Poetry Essay Topic 2
James
Mercer Langston Hughes was an African American poet who lived through some of
the toughest times in America as a Negro. He was forced to grow up and live in
a world where African Americans were not treated equally by white Americans.
Throughout his hardships, he became an inspiration, as well as an innovator to
the new form of jazz poetry. Hughes was most commonly credited for his work
during the Harlem Renaissance (Langston). In the poems “I, Too” and “Mother to
Son,” Langston Hughes displays both powerful and unique language within his
writing through literary elements to display its message to the reader.
In
the poem “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes has a very unique use of language within
his writing. In this poem the reader is embraced with words of wisdom as Hughes
uses literary devices to show the constant uphill battle in life. This poem
gives the reader an impression that an African American mother is speaking to
her son; although uneducated she has many life experiences that she shares with
her son. Hughes, who is highly educated and skilled in writing, uses the
literary element of informal writing to give the reader the image that this
poem was actually written by an African American woman to her son. He writes, “Well,
son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.” (Hughes 1,2)
These lines show proof of how informal his writing was by using the phrase
“ain’t been no”. He also used other examples of this unique writing later on in
his poem by saying “I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin'
corners,” (Hughes 9, 10, 11). These examples are all part of the building
blocks which make Langston Hughes’s such a talented and unique poet through his
language.
In
“I, Too,” Hughes conveys not only a unique style of writing but he also
expresses very powerful writing within this poem. Langston Hughes did not write
these poems to complain to his audience, but instead he wanted to educate them
on the suffrage that was going on during this time period. “I, Too” is a great
example of his powerful words that were heard around the world. Hughes states,
“I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company
comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.”(Hughes 2-7). These lines
use vivid imagery and powerful language to show his feelings on racism. “I Too”
as a whole shows the injustice of racism and is an anti-discrimination poem.
Hughes also uses powerful imagery making the reader truly understand what it
must have been like living in his position.” Nobody'll dare Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen," Then.”(Hughes 11-14). This can make someone who
did not live through this struggle understand how Hughes feels about the
discrimination that was taking place, and how he wanted to make a stand against
it.
Langston
Hughes will always be remembered as one of the most famous poets of all time.
He used unique and powerful forms of writing to form a clear message for his
readers. His poems “I Too” and “Mother to Son” both carry very strong messages
to their readers; and no matter what time period they may be read the
interpreter will always be able to understand the hardships that Langston
Hughes faced and the theme of his poems through his language.
