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Symbolism in langston hughes poetry
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Thematic concerns in Langston Hughes' poetry
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“You stuff somebody into the American Dream, and it becomes prison,” Craig L. Thomas once said.” When we think of the American Dream, most people will automatically think of the ideals of equality, freedom, and prosperity. In Emma Lazarus’ famous poem, The New Colossus, Emma uses the Statue of Liberty to represent the American Dream. From this poem, it implies that the Statue of Liberty will help guide the immigrants, and help them live better life that guaranteed them freedom. On the other hand, in Langston Hughes’ poem, I, Too, his thoughts oppose the ideals of the American Dream. He highlights and exposes the actual American Dream that black people as slaves had to deal and live with. Instead of being free, they are actually locked away
The American Dream offers opportunity, equality, liberty, and social mobility to those who have lost their place, such as immigrants, African Americans, and white males with little wealth. This national ethos can supposedly be achieved through hard work, and determination with few social barriers. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrates the unreachable American Dream that so many have stopped fighting for. While the American dream may theoretically promise equality for all, social status will either hinder or improve an individual 's chances of success. Through rhetorical strategies such as imagery, symbolism, and diction, Fitzgerald’s interpretation of the American Dream is developed.
The American Dream exists in the hearts of all Americans and is a concept that drives many people from all over the world to the borders of a welcoming America. It holds the promises of infinite possibilities in a limited world. Escaping from societies where societies where racism and poverty are often prevalent, immigrants come to America to grasp a part of the infamous American Dream. Nonetheless this dream also exists in the hearts of many Americans already present in America. Perhaps it burns the brightest in the hearts of African Americans, whose past is tainted with execution based on their race. Yet, the American Dream is not applied or only conditionally available for those that seek it the most- minority or immigrant populations. The
The American Dream began as a vision for the men who framed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. These two documents provided the foundation upon which the American Dream was built. The reality of the American Dream translated into a nightmare for the African-Americans who had to overcome slavery in order to achieve the ideal that all men are created equally. Their dream did not become a reality with the signing of the Declaration of Independence; in fact, even after slavery was abolished, there was no concrete date established that mandated that whites and African-Americans were equal. The law said the slaves were free; however, society did not consider them equals. The African-American writers utilize the American Dream in their works, but they seem to use it in an interesting manner: connecting to the past in order to realize their future. The slave narratives outline dreams of freedom and often provide insight into the horrors of slavery, while more contemporary writers use the dream to connect to their characters’ past and the horrors in their lives in order to realize their future.
Throughout American history, Americans have had many issues, whether it had to do with gaining independence from Britain, or even claiming the rights for African Americans to have equality. With both of these issues came either a significant document by Thomas Jefferson, which is called the Declaration of Independence, or an effective speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, which is called I Have a Dream. Both of these event changers appealed to Americans in a way that had a huge impact on history. The Declaration of Independence gave Americans the freedom to do what they believe. The I Have a Dream speech envisions that later Africans Americans will have equal rights. Therefore, this important document and speech have many similarities and
The American Dream is an aspiration that millions of people reach for in their lifetimes. The idea that living in America will assure happiness and success is a reason why many people migrate to this country. In actuality, the many people searching for it may not fulfill this dream lifestyle that America hypothetically offers. Like in the poem Harlem, by Langston Hughes, and the songs “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “Racing in the Street” by Bruce Springsteen, the main characters are battling with the idea of the American Dream and the life that it offers. Harlem describes what happens when you put a dream off and this dream may as well be the American Dream. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” describes what it feels like to lose the life the
“The New Colossus” reflects the American Dream by poetically introducing how the Mother of exiles, or now known as the Statue of Liberty was expressing that, people can find freedom in America with equal rights. How their path to successfully getting the American Dream would already be guided for them, if they gave the Mother of Exiles as her words could have said “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send
To which these symbols push this driving theme of what the American dream looks like for black people at the time in comparison to those who were white and to some extent within a position of power. Through the protagonist’s unexpected night while only wanting to give a speech to the wealth white men in his town he is subjected to a naked white woman, to which a young black man is not allowed. He is then forced to fight other young black men till the last man standing, only to be taunted with the illusion that gaining wealth would be anything less the painful. The idea of “The American dream” is based on who you are and what you look like. The rich white men are already in the position of power all. The American dream is understated by the fact that it is so obtainable or obtained from where they sit. On the other hand, the young black men must fight tooth and nail and even then, the things that are considered the “American dream” is not within reach. This is shown to the reader by giving the first person point of view narration, this gives you a more personal walk through of the environment. The extensive use of literary symbols used by Ellison makes this a unique read, that of which you would not be able to see all his metaphorical imagery with only one read. Upon further review of the text you start to see the underlining theme of this battle
The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry and the famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. are both based around the idea of freedom and equality for black Americans. The both show that even after slavery has ended the black Americans are still not treated the same as white Americans and they still strive to be fully free. In both writings, the black Americans show that fighting for their rights can actually help to win those rights.
