Langston Hughes and His Poems Essay

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Introduction

Langston Hughes has been credited as being too much of an optimist in his written work. His poems voice his anger, fear, insecurity, and the topic of death. However, regardless of the evil he tries to portray, his poems introduce positive and apologetic aspects that overshadow the initial view of evil. It is as if he wants to expose his deeper feelings, but is afraid of what others might think of him if he does.

Hughes is torn between his personal emotional state and how he wants to be perceived by others. Several of his poems reflect his flawed sense of evil, these include Cross, The Weary Blues, Theme for English B, Dinner Guest: Me, Harlem (Dream Deferred), Formula, Lenox Avenue: Midnight, Song for a Dark Girl, Red Silk Stockings, I, Too, and The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

Cross

Cross is a poem that reflects Hughes anger with his parents’ divorce. Race is a big factor of his angst. He does not know where he belongs in society. He is angry that his life is torn between his mother’s shack and his father’s big house. He wants to blame his parents for the internal conflict he faces, but cannot find the capacity to be openly angry at them. The sense of evil is flawed in this poem because he covers his anger with passivity and understanding (Cross).

The Weary Blues

The Weary Blues reflects Hughes’ feelings of having no one in life that he can count on. Hughes paints a poetic picture of melody and rhythm. The swaying and rocking of the written song is felt in the cadence of the poem. The poem is almost relaxing as Hughes speaks of welcoming death. There is sympathy for the man until the end when he is at rest. The reader can assume that the distressed man must be okay now that he is able to rest soundly. The sense of evil is taken away in the final line, as the man is resting comfortably (The Weary Blues).

Theme for English B

Theme for English B is a true biography of Hughes. He contemplates his class assignment as he contemplates himself. He does not know what to write because he does not yet know himself. He is torn because he does not know if he should describe himself as black or white. He questions his freedom and even his ability to be a part of his white classmate’s world. Even though he doubts himself and questions his ability to succeeded, he reminds himself that he and his teacher are both Americans, they have the ability to learn something from each other. The sense of evil is to be of anger due to prejudice; he accepts that in the end (Theme for English B).

Dinner Guest: Me

The poem Dinner Guest: Me, reveals the shame Hughes feels inside for being part of white America. He feels that he does not belong, that he should not be reaping the privileges given him at dinner. He wishes that all black men had the opportunity to dine with the white men, exchanging conversation and fitting in. Even though he has guilt and is silently cursing his situation, he rationalizes the problem as not so bad; diminishing the evil intent throughout (Dinner Guest: Me).

Harlem

The poem Harlem contemplates what will happen when postponing a dream. Hughes feels the pressure to live his dream, to make his life what he desires it to be. He likens the oppression of dreams to festering sores, rotting meat, or even an explosion. His feelings are strong yet contradictory. Hughes has much internal conflict in his life, and he is unsure of how to resolve his stress. Even when he discusses the horrible ways that a dream can lie in wait, he likens the same event to sweet and syrupy sugar. Once again Hughes makes known his flawed sense of evil (Harlem).

Formula

In the poem Formula, Hughes relates his idea of what poetry should be; all things should be nice. This gives some insight into his other works. He has struggles that inspire his work, but does not want to burden the reader with sadness, anger, or pain. Poetry is meant to uplift. This poem is light, with a positive outlook; it is a reminder that pain can be hidden. Hughes introduces his evil of pain and anger. That is flawed when he tells the reader to hide those feelings (Formula).

Lenox Avenue: Midnight

The poem Lenox Avenue: Midnight is similar to Hughes other works; it is an outlook into his environment. The world has shaped him into the man he is. He makes sure to relate the good and bad in his life, allowing the reader to see how important is to face good and bad in life. Balancing good and bad or happiness and struggle shape a well-rounded individual. There is no pure evil, but a meshing of good and evil (Lennon Avenue: Midnight).

Song for a Dark Girl

Song for a Dark Girl is a poem that is dark in itself. This poem is full of the pain that racial discrimination causes. One must wonder if Hughes feels guilty that the girl hanging at the tree is not he. It seems that Hughes feels that the love is all that exists, and the white man has taken his love, everything that he had. The poem exhibits his pain as well as his love. Hughes always seems to display the alternative emotions that people feel, the internal conflict. He balances his evil with understanding, making his work not evil at all (Song for a Dark Girl).

Red Silk Stockings

Similar to Song for a Dark Girl, Red Silk Stockings is a poem of contempt in the face of racial discrimination. Hughes infers that the only opportunity available to a black girl is to find a white man. He conveys the lack of respect and honor that the white men have for black women, but does so in a seemingly playful tone. The pain and evil is hidden in his rhythm and wording, making his evil flawed (Red Silk Stockings p. 105).

I, Too

The Poem I, Too reminds America that Hughes is also an American that belongs in society. He is exerting his strengths in equality. He sees hope that one day he will be seen as an equal. He knows that one day he will be able to eat at the same table as the white man. He hopes that the white man will be shamed when equal rights are obtained. He once again shields his clearly apparent pain with laughter, actually stating that he laughs as he waits. Evil does not calmly wait in laughter (I, Too).

The Negro Speaks of Rivers

The Negro Speaks of Rivers is a poem that praises the pride in heritage. Hughes dwells upon Africa, the home of his ancestors. He is proud of his roots. He contemplates how far back his blood line goes, reminding the reader of his importance in this world. He is part of his ancestry. There is devotion and pride in who he is, and he wants to share that with the rest of the world. Freedom and respect can be taken away, but the link of the soul to racial pride cannot be taken away by others. Past digressions can be evil, but it is up to the individual to overcome that evil, essentially leaving the evil flawed (The Negro Speaks of Rivers).

Conclusion

Hughes’ poetry reflects his life. He is proud of his black heritage, yet afraid to hurt others, especially his family. Hughes wants to establish an idea of what he goes through during the course of life; he struggles, yet acknowledges that his struggles have made him the strong man he has become. Hughes’ poetry reflects the reality of the human condition. People are more than black or white. In his poems he is sad yet optimistic, making his poetry seem dark and foreboding while revealing his pain and his hope for change. Hughes wrote words that were too kind to be evil.