Final answer:
Phillis Wheatley's poetry reflects her Christian faith and conveys an implicit critique of slavery, highlighted by her love of freedom and criticisms of oppression. Her elegies and use of diacritical marks express both her African roots and resistance to the inhumanities of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Phillis Wheatley's poems reflect the prevailing sentiments of her time period, encompassing themes such as freedom, Christianity, and the tension between African heritage and the experience of slavery. Wheatley's famous lines, 'In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom,' encapsulate the era's philosophical struggles with liberty and oppression. Scholars such as Sondra O'Neale and Lonnell E. Johnson interpreted her use of biblical references as clandestine critiques of slavery, leveraging her Christian beliefs to implicitly denounce the injustices she faced. Wheatley's numerous elegies within her collection also suggest a deep connection with her African origins, as well as reflecting on the harsh realities of her life in slavery. Her subtle use of language and stylistic choices, including diacritical marks and elegiac imagery, allow readers to discern the dual interpretations of her artfully constructed verses, pointing towards the resilience of her cultural identity and a condemnation of the crimes inflicted upon her and her people.