The New Colossus

“The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus, is a unique poem with much meaning behind nearly every word. The poem has influenced Americans and immigrants in many ways, its style and the way it’s written catching our eye and making us think deeply about every line in it. We used to take the Statue of Liberty for granted, not even really caring about it, until “The New Colossus” and immigrants really showed everyone what the statue truly meant.
Before the poem became well known, nobody understood the true meaning behind the Statue of Liberty. When the statue was first built in 1886, Americans did not care much for the statue, they didn’t realize what it stood for and represented. They viewed the statue as just a gift from France, they weren’t even
At first, France used the Statue of Liberty to represent its Republican roots and America and France's commitment towards liberty. Lazarus’s poem turned the tables and showed Americans what our nation's “mother” really stood for. The poet's use of style, voice, and imagery really shined through to show the true meaning of the satue. Her style was very formal, due to the fact that she had proper punctuation, capitalization, and vocabulary. An example of this is in lines 6-8, where it says, “From her Beacon-hand / Glows world-wide welcome, her mild eyes command / The air-bridged harbor that twin cities fame.” This is an example of her unique use of style, and it proves that the statue isn't something to entertain or please, the lines are supposed to create important meaning towards this iconic statue. Her voice shows that she believes in her perspective and that this is how we view our “Mother of Exiles,” not how France views it, but how it influences and represents our country. She does this by giving the statue words to speak, but with silent lips. In lines 9-14 it says, “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she / With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. / I lift my beside the golden door.” Imagery contributed the most to transforming a new purpose for the Statue of Liberty. Imagery made the audience feel like the statue is a welcoming mother and is opening her door to invite in the poor, homeless, and people who want to be free. Her name “Mother of Exiles” demonstrates that she is the mother of immigrants. She welcomes the persecuted and abused into her house of freedom. In lines 4-8 it says, “A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame / is the imprisoned lightning, and her name / Mother of