Wheatley, Pope & Chaos

[Terrance]

She learned to speak and write English very quickly, taught by Mary
Wheatley,
the 18 year old daughter of her owner; within 16 months she could read
difficult
passages in the Bible. At 12 she began studying Latin and English
literature,
especially the poetry of Alexander Pope, soon translating Ovid into
heroic
couplets. These would have been remarkable accomplishments for an
educated
white male boy, and was virtually unheard of for white females. She may
well
have read Anne Bradstreet's poetry. The Wheatleys appreciated her
talents, and
showed her off to their friends; many came to visit with this "lively
and brilliant
conversationalist." She was thoroughly indoctrinated into Puritanism. 

Phillis's place was designated by her white world, and she was virtually
cut off
from her own people, but she was definitely still a slave, although a
privileged
one. Though superior to most in her intellectual and literary
accomplishments, she
was clearly never their social equal. Perhaps that accounts for her not
adopting
Pope's major literary characteristic--satire--although she did adopt his
poetic
forms and classical allusions. Nevertheless, modern feminist critics
have pointed
out her subtle and hidden critical messages (which would have had to
have been
well hidden, so as not to offend the white benefactors upon whom she had
to
depend). 

    Chaos of Thought and Passion, all confus'd;
    Still by himself abus'd, or disabus'd;
    Created half to rise, and half to fall;
    Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
    Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurl'd:
    The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!{19}


http://members.aol.com/basfawlty/pope.htm

How long is Chaos anyway? Did God create chaos in an unspecified number
of days and create all things after in six days. And have days 24 hours.
Why Coz, how interesting. Things these kids learn at school. And does
all that book learning, all the DATA, dear Coz has got, ready at the
fingertips of his calculating brain, love? That is, anyone or thing but
itself? Oh, Hamlet, take thee to a grave place of the skull, there is
more in this inverted world than is written about in your histories. 

http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/modeur/rel-ebt.htm

http://star.arm.ac.uk/history/ussher.html