Looking Through A Marxist Lens
During the course between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the southern colonies were encompassed with large plantations, and work was needed across the terrain to keep this era of society stable and productive. Slavery became an important element in the south's ability to grow by enhancing both the geographic and economic aspect. During this time slavery was seen either as a God send by those in the south, because it provided them with free labor or as antithetical by those like writer and philosopher, Karl Marx. In the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” written by Phillis Wheatley, analysing this work through a Marxist lens provides a powerful perspective on how the Bourgeoisie dehumanizes the Proletariats in order to benefit off of them using devious methods such as religion. In the poem, the Bourgeois refers to the plantation owners or the southern colonist who are responsible for the African American individuals being forced to provide free labor and assimilate to their culture. The Proletariats will be referred to as the slaves that were kept in bondage and not compensated for their labor. The speaker, a slave who has assimilated to white culture through the use of religion uses vigorous imagery and powerful language to display the idea that through the use of slavery and Christianity the poor stay poor and the rich get richer.
In the poem, the speaker uses powerful language to establish the assimilation she had to undergo to survive this class injustice. The literary work consists of eight lines forming one stanza that surround two different tones, one is shown through the first four lines and can be interpreted as either: calm, grateful or enlightened. In the poem, the speaker is able to illustrate this tone when she states:
“‘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.” (1-4).
In the first two lines the speaker, speaks in first person to represent her perspective on being forced to migrate. The speaker viewing the situation as almost a blessing displays this grateful approach, which is a virtue that Christianity teaches. Although the language being used is calm and grateful, this is critical when discussing how in the poem the Bourgeoisie manipulates the use of Christianity to mask the heinous act of being forced to become a slave for their benefit. In the text the word “pagan”, has been emphasized through the use of italics which signifies the importance of how little she knew of this new religion; she had no knowledge of redemption nor a saviour before she became a slave/Christian.
Moving forward to the other half of the poem, the speaker is now speaking in third person using words like: some and our, representing a new perspective now not only focused on her. We are able to see the speakers contrasting tone which resemble hypocrisy and irony, which can be interpreted as the speaker displaying her overall view on the social injustice when referring to the use of Christianity. The speaker uses powerful imagery when referring to this hypocrisy or irony by stating “Some view our sable race with scornful eye, ‘Their color is a diabolic die’”(5). The use of the word “sable”, gives the reader a chance to understand how, the Bourgeoisie view the Proletariats; as small animals with valuable dark brown or black fur. This word choice is monumental through the marxist lens, representing how slaves were just seen as a means rather than an end to themselves. The Bourgeoisie, used and treated the Proletariats as a means to profit and abuse in order for them to remain rich and the slaves to remain poor.
The speaker now using both illuminating language and vivid imagery now focuses her attention to those of who share the same religion as her including both, “Christians and Negroes” (7). The use of the word placement and both those groups of people being written in italics show the reader that she is aware of the distinction between the two. In the poem the speaker begins to speak on the irony by stating, “ Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, may be refin’d and join th’ angelic train” (7-8). This shows the speaker is reiterating the truth that as an individual who claims to be a follower of God, we are all seen as equal in the eyes of him and all have a chance at being saved, going to heaven, and joining the angelic train. This can also be interpreted as the speaker reflecting on the injustice the proletariats are facing in regards to the injustice between classes. The vivid imagery being used when referring to line 7 “black as Cain”, the speaker sheds light on an imperative point: even someone who is as dark and cruel as Cain -son of Adam and Eve- who killed his own brother out of jealousy, we all have a chance to be saved or free. Although the Proletariats are the slaves in the poem, the speaker makes it a point to call out the Bourgeoisie in there hypocrisy when referring to the disadvantaged being unequal to them.
By analyzing Phillis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, through the use of looking through a Marxist lens we are able to view this powerful message on how the Bourgeoisie dehumanizes the Proletariats in order to benefit off of them using devious methods such as religion. As the reader we are able to interpret this message through the speakers choice of powerful language and vivid imagery. Throughout the poem we are able to understand how the Bourgeoisie distorts and uses religion as a beneficial tool to keep the injustice between classes acceptable. The tools the Bourgeoisie use may have changed to keep the Proletariats unable to move up within that time frame but the injustice between classes is still alive and well today in our society, giving this poem more depth and meaning. Although slavery has been abolished in the United States, we are still able to see and feel the effects of the injustice between classes in our society, hundreds of years later.