Letters and Spheres in Light of Michel Foucault
Spheres both physical and theoretical embody opportunity or one might say they create the agency of space. Phillis Wheatley understood the portent sphere which she dwelt and she navigated this sphere with shrewd influence through letters. Some controversy surrounds the aspect of letter writing as literary agency, however, Phillis Wheatley predetermined the letter possessed the opportunity for the letter writer to receive and give agency. Some scholars question whether or not the traditional view of letters and diaries is dynamic or static. That is to say, were letters and diaries of Phillis Wheatley which originally were created for private use now worthy of study.
The Phillis Wheatley Historical Society has collected letters, articles, and historical data surrounding the life of Phillis Wheatley and her contribution to American history. This organization also has her works for display in this “cultural memorabilia” of their website and in their Boston location. This organization desires to celebrate the influence of African Americans on American History and to “Embrace and promote intercultural competence.” Through imagery and the canonization of Wheatley’s letters the Phillis Wheatley Historical Society preserves and dignifies the historical importance of Wheatley and her literary contributions, primarily that of her letters.
Scholars note that the very idea that a letter is designated, by the writer, for a specific individual deems that the contents are not intended to be shared publicly. Typically, for the 19th century writer, letters were considered as an individual’s tool of agency for shaping their social relationships and creating influence within their perspective social spheres. Letters were used to give the writer voice and to legitimize the writer’s ideas and stimulate further thought, which would hopefully be reciprocated.
In his book In My Power: Letter writing and Communications in Early America, Dierks writes: “The letter, however, was a particular form of paper. Testimony to the special cultural reach of letter writing, the letter motif was used in almost every cultural discourse of the eighteenth century … all this accrued into a mediating force of letter writing as it suffused the representation of public and private life, work and leisure, times of crisis and everyday routine.” While both men and women engaged this mediating force of letter writing during the 18th and 19th century, the Phillis Wheatley organization finds the letters of women, and more particularly minority women of great interest.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, many minority women were not literate let alone able to communicate their thoughts through the eloquent craft of letter writing. However, that is precisely what Phillis Wheatley did. At first glance it would be easy to assume that letter writing by Wheatley was considered private, however, it was the intent of Phillis Wheatley to use her letters to make a public impact through what I view as the power of one––influencing society through web content one person at a time.
In his book The Private Sphere: An Emotional Territory and Its Agent Mats Hansson writes: “A social agent has an interest in enjoying a secret sphere that is barred to others but also to participate with others in a social life. The enjoyment of a private sphere enables the individual to engage in a complex social life with different kinds of relationships to other individuals and groups.” To think there is a clear division between public and private spheres as it relates to digital writing would be an incomplete analysis. The Wheatly organization seemingly joins the private sphere of Wheatley’s work with that of the public web sphere, thus linking the two discourse communities in a seemingly effortless way.
Taking this idea into consideration we must assess the need that 19th century letter writers may have had in allowing the prospective “private” letter to make a “public” impression which is now the bedrock for the Phillis Wheatly historical society. Through her letters, Phillis Wheatley has made a significant contribution to literature, society, and our collective, historical voice. Historically, public spheres have poorly served the agency of the female writer, however, Wheatley’s acumen led her to utilize her influence by using letters to address one person at a time. Wheatley understood that often great fires begin with the smallest of sparks. And perhaps she understood this more acutely due to the fact that she was just that—a small spark.
