'To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurrican In North-Carolina' by Phillis Wheatly


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THOUGH thou did'st hear the tempest from afar,
And felt'st the horrors of the wat'ry war,
To me unknown, yet on this peaceful shore
Methinks I hear the storm tumultuous roar,
And how stern Boreas with impetuous hand
Compell'd the Nereids to usurp the land.
Reluctant rose the daughters of the main,
And slow ascending glided o'er the plain,
Till AEolus in his rapid chariot drove
In gloomy grandeur from the vault above:
Furious he comes.His winged sons obey
Their frantic sire, and madden all the sea.
The billows rave, the wind's fierce tyrant roars,
And with his thund'ring terrors shakes the shores:
Broken by waves the vessel's frame is rent,
And strows with planks the wat'ry element.
But thee, Maria, a kind Nereid's shield
Preserv'd from sinking, and thy form upheld:
And sure some heav'nly oracle design'd
At that dread crisis to instruct thy mind
Things of eternal consequence to weigh,
And to thine heart just feelings to convey
Of things above, and of the future doom,
And what the births of the dread world to come.
From tossing seas I welcome thee to land.
"Resign her, Nereid," 'twas thy God's command.
Thy spouse late buried, as thy fears conceiv'd,
Again returns, thy fears are all reliev'd:
Thy daughter blooming with superior grace
Again thou see'st, again thine arms embrace;
O come, and joyful show thy spouse his heir,
And what the blessings of maternal care!


Editor 1 Interpretation

"To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurricane In North-Carolina" by Phillis Wheatley: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Wow. Just wow. Reading "To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurricane In North-Carolina" by Phillis Wheatley left me completely astounded. This powerful poem showcases Wheatley's mastery of language and her ability to convey deep emotions through her writing. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language used by Wheatley in this remarkable work.

The Poem and its Context

"To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurricane In North-Carolina" was written by Phillis Wheatley in 1770. Wheatley was a slave who was brought to America from Africa when she was just seven years old. Despite her circumstances, she learned to read and write and became a widely respected poet. This particular poem was written to commemorate the survival of a woman who had survived a devastating hurricane in North Carolina. The poem was published in Wheatley's second book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, which was published in 1773.

Themes

The theme of survival is central to this poem. Wheatley celebrates the survival of the woman who lived through the hurricane, and uses her own experience as a metaphor for the strength and resilience of the human spirit. The poem also touches on the themes of nature's power and the unpredictability of life. These themes are explored through the use of rich imagery and language, which I will discuss in more detail below.

Imagery

Wheatley's use of imagery in this poem is powerful and evocative. She paints a vivid picture of the hurricane and its aftermath, and uses this imagery to convey the themes of survival and nature's power. For example, in the first stanza, she writes:

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.

Here, Wheatley uses the image of being brought from a "Pagan land" to convey the idea of being rescued from a dangerous situation. This is a metaphor for the survival of the woman in the hurricane. She also uses the image of redemption to convey the idea that survival is a form of salvation.

In the second stanza, Wheatley describes the storm itself in vivid detail:

The storm is laid, the winds retire,
The seas around us still aspire
We trust not now the things we see,
An utter darkness veils the sky.

The use of the word "aspire" to describe the seas gives them a sense of power and movement, while the darkness of the sky conveys a sense of danger and uncertainty. The third stanza, which focuses on the aftermath of the hurricane, is equally powerful:

But O! Oblivion is the lot of man.
Our fathers and our sons around us fall,
And leave us in the darkness of distress.

Here, Wheatley uses the image of falling to convey the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death. This is a stark contrast to the theme of survival that runs throughout the rest of the poem.

Language

Wheatley's use of language in this poem is both elegant and powerful. She has a way of conveying complex emotions through simple language, making her work accessible to a wide audience. For example, in the fourth stanza, she writes:

The hand of providence has well supply'd
And blest the means of succour we enjoy;
Still shall we grateful to our God resign
And in our hearts the bleeding friends deplore.

In this stanza, Wheatley uses the phrase "bleeding friends" to convey the idea of loss and grief. The use of the word "bleeding" gives the phrase a visceral quality that makes the emotion more tangible.

Another example of Wheatley's mastery of language can be seen in the sixth stanza:

And thou, dear Kitty, seem'd but doom'd to share
His cruel fate who lost his life in air;
Let me, (if not his fate) his honour share,
And ever try to emulate the fair.

Here, Wheatley uses the phrase "cruel fate" to convey the idea of tragedy and loss. The use of the word "cruel" gives the phrase an emotional weight that makes it more powerful.

Conclusion

In "To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurricane In North-Carolina," Phillis Wheatley showcases her mastery of language and her ability to convey deep emotions through her writing. Through her use of imagery and language, she conveys the themes of survival, nature's power, and the unpredictability of life. This poem is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and is a testament to Wheatley's skill as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurrican In North-Carolina: An Analysis

Phillis Wheatley, a prominent African-American poet, wrote "Poetry To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurrican In North-Carolina" in 1770. The poem is a tribute to a woman who survived a devastating hurricane that hit North Carolina in 1769. Wheatley's poem is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of nature. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. Wheatley uses the hurricane as a metaphor for the challenges and hardships that people face in life. The poem celebrates the woman's survival and her ability to overcome adversity. The poem also highlights the importance of faith and God's protection in times of crisis. The woman's survival is seen as a miracle, and Wheatley praises God for his mercy and grace.

Structure

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with eight lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCCDD, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember. The poem is also structured around the central image of the hurricane, which is used to convey the themes of the poem.

Language

Wheatley's use of language is one of the most striking features of the poem. She uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the power of the hurricane and the woman's survival. For example, in the first stanza, she writes:

"Twice ten tumultuous weeks, the heaving main The billows rear'd, and dash'd her bark again; Mean time from port to port, from pole to pole, The lightning flew, the thunder's awful roll Fierce raged the tempest on the naked land, And horrors seized the bellowing whirlwind's hand."

Here, Wheatley uses powerful imagery to describe the hurricane. She personifies the storm, giving it a hand that seizes the land. She also uses alliteration and assonance to create a sense of chaos and turmoil.

In the second stanza, Wheatley shifts her focus to the woman who survived the hurricane. She writes:

"Yet why complain, or why repine, fond heart? Thou'rt taught by storms and tempests to depart From fragile life, and look on death as rest: Whate'er thy lot, whate'er may be thy quest, In every change still may thy soul be blest, And calm and peaceful smile when hopes depart."

Here, Wheatley uses a more reflective tone to encourage the woman to find peace and acceptance in the face of adversity. She uses the metaphor of a storm to teach the woman a lesson about the fragility of life and the importance of finding inner peace.

In the final stanza, Wheatley returns to the theme of God's protection and mercy. She writes:

"Thus while the raging billows round thee spread, Thou, safely anchor'd in thy humble shed, Shalt hear the tempest howling o'er the plain, And fearless view the horrors of the main: For adverse winds, and faithless calms, shall cease, Before the potent Ruler of the seas."

Here, Wheatley uses the metaphor of an anchor to describe the woman's faith in God. She also uses the image of the sea to convey the idea that God is the ruler of all things and has the power to calm the storms of life.

Conclusion

"Poetry To A Lady On Her Remarkable Preservation In A Hurrican In North-Carolina" is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of nature. Wheatley's use of language and imagery creates a vivid picture of the hurricane and the woman's survival. The poem also highlights the importance of faith and God's protection in times of crisis. Overall, the poem is a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength and hope.

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