Claude Mckay I Too Analysis

Claude McKay and Langston Hughes are African American writers from the same time period in America’s literary history. Their writing details similar themes concerning the experiences of African-Americans during the 20th century. In class we analyzed poetry written by both authors. “America” by Claude McKay is similar to that of Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too.” Both authors construct their poems from the perspective of an African American man who has little freedom. Despite the similar theme, the authors take different approaches in their writing. The similar theme throughout the poetry is the difficulty African Americans face. Hughes is quick to provide the idea of hope unlike McKay, who alludes in the negative. McKay sticks with a negative
The tone of the speakers reveals their true feelings towards the segregation and mistreatment of an entire race. Langston Hughes sets the tone in “I, Too” by reflecting a common experience of African Americans during this time period. He begins the poem with a negative tone, truly expressing the severe bitterness towards an unfair situation. The author addresses the speaker as a black man, working in a house filled with segregation. “They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes” (line 3-4) in this quote the speaker creates a feeling of oppression between the two races. However, right after, the speaker changes to a more upbeat tone by saying “But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong” (line 5-7) this switch to a positive connotation, showing that the speaker will not let the segregation and oppression get him down. Using literary words such as “laugh and grow strong” express the new more persevered tone.The tone of the speaker in “America” reveals a frustration, not only with the racism, but also with himself. In lines 1-5 the speaker utters how life in Harlem is the “bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth” (line 1-2). The attitude is rather miserable and resentful due to the mistreatment of his race. He alludes in the negative, revealing his anger towards the hardships and despair he faces. The speaker uses
The kitchen somewhat represents the oppression the black race goes through, it is a cage that they are stuck in. Constantly being forced to the outside, the worse parts of America. The main mood of this theme is perseverance, despite being sent away and ashamed, the speaker still asserts himself as someone who is equal to what was considered a higher race. For instance, in this time period, whites were treated with superiority. They were given better water fountains, the ability to sit in the front of the bus, and overall treated with more respect and decency than blacks. This was known as “fair but not equal.” On the other hand, McKay creates a narrative that presents an unsatisfied, unhappy, frustrated member of society who views America as “the cultured hell” (line 4). The mood in this poem is plain anger and vengeance towards the country that is “stealing his breath of life” (line 3). As the poem progresses, so do, the seemingly never ending discontent and anger. Despite the authors different approaches towards the moods of their poetry, they both still convey the overall theme of illustrating racism in the 1920s. Claude McKay and Langston Hughes use their writing skills to vocalize a major social issue during the 1920s. They construct the poems with personification, mood, and tone. Taylor4
Despite using many of the same illustrations to make the writing come alive Hughes emphasizes a positive outlook on the