Speaker
Throughout Phillis Wheatley's poems, a strong, authoritative speaker commands the attention of the reader. This speaker frequently denounces injustice, and is also romantic and clever. This speaker also seems to reflect Wheatley herself, as several elements of Wheatley's life are interspersed in her poems, from her enslavement, to her capture from west Africa, to her love of Greek and Roman mythology.
Virtue ("On Virtue")
Virtue is personified and cast as an auspicious queen. The speaker asks Virtue to attend to their soul and to lead them to a noble life. Virtue is enthroned by cherubs, but is also floating above the speaker's soul and embracing the speaker's soul.
Dartmouth ("To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth")
In this poem, Dartmouth is implored by the speaker to renew his favorable views on freedom and to extend freedom to enslaved individuals in America. The speaker wishes well to Dartmouth, but ends the poem by hoping that he finds his God, a nod to Wheatley's belief that those who advocated for the enslavement of black people could not also claim to be Christians. Indeed, the speaker hopes that Dartmouth will find God and his love for freedom once more.
Freedom ("To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth")
In this poem, Freedom is imagined as a Goddess who exits from darkness to look upon New-England, only to return to darkness and sadness after seeing the state of enslaved Africans in America.
Winter ("On Imagination")
Winter, the frowning force that commands the speaker to turn away from Aurora and the mountains, is a character that tempers and limits the imagination. Although the speaker wants to break free and engage fully in Imagination, Winter, a symbol for reality, steps in and limits the speaker in this poem. Winter also serves as a symbol for a slave owner, as Winter prevents the speaker from realizing her potential and pursuing her imagination.
Fancy ("On Imagination")
In this poem, Fancy flies freely and openly, becoming enraptured with a love object, and becoming shackled by this love. Fancy is able to create fields and forests with the help of Imagination, but eventually, Winter steps in and chills Fancy's flowing tides, limiting the power of Fancy.
Imagination ("On Imagination")
Imagination plays several different roles in "On Imagination," taking on the sceptre of a queen, and ruling over thought, fancy, possibility and nature. Though Imagination is given immense power throughout this poem, it eventually becomes evident that Imagination is not all-powerful, and that eventually reality must set in.
