A Farewell to America to Mrs. S.W. Summary

  I.

Adieu, New-England’s smiling meads,
   Adieu, the flow’ry plain:
I leave thine op’ning charms, O spring,
   And tempt the roaring main.

              II.

In vain for me the flow’rets rise,
   And boast their gaudy pride,
While here beneath the northern skies
   I mourn for health deny’d.

              III.

Celestial maid of rosy hue,
   O let me feel thy reign!
I languish till thy face I view,
   Thy vanish’d joys regain.

              IV.

Susanna mourns, nor can I bear
   To see the crystal show’r,
Or mark the tender falling tear
   At sad departure’s hour;

              V.

Not unregarding can I see
   Her soul with grief opprest:
But let no sighs, no groans for me,
   Steal from her pensive breast.

              VI.

In vain the feather’d warblers sing,
   In vain the garden blooms,
And on the bosom of the spring
   Breathes out her sweet perfumes.

              VII.

While for Britannia’s distant shore
   We sweep the liquid plain,
And with astonish’d eyes explore
   The wide-extended main.

              VIII.

Lo! Health appears! celestial dame!
   Complacent and serene,
With Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame,
   With soul-delighting mien.

              IX.

To mark the vale where London lies
   With misty vapours crown’d,
Which cloud Aurora’s thousand dyes,
   And veil her charms around.

              X.

Why, Phoebus, moves thy car so slow?
   So slow thy rising ray?
Give us the famous town to view,
   Thou glorious king of day!

              XI.

For thee, Britannia, I resign
   New-England’s smiling fields;
To view again her charms divine,
   What joy the prospect yields!

              XII.

But thou!  Temptation hence away,
   With all thy fatal train,
Nor once seduce my soul away,
   By thine enchanting strain.

              XIII.

Thrice happy they, whose heav’nly shield
   Secures their souls from harms,
And fell Temptation on the field
   Of all its pow’r disarms!

A Farewell to America Summary

The speaker in Phillis Wheatley’s poem “A Farewell to America to Mrs. S.W.” says goodbye to New England as she sets out for Britain. As she considers her emotional and physical condition, the speaker expresses grief, a desire for health, worry for her friend Susanna, and optimism for a new beginning. Each of the poem’s twelve stanzas, which highlight various feelings and sensations the speaker has during this shift, is unique.

Stanza 1

The speaker says goodbye to New England at the start of the poem. By using phrases like “smiling meads” and “flow’ry plain,” she highlights the natural beauty of the area she is leaving behind. The spring, a season of rebirth and development, is also mentioned by the speaker, but she is going to leave everything behind in order to “tempt the roaring main”—that is, to sail over the ocean to Britain. Because the speaker must depart from the tranquil region of New England for an unknown adventure, this line creates a sense of loss.

Stanza 2

The speaker in this verse describes how she is unable to appreciate the beauty of nature and the blossoming flowers. Her health is denied, therefore the “flow’rets” (flowers) rise in vain for her. The Northern sky stand for cold, gloom, and disease, and the speaker is battling illness. Her terrible health makes the “gaudy pride” of the blooms seem pointless. She misses the energy and happiness she used to have, but it’s currently out of her grasp.

Stanza 3

In this instance, the speaker invokes a “celestial maid of rosy hue,” who is a symbol of health and vigor. She begs for her health to return, longing for the divine maid’s face to show up so she may enjoy life’s pleasures again. The speaker is eager to regain her health and is prepared to enjoy life’s pleasures that are currently out of her grasp because of her sickness.

Stanza 4

Now the speaker turns to her friend Susanna, who is grieving her loss. The picture of the “tender falling tear” and the “crystal show” implies that Susanna is very distressed by the departure. Although the speaker sympathizes with Susanna and can understand her anguish, she also wishes to protect her friend from going through too much sadness. The speaker’s sympathy for Susanna, who is finding it difficult to handle the departure, is evident in this line.