However Langston Hughes wrote about people not getting what they were promised, not getting the “American dream”, because they are a different color or a person who traveled to america for a better new and a place to be free and happy. The all American dream was something for people who had nothing something to look forward to and have hope so they could see a better day and make their lives and their children's lives nothing but great. Walt Whitman pointed out the people who did little everyday day things like the mechanics, mason, boatman, shoe maker, and the basic mother that stays home, cleans the house, and takes care of the children. Walt Whitman has a more positive outlook and Langston Hughes has a move negative straightforward attitude. He was more disappointed than anything. He says “Let it be the dream it used to be.” In this particular line one can tell he does have hop, but very little. He's saying it needs to go back to the way it was when everyone had a purpose in life and people didn't feel the need to look at themselves as lower class people, but was there ever a time where all people felt equal? “Let America be the dream dreamers dreamed”, he stated. He's saying it's not at all what people thought it would be. In other words they were given false promises. One very importances about this poem is that he is not just speaking for himself, he is speaking
Equality, freedom, and prosperity! All those living in this great country of ours hold faith that these components of the American dream are attainable. In it’s history America has demonstrated pride in the freedoms and economic mobility that is consistent in the American dream. In today’s society this goal, we coined still lives on. Attaining this dream through hard work is the light at the end of the tunnel. Very similar to the motivation to move West in the 1800’s, or the Civil Rights Movement, it takes decades to accomplish similar goals. The American dream has been a recurring theme throughout history inspiring in many literary works: The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes place during the Roaring Twenties; Let America Be America Again, a poem by Langston Hughes, conveys the freedom and equality that every immigrant hoped for but never achieved; and Wall Street, a movie about a stockbroker and his path through the stock market. All these address the faults of the American dream in different time periods. The American dream lacks physical significance, understanding and meaning and is falsely characterized and interpreted. These literary pieces depict the American dream as not only different but also false in that it is not available to all. The Great Gatsby illustrates this myth in the development of his character.
The second meaning of the American dream is that of social justice, and the inclusion of all in the social and political aspects of American life. This is the American dream that is best illustrated in Frederick Douglass’ narrative. This is the dream that was sought by the civil rights movement, which was focused on widening opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their race or social status. This American dream is however more tightly intertwined with race, than with social status. Douglass’ narrative demonstrates the challenges faced by members of minority races in America in their pursuit of the American dream of equal opportunity, upward mobility, and inclusion in other social and political aspects of American life.
In the book, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream is interpreted very differently than its original meaning. Usually, dreaming is a good thing, and it motivates people to work hard, and achieve success. However, in Fitzgerald’s novel, the characters begin to let their dreams control them. They often suffer throughout the book, instead of enjoying the successful lives they are already living. Characters create their own idea of the dream that they should strive for. The Declaration of Independence gives an idea of what the true American Dream is, when it states “ all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
A poet once said, “Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved” (Mattie Stepanek). The American dream is built on a foundation of unity, which is exemplified in the poem by James Weldon Johnson, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. In this poem, Johnson thematically illustrates what the American Dream is about. The overall background in this poem eludes the history of slavery and how the contemporary society has change the present of how humans live today. This poem “commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln” who helped abolish slavery, without his collaboration, there wouldn’t be freedom in this country (51). I personally believe that through contemporary society, America has remodeled itself through generations and created the American dream known as unity. Unity is the aspect of the American Dream.
Another poetic verse that illustrates Hughes' desire to establish a community of African- Americans who are accepting of their racial identities is As I Grew Older. The poem begins with: "It was a long time ago, I have almost forgotten my dream" (1-2). By starting with a "once upon a time" theme, it seems as though the speaker is reflecting upon a poignant time in his life which has most likely been his childhood years. Consequently, the speaker states: "I have almost forgotten my dream...in front of me bright like a sun..."(2-6). From the few statements, "dream" is centering idea. A dream is an intangible idea that powers ambition, and hope, rendering the individual confident and hopeful for the future. However, the speaker has "almost forgotten" his dream, meaning that his dream was no longer attainable or more simply, he could not reach it. Additionally, when the speaker states: "it was there then, in front of me, bright like a sun," the speaker acknowledges his blindness and the inevitable fact that like the sun which naturally rises and sets everyday without much reasoning, his dream was no longer his priority. By comparing the sun to his dream, the speaker is also alluding to the universal actions that all human beings all partake in. Every day, we are caught up by school, work, and life. However, we never once think about the surrounding natural events that occur around us. The sun gives us light and does not allow us to live in obscurity; the trees, the air that we breathe, and gravity helps us survive in this planet, but we take them for granted. In the same way, the speaker has forgotten what he has been living for and only acknowledges it once he has grown older and the racial struggles that he endures are now too hard ...
Langston Hughes’s poem “I Dream A World” grants a voice to any person, who has been exposed to a life in racial prejudice and inequality, including the writer. That voice belongs to any black person, who has lived the poorer than poor life. This life was full of consistent violation of basic human rights, full of frustration, and overflowing with hopelessness. Upon closer examination, the situation of the poem uncovers the painstakingly raw yearning for humanity and equality.