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To The University Of London By Phillis Wheatley Essay

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Young adulthood is a period of immense physical, spiritual and intellectual growth, especially for those fortunate enough to attend an institution of higher learning. Despite this growth, college students may decide to turn their back to their spirituality in favor of a logical and temporal existence. 18th century African American writer Phillis Wheatley delivers a positive religious message in her poem titled “To the University of Cambridge, in New England” that as a Christian college student, I appreciate. In this poem, Wheatley urges students to remain dedicated to their studies, but to also to have an appreciation of their own morality and the importance of escaping sins’ eternal presence. Wheatley begins her poem by invoking the muses …show more content…

Being both a college student and a Christian, I support her standpoint and appreciate her advice. While we live in different times, I believe that her message still applies today and will continue to be relevant for years to come. I agree that as college students, we must fully utilize all opportunities present, but we must also remember that such opportunities are only present because of our loving and compassionate God. Of course some college students do not share this Christian viewpoint, but even they are able to gain something of value from Wheatley. Simply recommending us college students to remain in the light and shun the darkness of sin and evil is good life advice for …show more content…

Amid her poem addressed to the University of Cambridge, several other themes develop. Compassion, for one, is established as Wheatley talks about the compassion and mercy of God. For saving her from Africa and enslavement, as well as for sending Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of humanity, Wheatley expresses her belief in a loving and compassionate God (Wheatley, 5-6 and 14-20). Morality is another significant theme in this poem. Wheatley is advising students to follow the moral high road when she says: “Improve your privileges while they stay/ Ye pupils, and each hour redeem, that bears/ Or good or bad report of you in heav’n” (Wheatley, 21-23). The entire poem is concerned with religion and matters of moral goodness and sin, as such faith is another important theme present. Faith is obviously very important to Wheatley as she credits her rescue to God and feels compelled to advise educated minds to recall their faith while they acquire more knowledge (Wheatley,

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