Stanza 5

The speaker in this verse urges Susanna to control her despair. The speaker doesn’t want Susanna to moan or sigh in sorrow at her leaving. at spite of the anguish of saying goodbye, the speaker is worried for Susanna’s welfare and wants her to find calm at this vulnerable moment.

Stanza 6

In light of her own grief, the speaker now considers the pointlessness of the beauty of nature. She claims that the garden flowers and the birds sing in vain since, to her, the beauty of springtime is insufficient to ease her emotional suffering. The speaker, who is overcome with sadness and illness, is unaffected by the lovely scents that the “bosom of the spring” emits. During this time of internal hardship, the speaker finds the external beauty of nature to be worthless.

Stanza 7

The speaker recounts the journey to Britain in this verse. She describes the huge ocean as the “liquid plain,” across which they are traveling. As the speaker and her friends explore the vast ocean, they are overcome with amazement and astonishment. The phrase “astonish’d eyes” implies that, despite its beauty and thrill, this voyage is also a period of uncertainty. The speaker is moving into the unknown and leaving behind everything that is familiar.with loss and sickness. During this time of internal hardship, the speaker finds the external beauty of nature to be worthless.

Stanza 8

Finally, the speaker sees a ray of hope in the personification of Health as a “celestial dame.” The speaker finds comfort in the image of health, who is calm and nice. The image of health is transformed into one of heavenly beauty and healing when “Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame” is shown. The speaker is relieved because she thinks that traveling to Britain would provide her with the much-needed recovery.

Stanza 9

The speaker now turns to face the city she is approaching, London. She finds it covered in vapors and mist, which mask its beauty. These “misty vapours” stand in for the speaker’s new life’s uncertainties and difficulties. Since London is shown as a location full of untapped promise and cloaked in mystery, the “cloud Aurora’s thousand dyes” and the curtain enclosing the metropolis demonstrate that the fresh beginning is not without its challenges.

Stanza 10

In this stanza, the speaker becomes irritated. She queries why the sun, symbolized by the sun deity Phoebus, rises so slowly. The speaker’s desire to get at her destination and start her new life is reflected in the sun’s gradual rise. The speaker expresses her pleasure and eagerness to explore London, which stands for the fresh opportunities that lay ahead, by requesting to “view the famous town.”

Stanza 11

The speaker in this verse admits that she is resigned to leaving New England behind. She understands that in order to experience London’s charms, she must leave the lovely, serene meadows of New England. The speaker expresses some optimism and enthusiasm for the future despite her sadness, as seen by the “joy the prospect yields.” Although leaving is a bittersweet decision, she is prepared for the journey that lies ahead.

Stanza 12

The speaker urges temptation to “go” with all of its “fatal train” in the last stanza. The speaker does not want the attractions of the new world she is joining to mislead her. She draws emphasis to the heavenly defense that keeps her safe. The speaker feels emboldened by her religion, and the “heavenly shield” protects her soul. The verse concludes with a statement of spiritual fortitude, demonstrating that the speaker depends on her religion to protect her as she starts this new phase of her life.

“A Farewell to America to Mrs. S.W.” by Phillis Wheatley Analysis

The speaker in Phillis Wheatley’s poem “A Farewell to America to Mrs. S.W.” says goodbye to New England and gets ready to travel to Britain. The speaker’s physical and mental difficulties, the unpredictability of the voyage, and her spiritual faith are all reflected in the poem. The poem, which was written in the 18th century when Wheatley, an African-American poet who had been emancipated, was becoming well-known for her writing, expresses both personal feelings and universal themes of faith, hope, and grief. In order to comprehend the poem’s deeper meanings and how Wheatley employs these components to convey her feelings and opinions, we will examine the poem’s topics, tone, structure, and imagery in this study.

Themes

The poem primarily deals with the themes of farewell and departure, health and healing, emotional conflict, and spiritual faith.

Farewell and Departure: The speaker is departing from New England, a place that represents comfort, beauty, and tranquility. The “spring” connotes hope and rebirth, while the “smiling meads” (grassy fields) and “flow’ry plain” stand for the tranquility of nature. The speaker is departing from a place of personal connection in order to travel to Britain, an unidentified destination. The poem’s main topic is farewell as it establishes the speaker’s emotional trajectory.

