Phillis Wheatley Mary Rowlandson Analysis

God’s Providence Stemming from the core emotions of the human mind, each individual craves the feeling of safety and protection. For many, made obvious through the narratives of Phyllis Wheatley, William Bradford, and Mary Rowlandson, this comfort is found through the providence offered through religion or spirituality. Providence is defined as the protective care of God as a spiritual power. Times were incredibly difficult during the life span of these authors and each is quick to give credit to Christ for His helping hand in their various trials and tribulations. Wheatley, Bradford, and Rowlandson showed how God’s providence affected each of them through the hope, guidance, and protection he offered in the author’s spiritual journeys.

She believes firmly that that there is a God, and a Savior exist. She was a black slave that was brought from Africa to the United States of America. Phillis Wheatley suffered and endured a tremendous amount of hardships at the young age of nineteen. Wheatley explains in her works that there is a God that believes in you, no matter what race or religion. The idea of hope is so strongly engraved into Wheatley’s stories because hope is all she had to cling to while in Africa and then while being separated from her husband after arriving in America. A man named John Wheatley purchased Wheatley and gave her a much better life than she ever imagined. From her journey across the ocean upon her arrival to the United States of America, she expressed her love for writing as an illustration of God’s unfailing love to share with people. She became familiar with the true meaning of the bible and God’s providence. God’s providence is how he cares and watches over her during the life’s passage. In “To the University of Cambridge, in New England”, she is able to write to the college students about the main goals. Wheatley heavily emphasizes to them that they should not get so wrapped up in their schoolwork and studies that it hinders their personal relationship with God. By having a balance in schooling and daily walk with God, it will help the student’s life more efficiently than just doing one action. The

Bradford guided the Puritans across the ocean to the new world as refugees. Bradford states, “…we will converse, trade, plant, and live together as equals and support one another.” (87) Not only did this help with the hope of religious freedom, but gave the Pilgrims a feeling of unity. Their beliefs caused them to be rejected and persecuted by others in Europe. Bradford details about the corruption and hardship the Pilgrims experienced in United States of America during the first few years. “These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers day together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to usual manner, many afflicted with seasickness. And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence” (74.) Their main pursuit was religious freedom. However, the Puritans faced many struggles trying to obtain this goal, but they were willing to make the sacrifice. The Puritans were willing to make this sacrifice in order to provide for future generations to come. By accomplishing this goal it would help guide the path for these upcoming generations. Bradford sought out God for guidance on the voyage to the United States of America. The Pilgrims not only sought guidance from Bradford along this