, who had previously brought his national attention, to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, a Calvinist evangelist, who had been a member of the Whitefield parish. He directed Wheatley to Boston's bookseller, Archibald Bell, London's leading book and printer dealer. Bell responds that since Phillis is a slave, he will need proof that he has written the poem himself. Therefore, it is important for Phillis, his master, John Wheatley, and many respected members of Boston to explain how a slave came to read and write poetry, and to convince the readers that the work actually belongs to Wheatley himself.
Preface
In what became standard practice for black writers writing in the 18th century and early 19th century (including Olaudah Equiano and Venture Smith), Wheatley included in his book an apology and reverence, explaining how the poems "were written originally for the Amusement of the Author, because they are the product of his spare time. "His simple care and asking that" Critics will not greatly criticize their Disabilities, and we assume they have too many Advantages to be removed with Hate, as useless and meaningless Effusion. "
Mail to Publisher
Included in the edition Poems on the Subjects is a letter from John Wheatley to Archibald Bell, explaining how Phillis Wheatley was brought from Africa to America at the age of eight as a slave, that he had no prior knowledge of English and what he knows, he does not learn from formal education, but from the Wheatley family. The letter also states that Phillis started learning Latin and is making "some progress in it".
Endorsement
On October 8, 1772, Phillis Wheatley, then about 18 years old, was interviewed by 18 publicly identified men "as the most esteemed character in Boston." Among them is John Hancock, who serves as president of the Second Continental Congress and is the first and third Governors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and will be remembered for his large and stylish signature on the Declaration of Independence of the United States, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver and Reverend Samuel Mather, son of Cotton Mather and grandson of Mather Improvement. The men signed an endorsement clause that proved that they believed Wheatley had written the poem itself, as claimed by its owner, John Wheatley. This verse is addressed To Publick in Wheatley Poetry on Different Subjects, Religions and Morals . What kind of question Wheatley asks is unknown, because according to Henry Louis Gates "there is no transcript of exchange between Miss Wheatley and the eighteen examiners" existing today, but Wheatley seems to have "escaped [the question] by flying colors."
"As has been repeatedly suggested to the Publisher, by the People, who have seen the Manuscript, that Numbers will be ready to suspect them is not really PHILLIS Writings, he has obtained the following Enactment, from the most esteemed The characters in Boston, that no one has the least Land to dispute with the original.
WE whose Names are less written, make sure the World, that the POEM specified in the following Page, * is (as we believe) written by Phillis, the Negro Girl, who a few years later, brought a barbaric Barbarian from Africa, and since then it has been, and now, under Losses serving as Slave in the Family of the City. He has been examined by some of the best Judges, and is deemed qualified to write it
- Your Highness THOMAS HUTCHINSON, Governor
- The Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Lieutenant-Governor
- The Hon. Thomas Hubbard
- The Hon. John Erving
- The Hon. James Pitts
- The Hon. Harrison Gray
- The Hon. James Bowdoin
- John Hancock, Esq
- Joseph Green, Esq
- Richard Carey, Esq
- Rev. Charles Chauncey,
- Reverend. Mather Byles,
- The Rev. Ed. Pemberton, D. D.
- Rev. Andrew Elliot,
- Reverend. Samuel Cooper,
- Reverend. Lord Samuel Mather
- Reverend. Master. John Moorhead
- Master. John Wheatley, His Teacher
N. B. The original endorsement, signed by the Gentlemen above, can be found by registering to Archibald Bell, Bookseller, No. 8, Aldgate-Street. "
Content
Phillis Wheatley is a student who diligently reads the Bible and especially admires the works of Alexander Pope (1688-1744), British neoclassical writer. Through the Pope's translation of Homer, he also developed a taste for Greek mythology, all of which had a great influence on his work, with many of his poems dealing with important figures of his day.
Poems
"To SM Young African painter, while viewing the Work -he's "
Written for Scipio Moorhead, an enslaved African American artist living in Boston, is credited with a front-engraved Wheatley engraving used in Poetry on Different Subjects . The poem follows the Wheatley pattern that offers praise for the individual, in this case apparently as gratitude for the frontists.
"In Pastor's Death Mr. George Whitefield"
This work brings Early fame Wheatley. Published in Boston, Philadelphia, and New Haven, it is poetry poetry written in heroic verses, in honor of Rev. Whitefield, an influential preacher in New England and founder of Methodism.
"On Virtue"
Following the style of the Whales, Wheatley used the Virtues to help him on his journey throughout life, and his dispute for higher adoption.
"To The Most High King"
Written in honor of King George III, this is a poetry of praise for today's famous people, as are the subjects of many of Wheatley's poems. Here he praises him on behalf of the American colonists for his removal of the Stamp Act.
Reception
Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book, male or female, and the first to achieve an international reputation when he traveled to London to publish the Poems on Various Subjects in 1773. He was noticed by Benjamin Franklin, Brook Watson, the May Mayor of London, who gave him a copy of Paradise Lost by John Milton, and he was also scheduled to recite a poem for King George III, but Wheatley could not attend because he was forced to return to Boston a month before the Poetry on Various Subjects was published, due to the fatal illness of her employer, Susana Wheatley.
Wheatley could not publish any additional poetry. Between October 30 and December 18, 1779, he ran six advertisements asking customers for "300 pages in Octavo", volume "Dedicated to Benjamin Right Benjamin Franklin, Esq.: One of the United States Ambassadors in French Courts". As with the Poetry on Various Subjects , however, the American people will not support one of the most famous poets. It is estimated that a total of 145 Wheatley poems have been lost.
Criticism
Contemporary critic
Thomas Jefferson highlights the ability of Wheatley in his book Notes on the State of Virginia, writes that â € Å" [r] eligion, indeed, has produced Phillis Wheatley; but can not produce a poet. Composition published under it name under the dignity of criticism. "However, Wheatley received praise from such figures as Benjamin Franklin and Voltaire, who wrote that Wheatley produces" de trÃÆ'¨s-bons vers anglais "(excellent English verse). a poem that Wheatley writes for her, writes that "however unworthy I can be a kind of fantasy and panegyrick, the style and way of showing the striking evidence of your great poetic talents."
Modern critics
The 20th-century critic James James noted that, while Wheatley was not a "great" American poet, he was undoubtedly "important". In addition, Johnson notes that his poetry is only a time poem, that is the 18th century, and that he is strongly influenced by Alexander Pope. Johnson concludes by stating that "his work should not be judged by future work and standards, but by work and standards in his own time and his own contemporaries." With this method of criticism he stands out as one of the most important characters in American literary production , without any allowance for gender or predecessor ".
He also argues that Wheatley's position as a slave does not give him the freedom to actually express his thoughts in his poetry. Scholars have recently discovered the poetry, letters and facts about Wheatley and his relationship to the abolitionist black eighteenth century, and "mapped out his famous use of classicism and have revealed the sociological intent of his biblical allusions." All of these studies and interpretations have proven to have underestimated Wheatley for the institution of slavery and the use of art to weaken its practice ".
Being Brought from Africa to America
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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