Health and Healing:The speaker’s emotional and physical condition is another important element in the poem. The speaker bemoans her ill health in the second verse, claiming that although nature flourishes all around her, it has no bearing on her as her health is denied. The “celestial maid of rosy hue,” who represents health and vigor, is what she longs for. This desire is a reflection of an individual’s wish to heal and regain their well-being. Health’s depiction as a “celestial dame” in the eighth verse represents the hope that bodily recovery may result from the voyage to Britain.

Emotional Conflict: The speaker is divided between the beauty of New England and the uncertain future in Britain, which causes her to go through a serious psychological battle. Although she is sorry to be leaving her native country, there is also optimism and excitement for what is to come. The speaker communicates both sadness and hope throughout the poem, demonstrating this conflict. She demonstrates empathy and emotional turmoil by caring for Susanna, who is saddened by her leaving. The speaker is caught between wanting to console her buddy and knowing she had to go.

Spiritual Faith: The poem heavily emphasizes spirituality, particularly in the last stanzas. Especially in the last verse, when she prays for heavenly protection against temptation, the speaker draws strength from her faith. Her invocation of celestial entities such as the “celestial maid of rosy hue,” who symbolizes health, and the “heavenly shield,” which guards the soul, are clear examples of Wheatley’s Christian faith. The speaker’s religion gives her the optimism and fortitude to confront her obstacles, including her travel and health issues.

Tone

The tone of the poem fluctuates between sorrowful, hopeful, and reflective.

The tone is mostly melancholy in the first few stanzas. With a sense of sorrow and a yearning for the peace and beauty she is leaving behind, the speaker says goodbye to New England. The speaker’s physical and emotional discomfort is exacerbated by the admission of ill health.

The tone of the poem changes to one of hope as it goes along. When Health makes an appearance as a “celestial dame” in verse eight, the speaker conveys hope for healing and rebirth. There is hope because of the consolation of spiritual faith and the expectation of Britain’s attractions.

As the poem draws to a close, the tone becomes more contemplative, particularly in the last stanzas as the speaker considers the strength of heavenly protection and the perils of temptation. This introspective tone demonstrates the speaker’s development as she transitions from melancholy to acceptance and from doubt to faith.

Structure and Form

Each of the poem’s twelve stanzas has a different amount of lines, and the majority of them are structured as rhymed couplets. The poem’s formal, introspective tone is reflected in the rhyme and rhythm’s regularity, which makes it suitable for saying goodbye and reflecting on a big life transition.

Rhyme Scheme: The ABAB rhyme system used in each stanza produces a rhythmic and melodic flow that stands in stark contrast to the content’s emotional anguish. The speaker’s need for order and control in the face of uncertainty is reflected in the rhyme scheme’s structure.

Meter: The poem’s meter, iambic tetrameter (four feet per line), is typical of poetry from the eighteenth century. The poem has a calm, constant tempo because of the meter chosen, which reflects the speaker’s acceptance and resignation as she gets ready for her voyage. Despite her inner turmoil, the speaker appears to be attempting to keep her emotions under control, as shown by the rhythmic constancy.

Imagery and Symbolism

Wheatley uses imagery and symbolism throughout the poem to deepen the reader’s understanding of the speaker’s emotions and the journey she is undertaking.

Nature Imagery:By referring to “New-England’s smiling meads” and “flow’ry plain,” the speaker in the opening line evokes the splendor of the terrain she is leaving behind. The poem frequently uses flowers, gardens, and birds as metaphors of beauty, rebirth, and life. The speaker’s personal battle is also highlighted by these pictures, since the beauty of nature doesn’t appear to be able to console her or heal her emotional suffering.

Health as a Celestial Being: Health is portrayed as a “celestial dame” who provides peace and tranquility in the eighth verse. In addition to being a physical representation, this image of health also represents the speaker’s wish to restore harmony and balance in her life. In addition to connecting health to supernatural and everlasting powers, the allusion to “Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame” implies a connection to the Greek goddess of youth.

