Final answer:
Phillis Wheatley connected the Bible and American slavery by pointing out contradictions (C) between Christian teachings and the practice of slavery. She subverted racist ideologies by reinterpreting biblical narratives, critiquing the moral and ethical underpinnings of slavery through her poetry. Option C is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Phillis Wheatley utilized her devout Christian beliefs to create a nuanced critique of American slavery, employing the Bible as a central reference point. Wheatley's poetry reflects her complex position as an African slave with an evangelical Christian education, navigating between acceptance in the white-dominated society and her personal abhorrence of the institution of slavery. Her work often reclaims Biblical narratives, highlighting the contradictions inherent in a society that embraces Christian values of freedom and equality, while simultaneously upholding the dehumanizing institution of slavery.
One of the primary ways Wheatley makes connections between the Bible and American slavery is by pointing out contradictions (C). She leverages biblical language and stories, recontextualizing them in poetry that subtly critiques the prevailing justifications for slavery. This is evident in her employment of biblical figures, such as Cain, to subvert the racist ideologies that categorized Africans as descendants of cursed biblical characters. Her poetry not only offers a critique but also demonstrates her literary prowess, as Wheatley was expected to authenticate her intellectual capacity to a skeptical white audience.
The interplay between Wheatley's African heritage, her adoption of Anglo-American literary idioms, and her Christian faith infused her work with layered meanings. By invoking biblical myth and symbol, Wheatley challenges colonial assumptions about race and theology, illustrating how deeply ingrained Christian beliefs affected both her views on slavery and her poetic expression. This complex interrelation between her African identity, her status as a slave, and her religious beliefs poses a subtle but powerful resistance to the narratives used to perpetuate slavery.