'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
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why does wheatley use the term pagan instead of heathen in this peom
From guest kim johnson (contact)
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Guest Kim Johnson
Though both pagan and heathen share a common meaning "followers of a religion different to that of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. However both words have other meanings too and pagan originally meant "rustic" or "country bumpkin" and refered to people from a less socially advanced or aware region. I believe that is the case here.
Unfortunately, many people do not know of the multiple meanings of some words and quite naturally assume that the meaning that they have been taught is universally accepted.
One should try to look at the context in which the word is used, as well as the dictionary, in order to attempt to deduce the intent of the writer. Especially of a writer from a different era.
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STRONG POEM
From guest JANE DOE (contact)
I THINK THIS IS VERY STRONG AND GOOD POEM.IT WAS VERY INSPIRING! -
From guest Beth (contact)
Darkness is an overpowering theme in "On Being Brought From Africa to America", with darkness representing her past, her skin color and black people as a race. Phyllis Wheatley was taught from age seven exclusively by white Christian Puritans. This laid the groundwork for her fierce beliefs in Christianity and the superiority of the white race, which she clearly indicates in her poems. The use of the word “benighted” (line 2) is used to negatively highlight the idea of darkness. Though the traditional definition of benighted is “Overtaken by night or darkness”, the secondary definition is listed as “Being in a state of moral or intellectual darkness. “’Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land / Taught my benighted soul to understand” refers to her time in Africa before being brought to America. Right away, Wheatley is letting the reader know that her dark skin transcended to her soul, and that because of God’s mercy, her blackened soul was brought to the light. This is a highly religious image, evoking the Christian idea of original sin being placed on the souls of Jesus’ future disciples. Those around Wheatley were “lights”—both in skin and to the world—and she was a dark mark to repair. Another important issue to address is Wheatley’s use of the word “pagan” (line 1). A pagan is one who does not believe in the idea of a monotheistic God, but rather believes in polytheism, or no God at all. Because of Wheatley’s obvious love of Christianity, calling Africa pagan is tantamount to calling it worthless. She is generalizing that the nation is full of heathens, people regarded in Wheatley’s time as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened. These beliefs are a product of her upbringing in Boston: Puritans believe most notably in order, and the idea of being in control. By saying “Once I redemption neither sought nor knew”, she is taking herself out of her past and her born race, and begins to elevate herself to the Puritan, white, Christian race where she feels she belongs. Because the religious lives and practical lives of Puritans are interspersed, the idea that an entire nation would be Godless is frightening and foreign to a born-again Puritan like Wheatley. -
I think Phillis believed that it was God's mercy that brought her from a land that served and worshiped idols. The means for Phillis was different from the "normal" slave. Her master was a prominent tailor who did not mind that Phillis read, and taught her to write. As his slave she could speak seven languages, fluently, was well bred, and educated. Her demise came about through love. She fell in love with a perpetrator that tried his hand at many things and did nothing well. Phillis died of poverty and a broken heart and her three children died consecutively three days after her. They were all buried in the same coffin. I have portrayed Ms. Wheatley for twenty years and read her autobiography and several books of her works. She believed what she wrote in this poem and that is what stands, for her. The problem I see is that many want to blame everyone for something they had a direct hand in. We (Africans) also sold our brothers and sisters into slavery. In my estimation, everyone who partook in this atrocity is guilty of its reign of terror on a people. I love this poem and fully understand it. My \grandmother introduced me to Phillis with this poem and I respect and Adore her faith! She even knew way back then that Cain was a Black man!
"Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die.""
These lines tell who she thought we were as a race. Our blood is fierce! Mix Black with any other race and we shine through the off-spring. Excellent work. I have always adored this poem.
Renee
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Whilst I agree with 99 percent of what Renee has said above I feel that Phyllis was using black as a quality and not a colour in her line
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
The implication being that Cain was a transgressor and not a member of a particular group. For if the Bible story is true we are ALL from the same roots.
The consternation caused in modern minds by the use of a colour to indicate a human quality has often clouded the intended meaning of a phrase.
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''Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,'
Phillis Wheatley seems brain-washed in thinking it was mercy, it wasn't. It was slavery, it was murder, it was fortitude. If that is mercy, then even an intelligent person can be brain-washed into believing anything.
'Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God. that their's a Saviour too:'
I believe, even then, that Africans, from most countries there, had gods, some were of Islam, some were of different religions, but, in their religions there was a god. But, I reckon that means nothing because they weren't 'real gods'.
The mindset, this is what shows to me, the mindset of not only those who were brain-washed into believing what ever they were told, but, also of the mindset of Christians then, which hardly is any different than now, on the most part.
There's substance here though, and I guess that's enough.
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I'm not too sure about this. I think perhaps I too would have to read her book to fully understand her journey to God. As a migrant myself in modern times I still have issues unsolved after many years. the poem itself - yes it's good. it's her own words about her own feelings so that has to be a good thing.
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After reading the book "Hang A Thousand Trees with Ribbons" about the life of Phillis Wheatley, I really respect her for what she went through. I love this poem, it's so gorgeous. I like how she has written about her enslavement as being almost a blessing in disguise in terms of bring her to God. Wondrfully thought-filled.
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cool....i've read so many poems from old poetry and they're all really cool...i love them. i'm so glad they're being shared.
blessed be.
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