Spiritual Protection: The “heav’nly shield” in the last verse represents heavenly protection, keeping the speaker safe from danger and temptation. The speaker’s strength comes from this shield, which gives her the bravery to confront her road with resiliency and faith.

The Ocean as a Barrier: The “roaring main,” or ocean, stands in for the speaker’s emotional and physical distance from her own country. She is vulnerable because of this wide, uncharted area that keeps her off from the known. That being said, it also signifies the chance for rejuvenation and a positive beginning.

A Farewell to America Line by Line Explanation

Stanza 1

“Adieu, New-England’s smiling meads,
Adieu, the flow’ry plain:
I leave thine op’ning charms, O spring,
And tempt the roaring main.”

• “Adieu”: The speaker bids farewell to New England, signaling her departure.
• “New-England’s smiling meads”: “Smiling meads” is personification, giving the fields in New England a friendly, happy expression.
• “Adieu, the flow’ry plain”: The speaker says goodbye to the flower-filled landscapes of New England.
• “I leave thine op’ning charms, O spring”: The speaker is leaving the beautiful season of spring, a time when nature comes to life. “Opening charms” refers to the fresh, awakening beauty of nature in spring.
• “And tempt the roaring main”: The “roaring main” refers to the sea, which is often viewed as vast and dangerous. The speaker is about to cross the ocean.

---

Stanza 2

“In vain for me the flow’rets rise,
And boast their gaudy pride,
While here beneath the northern skies
I mourn for health deny’d.”

• “In vain for me the flow’rets rise”: The flowers bloom in vain because they do not bring the speaker joy or healing.
• “And boast their gaudy pride”: The flowers are proud of their vibrant beauty, but the speaker feels disconnected from it.
• “While here beneath the northern skies”: The speaker is still under the cold, northern skies of New England.
• “I mourn for health deny’d”: The speaker mourns her poor health, feeling deprived of vitality.

---

Stanza 3

“Celestial maid of rosy hue,
O let me feel thy reign!
I languish till thy face I view,
Thy vanish’d joys regain.”

• “Celestial maid of rosy hue”: The speaker refers to health or vitality as a heavenly, beautiful female figure with a rosy complexion.
• “O let me feel thy reign!”: The speaker asks for health to return and rule over her body.
• “I languish till thy face I view”: The speaker is suffering because she is without health, yearning to see it return.
• “Thy vanish’d joys regain”: The speaker longs to regain the happiness and vitality she once had.

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Stanza 4

“Susanna mourns, nor can I bear
To see the crystal show’r,
Or mark the tender falling tear
At sad departure’s hour;”

• “Susanna mourns”: The speaker references a friend, Susanna, who is grieving the speaker’s departure.
• “Nor can I bear”: The speaker cannot bear to see Susanna in pain.
• “To see the crystal show’r”: “Crystal show’r” refers to Susanna’s tears, emphasizing the emotional sorrow of the situation.
• “Or mark the tender falling tear
  At sad departure’s hour;”: The speaker is deeply affected by the sight of Susanna’s tears, marking the sadness of parting.

---

Stanza 5

“Not unregarding can I see
Her soul with grief opprest:
But let no sighs, no groans for me,
Steal from her pensive breast.”

• “Not unregarding can I see”: The speaker cannot ignore Susanna’s sorrow.
• “Her soul with grief opprest”: Susanna’s soul is burdened with sadness.
• “But let no sighs, no groans for me”: The speaker asks Susanna not to show any more sorrow for her departure.
• “Steal from her pensive breast”: The speaker hopes that Susanna does not let grief overwhelm her, taking away her peace.

---

Stanza 6

“In vain the feather’d warblers sing,
In vain the garden blooms,
And on the bosom of the spring
Breathes out her sweet perfumes.”

