The poems “America” by Claude Mckay and “Harlem” by Langston Hughes are significant writings that depict America in different aspects and contexts. In the poem “America” by Claude Mckay, the speaker presents the main problems that he faces in America he loves. The speaker has intense affection for America, which is personified as a woman. The problems of racial abuse and mistreatment are evident in the poem. Despite undergoing all these problems, he continues to fight, because America gives him strength. The speaker is adamant to give up, holding to the dream that one day the kingdom will go down and give rise to new hopes to African Americans.
The poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes explores the dream of African Americans. The speaker wonders if their dreams will ever shine again. This is specifically to the practice of slavery that was haunting African Americans. Their dreams of an inclusive America were held up by the oppressors. African Americans were burdened with immense cases of slavery. This in return rendered them second class citizens in economic, political and social aspects of life. The speaker is surprised to the delayed dreams of the African Americans that take the main theme of his poem.
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In both poems, there are significant similarities and differences. These are evident in the literary elements and the themes presented by both authors. Personification, similes, and tones are some of the common literary elements that are explored in comparing and contrasting the two poems.
Similarities
Themes
Marginalization
In both poems, the speakers try to narrate the situation that African Americans and other marginalized groups undergo in pursuit of their freedom. In “America” by Claude Mckay, the main theme is about the marginalized African Americans and other races that strive to survive in America. They are subjected to harsh conditions of oppression and slavery but they continue to persevere. In the poem “Harlem” the speaker narrates about the fate of African Americans and other minority groups that reside in Harlem. They face hard conditions that the speaker presents in terms of a differed dream. It is a dream that is yet to be achieved because it has been held by America. He wonders when the marginalized races will have equal opportunities like other seemingly superior Americans. Although the poems were written in different periods, their main themes are rooted in the problems experienced by African Americans and other marginalized groups. While they advocate for an equal living in America, their pursuit is surrounded by economic, political and social slavery. They, however, end with a hopeful suggestion that one day the empire will fall, giving rise to a new dawn.
Racism
The two poems are centered on the plights that African Americans and other minority groups were facing. The issue of racism is apparent in both poems. In the poem “America” by Claude McKay, the speaker explores the situations of African American in white land. He portrays the difference that is there between the blacks and the whites. Life in Harlem is compared to “bread of bitterness” (line 1). This gives the reader the insight on how the effects of racism were apparent in the society defined by the color of the skin.
The poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes is also filled with the theme of racism. He identifies color as the basis of judgment. By defining the American dream, the speaker narrates how the marginalized societies have been classified as second class citizens based on their color. This is despite having hope that the kingdom will one day fall and give an equal chance to all races. Thus, the theme of racism has been clearly outlined in both poems.
Personification
Personification as an element of poetry has been utilized by both poems. Firstly, in the poem “America” by Claude Mckay, America has been personified as a female. Throughout the poem, the speaker introduces America as “she” as he describes the affection he has towards it despite the condition that she has subjected him to. The narrator further refers to America as a tigress and a king. This element of personification has been used to influence the position that America held in the life of the speaker.
In the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes, personification is used to show the impact of the dream. A dream has been personified in contexts like “festering like a sore, and then running” (line 2). In this line, the dream is given a living ability and it is running. Personification helps the reader to understand how the deferred dream had been buried while at the same time it was running. The aspiration of the marginalized races in Harlem had been buried and now it was rotting, like a sore. Another instance of personification in the poem is seen when the narrator refers to the deferred dreams that “maybe it sags” (line 5). Showing that he wishes the dreams falls off.
Similes
Both poems utilize the use of similes to portray various messages. For instance, in the poem “America” by Claude Mckay, the speaker compares America to tides, “her vigor flows like tides” (line 2). America’s strength is compared to the flows of waves. “Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood” (line 3). This is another instance where similes have been used to show how strong America’s bigness sweeps like floods. The narrator depicts how he does not have the power to stop what is affecting him.
‘Harlem” is filled with similes to influence the readers understanding of the theme of the poem. The deferred dream is, therefore, compared to the sun, “does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun?” (line 1) “Maybe it sags, like a heavy load” (line 5). The narrator compares the components of the dream to a load. And he wishes it falls just like a heavy load.
Differences
Tones
In the poem “America”, the speaker uses a bitter and sad tone. The moods of the poem are influenced by the fact that African Americans are suffering in the hands of seemingly superior Americans. Despite America sustaining him, it also harms him. In return, the speaker continues to persevere and at the end, he just hopes that the condition will crumble and adjust to the needs of all people living in America.
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes is concentrated with the mood of frustrations and hopelessness. The speaker is frustrated that the African American dream has been held, and it is decaying. The hopelessness has been facilitated by the fact that the deferred dream of the marginalized is not being realized because of reasons he believes will change one day. He believes that deferring the dream will eventually end to give way for the manifestation of the dreams.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the two poems are significant in portraying the themes of racism and the challenges that African Americans and other minority groups face in America. Despite the love they have towards it, they are disappointed. They, however, keep the hopes that their oppressors shall one day crumble so that they get the opportunity to realize their dreams. In both poems, the themes of racism and marginalization are apparent. Despite the themes being similar, some differences emerge. The main differences in the poems emerge in the types of tones that are employed by the speakers. In the poem “America” by Claude Mckay, the speaker is very bitter and sad. His bitterness is directed to the treatment he receives from America which he refers to as “she”. In the poem ‘Harlem” by Langston Hughes, the moods of the speaker are crowded by frustrations and hopelessness. This is caused by the claim that the dreams of African Americans are deferred.
References
Hughes, L. (1951). Harlem. Poetry Foundation . Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem .
McKay, C. (1921). America. Poetry Foundation . Retrieved from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44691/america-56d223e1ac025 .
