American Named John Wheatley example essay topic

Phillis Wheatley wasn't your typical American poet. She was born on the west coast of Africa and sold into slavery at the age of seven. She was abducted and bought by an American named John Wheatley. Right away Mr. Wheatley recognized the child's' preciousness and raised "her with an education that included Latin writers, Scripture, and English Literature" (Cushman: 74). Mr. Wheatley raised her as his own daughter and treated her as if she were not a slave.

At the young age of twenty she became such an influential poet that she traveled to England to promote her poetry. Upon returning to America she was freed and married a young man named John Peters. While married Wheatley was faced with many hardships including losing her first two children. She later died giving birth to her third child who shortly outlived her.

Mrs. Wheatley although faced with a troubled past of being trapped into slavery she was very thankful for being brought to America. While in America she discovered Christianity "she new that having experienced slavery she had something to say about freedom" (Cushman: 74) of which she converted to. Many poets compare her to impact on their field to that of Anne Bradstreet. She used beautiful words that were perfectly rhymed together to make wonderful poetry. In her first poem she is very overcome by the presence of Christianity. She is trying to persuade to always trust and follow God mercilessly and faithfully.

She is explaining to the students that all that they have been given is because of what God has granted them. She is also telling the story of Jesus, "He deign'd to die that they might rise again" (Cushman: 74). In her next poem she is wishing General Washington all of the best in commanding the great army in defending the country. She is asking for the for the heavens to unfurl the gates and cause the enemy great harm in traveling to America. She is telling him that all of the nation is watching him and what happens in the near future will determine the rest of their lives.

Her last poem is a description of her travels from Africa to America and her being introduced to the divine spirit. It is also telling other that make the journey to find Christ and her will accept you no matter what. Edwards sole was a Christian minister that was an evangelistic type. The sole purpose of his sermon was to instill the fear of God in all of the sinning world. At this point in the world much of it was divided into two religious sects. They were the Protestant and the Roman Catholic.

His goal was to strengthen the religious beliefs of all believers. What stemmed from this event could have never been thought of. Their was a whole new idea of beliefs. Many people disliked what he said and therefore were fighting form the very beginning.

They were studying hard to overcome anything that was brought up by Edwards. There was a whole new theology brought upon by Edwards sermon. At this time in the Colonies they were starting to break off in their ideas with that of the main country. He was a man that believed that you could not really change who you were and that you had to act a certain way to be admitted into the church.

This is perhaps why he was kicked out of his church and forced into the small villages. Edwards belief in life is this that everything that you do must be to glorify God and that he has done for you. and it must be followed strictly for if you don't than you shall burn in hell forever. His sermon was to condemn those that did not do that and to glorify all those that did.