• “In vain the feather’d warblers sing”: The song of the birds is meaningless to the speaker because it doesn’t bring her any comfort.
• “In vain the garden blooms”: The blooming garden does not help the speaker feel better.
• “And on the bosom of the spring”: “Bosom” refers to the heart of spring, as if spring is nurturing.
• “Breathes out her sweet perfumes”: The sweet smells of nature in spring are all around, but they cannot heal the speaker’s emotional pain.

---

Stanza 7

“While for Britannia’s distant shore
We sweep the liquid plain,
And with astonish’d eyes explore
The wide-extended main.”

• “While for Britannia’s distant shore”: The speaker is sailing toward Britain, which is referred to as “Britannia.”
• “We sweep the liquid plain”: The speaker describes the ocean journey across the “liquid plain,” emphasizing the vastness of the sea.
• “And with astonish’d eyes explore
  The wide-extended main”: The speaker gazes in awe at the vastness of the ocean, indicating the unfamiliarity and uncertainty of the journey.

---

Stanza 8

“Lo! Health appears! celestial dame!
Complacent and serene,
With Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame,
With soul-delighting mien.”

• “Lo! Health appears!”: The speaker describes health as a celestial, divine being appearing before her.
• “Celestial dame”: Health is personified as a gentle, divine woman.
• “Complacent and serene”: Health is described as calm and content.
• “With Hebe’s mantle o’er her Frame”: The reference to Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth, alludes to health’s association with youth and vitality.
• “With soul-delighting mien”: The appearance of health is pleasing and comforting to the speaker.

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Stanza 9

“To mark the vale where London lies
With misty vapours crown’d,
Which cloud Aurora’s thousand dyes,
And veil her charms around.”

• “To mark the vale where London lies”: The speaker is describing the area around London, which she sees through a misty, foggy atmosphere.
• “With misty vapours crown’d”: The mist or fog is depicted as a crown around London, emphasizing the city’s often gloomy weather.
• “Which cloud Aurora’s thousand dyes”: Aurora, the goddess of dawn, is said to be covered or hidden by the mist, blocking the beauty of the sunrise.
• “And veil her charms around”: The mist hides the beauty of the dawn, making it impossible to fully enjoy the charm of the morning.

---

Stanza 10

“Why, Phoebus, moves thy car so slow?
So slow thy rising ray?
Give us the famous town to view,
Thou glorious king of day!”

• “Why, Phoebus, moves thy car so slow?”: Phoebus, the sun god, is addressed directly. The speaker wonders why the sun rises so slowly.
• “So slow thy rising ray?”: The slow rise of the sun’s rays creates a sense of impatience.
• “Give us the famous town to view”: The speaker is eager to see London, hoping the sun will rise quickly enough to reveal the city.
• “Thou glorious king of day!”: The speaker praises the sun as the powerful ruler of the day.

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Stanza 11

“For thee, Britannia, I resign
New-England’s smiling fields;
To view again her charms divine,
What joy the prospect yields!”

• “For thee, Britannia, I resign”: The speaker is leaving behind New England for Britain, which is personified as “Britannia.”
• “New-England’s smiling fields”: The speaker refers again to the pleasant, inviting fields of New England.
• “To view again her charms divine”: The speaker is eager to see the beauty of New England again.
• “What joy the prospect yields!”: The speaker feels joy at the thought of returning to New England’s beauty.

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Stanza 12

“But thou! Temptation hence away,
With all thy fatal train,
Nor once seduce my soul away,
By thine enchanting strain.”

• “But thou! Temptation hence away”: The speaker warns temptation to leave her.
• “With all thy fatal train”: “Fatal train” refers to the dangers and consequences that temptation brings.
• “Nor once seduce my soul away”: The speaker refuses to be seduced by temptation, which would pull her away from her goals.
• “By thine enchanting strain”: The speaker acknowledges that temptation can be alluring and captivating, comparing its influence to an enchanting melody or tune. However, she firmly resolves not to let its charm sway her from her moral or spiritual path. The phrase highlights the seductive power of temptation while reinforcing the speaker’s determination to resist it.

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