In "On Imagination" by Phillis Wheatley, the narrator argues that the imagination is sovereign over the subject-passions because it has the power to shape and control one's emotions and experiences.
Firstly, the imagination is considered sovereign because it has the ability to transcend reality. The speaker asserts that the imagination can transport us to different worlds, allowing us to escape the confines of our circumstances. By doing so, it provides us with a sense of liberation and autonomy, enabling us to control our own emotions and thoughts.
Secondly, the imagination is sovereign because it allows individuals to create their own narratives and interpretations of the world. It enables us to construct alternative perspectives and possibilities, giving us the freedom to shape reality according to our desires. This power of imagination provides a sense of agency, as it allows us to actively engage with our experiences and emotions.
Furthermore, the imagination is also sovereign because it has the capacity to transform negative emotions into positive ones. In the poem, Wheatley describes how the imagination can turn sadness into joy and pain into pleasure. It has the ability to reframe and reorient our experiences, changing the way we perceive and respond to them. By exercising control over our emotions, the imagination empowers us to find solace, respite, and even happiness in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, the imagination is considered sovereign over the subject-passions in "On Imagination" because it grants individuals the power to transcend reality, shape their own narratives, and transform negative emotions. By harnessing the imaginative faculty, one can exercise agency, control, and ultimately find solace and joy.
In on imagination by phillis Wheatley, why is the imagination ‘sovereign’ over the ‘subject-passions’
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The imagination is sovereign over the subject-passions because it has the power to transcend reality, shape narratives, and transform negative emotions, granting individuals agency and the ability to find solace and joy.
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