# A Farewel to America. To Mrs. S. W. explained — Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

> Chapter companion for Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley.

## What happens

The speaker bids farewell to New England's spring landscapes, mourning ill health and the sorrow of parting from Susanna. Despite the beauty of nature, the voyage to Britannia's shore brings hope of health, yet the speaker resists temptation and celebrates those whose heavenly shield protects them from harm.

## Themes in this chapter

### Grief and Consolation

Susanna's sorrow at departure and the speaker's attempt to console her are central to the poem.

### Divine Providence and Nature

Nature's beauty is in vain for the speaker, yet health appears as a celestial dame, suggesting divine care.

### Virtue and Moral Guidance

The speaker rejects temptation and praises those whose heavenly shield protects them from harm.

## Character check-ins

### Phillis Wheatley

The speaker who bids farewell to New England and embarks for Britannia.

### Susanna

Mourns the speaker's departure; her tears and grief are described.

### Britannia

The distant shore for which the speaker leaves New England.

### Aurora

Her thousand dyes are clouded by London's misty vapours.

### Phoebus

Addressed as the sun god whose chariot moves slowly; asked to reveal the famous town.

## Key lines

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

Farewell to New England's pleasant meadows and blooming fields; I leave the beauty of spring to risk the rough sea voyage.

_The speaker opens with a farewell to the New England landscape and a decision to sail._

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

Susanna grieves, and I cannot endure watching her tears fall at this sorrowful parting.

_The speaker expresses empathy for Susanna's grief at the departure._

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

Behold! Health, a heavenly goddess, appears calm and peaceful, wearing Hebe's cloak and a joyful expression.

_Health is personified as a divine figure bringing hope to the speaker._

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

But you, Temptation, go away with your deadly followers; do not lure my soul with your bewitching song.

_The speaker rejects temptation and its allure._

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

How fortunate are those whose divine protection keeps their souls safe and strips Temptation of all its power on the battlefield.

_The poem concludes by praising those who resist temptation through heavenly protection._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se/chapters/a-farewel-to-america-to-mrs-s-w
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se/chapters