Abstract
This paper analyzes Phillis Wheatley’s motives in writing poetry and letters rooted in the classics. I looked further at her allusions to Greek and Roman literary form and content that referenced the topic of slavery. This study created an opportunity to devote attention to a remarkable young African woman who fought to overcome racial oppression in Revolutionary America through poetry. To complete this research I read her book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, as well as several academic journal articles and biographies written by John Shields and other notable authors. Doing so allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of her background and the daily struggles she underwent. I bridged the gap between ancient classic literature and the colonial era through the examination of her literary works “To Maecenas,” “On the Death of a Young Girl,” a letter to Reverend Samson Occom, “His Excellency George Washington,” and “Liberty and Peace.” Phillis Wheatley incorporated classical form and content to express her opinion on freedom to effectively speak out on slavery not with her voice, but with her pen