What Does The Golden Door Symbolize In The New Colossus

In the “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, Lazarus describes America as the “ Mother of Exiles,” which is symbolic for how America had become a destination for those who had no where else to go. The “ Golden Door” that immigrants saw coming from Ellis Island was a sign that they had made it, they had reached the promised land. The poem by Lazarus goes; Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
 With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
 Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
 A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
 Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
 Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
 Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
 The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
 "Keep,
Its a place where the freedom that Americans cherish is not an absolute, unhindered freedom that an anarchist would wish for, rather it's a freedom protected within the boundaries of law. There are no assurances for immigrants who travel to a new land inhabited by those who possess different habits, institutions, and speak strange languages. In their quest to find a better way of life they leave friends, relatives and familiar behind, often risking their lives to cross oceans and hostile areas to reach their new homes. But they understand that one can’t acquire anything without forgoing anything in return, even that which gives them strength through the worst of times. It’s the Americans of the pervious generations that provided the precious opportunity that has drawn millions to these shores. Its the Declaration of Independence that declares that all men are born “with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Immigrants are those who will brave thousands of miles seeking economic prosperity, stability, a home, a start and a new future. They leave behind their dissatisfactions and aim towards a new destination in hopes of finding better conditions. There has and still are millions of individuals who have endured poverty with dignity, but there is no inherent dignity in poverty so many take an initiative. They come to America, where Americans seek personal liberty, to live as they see fit, to worship as they please, with nothing and work hard to make their dreams reality just like those before them. Seeking freedom from the use of power wielded arbitrarily by whoever holds the political sword. It was the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution that followed it, that created a political regime for individuals who wished to be united with their countrymen not essentially by a common language, ethnic