Phillis Wheatley, “To the University of Cambridge, In New England”: A Close Reading by Tajae Pryce

Phillis Wheatley’s poem, “To the University of Cambridge, in New England”, addresses an affluent class of 18^th century Harvard students on the topics of mercy, salvation and hope for the impending and distant future. Wheatley makes great use of Christian ideologies and incorporates superficial tones of uncompromised humility in order to successfully relate to her audience on a culturally rational level in order to maintain a cohesive level of consideration of her thoughts. Despite the obvious discernible differences between Wheatley and her audience ethnically, her style of delivery and choice of metaphors allow for the effectiveness of the conveyance of her central themes.  The author makes a point in the poem to strategically convey humble nature by attributing her African origins to an unfortunate, dark incident that she was luckily saved from through the mercy of a Christian god and His devotees. Wheatley further incorporates strategic implementations of religious themes throughout the text in order to advocate her audiences to unceasingly purse the betterment of themselves and continuing to willingly attain knowledge.

Wheatley refers to her homeland as “The land of errors, and Egyptian gloom” (“Cambridge” 4). Her use of ‘Egyptian’ as an attribute plays to the Christian teachings in the Holy Bible wherein Egypt is described a region of historical disparity and persecution. More importantly, in Christianity, Egypt was the land where God’s chosen people, the Hebrews, were held in captivity and went through great turmoil before eventual, merciful liberation. Wheatley was reciting this poem to a nation where Christianity is mainstream as well as slavery and forced labor. A deeper reading of this line and the reference to Egypt perhaps begins Wheatley’s veiled theme of Christian hypocrisy. The following nine lines of the stanza further embellishes on Christian ideology and iconography. She emphasizes a message of vast godly mercy available to those who seek forgiveness due to the compassion that Jesus holds for His followers and the sacrifice He made dying on the cross for their salvation.  “See him with hands out-stretched upon the cross;/ Immense compassion in his bosom glows;/ He hears revilers, nor resents their scorn:/ What matchless mercy in the Son of God! (“Cambridge” 13-16).  This theme of merciful liberation is intriguingly juxtaposed with the decree of  “Father of mercy, ‘twas thy gracious hand/ Brought me in safety from those dark abodes” (4-5). Here, the author aligns her own liberation from Africa to America as evidence of Christian mercy still at work. This gracious liberation narrative was a historically uncommon one for an African immigrant to America to give and more than likely was not expected by the audience no matter what level of acculturation to the Western world Phillis Wheatley would have had. Africans, for the most part, were forcibly removed from their homelands and transported in the unsanitary, uncomfortable hulls of cramped slave ships where many could not survive the voyage. Wheatley may have been very young at the time of her purchase and subsequent transport, but was she still conscientiously aware of the harsh conditions on the ships and the dehumanization of Africans to the status of expendable commodities. These horrible realities, however, according to this poem, have not deterred Phillis’ faith and thankfulness to the Christian God. Her story and undying faith serves as a testament to the pious obedience to Jesus that she is trying to instill in these men of Cambridge as well as the rest of the American middling and upper classes.

Another strong theme that Wheatley emphasizes in “Cambridge” is the importance of one’s ability to shun sin. In the last lines of the poem, she explains that the joys that may come with sinning will only result in condemnation to an eternity of pain; “Its transient sweetness turns to endless pain, / And in immense perdition sinks the soul” (“Cambridge” 29-30).  Wheatley being cast in the unfortunate position of an ‘Ethiop’, as she describes, once again uses herself as proof of someone who can be reformed to live a righteous life. In other words, if she, an African, can be reformed, her much more privileged audience of white, American elite should be able do so even easier. Wheatley further makes references to these inherent privileges afforded to her audience by encouraging them to not only improve upon these opportunities of great godsend, but to expound upon them on their quests to intellectually and socially develop themselves into men of unlimited reverence;  “Improve your privileges while they stay, / Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears/ Or good or bad report of you to heav’n” (“Cambridge” 21-23). Wheatley’s allusion to “dark abodes” (6) is another strong play on the Christian benchmark elements of darkness attributed to malevolency and lightness to piety.  

The manner in which Phillis Wheatley delivers this poem is not meant to portray an accommodative submission to a socially stratified Western culture, nor does is brazenly bring to light the faults of such a society. However, she creates a platform for constructive conversation on important issues in society such as the morality of forced labor institutions, racism, and other forms of oppressive systems and policies. Wheatley, through her writing style and use of religious allusions, is in a way offering a ‘what would Jesus do’ approach into the colonies’ narrative when contemplating socio-political policies and analyses. Wheatley’s conscious awareness of the need for her to convey a humble tone is critical. She was widely regarded as a prodigy of her time from the days of her youth. She was well educated in the arts and sciences and was encouraged to learn develop her various talents; but, she was present during the 18^th century and no level of social admiration or fascination could take away the reality that she was not only a black slave, but a women as well. Wheatley still faced the prejudices attributed with her ethnicity as well as overly misogynistic attitudes that had been aligned with females for centuries. Her “Cambridge” address was delivered to a generally wealthy white male demographic; brash social criticisms and exposure of immoral contradictions in such a setting could have potentially jeopardized not only her reputation but also her well being. Instead, the author, a best as she can, levels herself with her audience on one of the most intimate human levels acquirable, common spiritual faith. It is through this style of illustration that someone with as many perceived social inadequacies as Phillis Wheatley faced was able to create a substantial avenue for other women, especially of color, to see literature as a viable option for the expression of their ideas and creativity.

                                         Works Cited

The Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Volume One: Beginnings to 1865. Second ed. Vol. One. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 602, 603. Print.