• Indicate which post you are responding to.
• Provide a thorough response to ONE post. Your response should either confirm your peer's post or contest it; either way FULLY explain your rationale.
  • For example: You could contest the peer's post because while the identification was correct the explanation was unconvincing and explain why. Etc.

 

I am respond to Cynthia Estrada classmate on his answer on question

 

#6.Find two different allusions. Provide them. What are they alluding to?

1. "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land"

2."Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain"

The poet alludes the reader by referencing to Africa as a "Pagan land" in her poem. Paganism having roots in Rome , when the early Christians called those that idolized statues , or had several Gods , pagans. The poet states this because in Africa they had different religious beliefs to Christianity. People in America also adapting this name and calling nonbeliever's of God pagans as well.

The second allusion that Wheatley writes in her poem is the reference to Cain, a biblical character who murders his brother, by comparing Cain to African people that just because they are darker it is like they were carrying a mark on them. Telling Christians that even Cain, a murder had mercy from God, and therefore they should not condemn those with a mark just because they sin different. Color of skin being compared to a deadly sin, symbolizing the deep prejudice Christians mostly whites during this time had against African people.