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Langston Hughes- Theme Analysis. Langston Hughes?s stories deal with
and serve as a commentary of conditions befalling African ...
Analysis on ?We Real Cool? by Gwendolyn Brooks. ... in the work of Countee Cullen and
Langston Hughes, influenced her ... The theme of this poem is an explanation on ...
... Analysis As is true with most comparative analysis essays, we ... To read any of Langston
Hughes? poems one could see ... Keeping in the theme of being in a jungle ...
... The next clever simile Langston Hughes used in his poem came ... This was my full analysis
on what the poem ?Harlem ... in which sets up the poem?s theme, which is ...
... I want try to go too far in this analysis. ... desire, in later poems on a similar theme
it shows ... within itself ?I, Too? In this poem Langston Hughes who has ...
Submitted by johnman on March 18, 2007
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Langston Hughes’s stories deal with and serve as a commentary of conditions befalling African Americans during the Depression Era. As Ostrom explains, “To a great degree, his stories speak for those who are disenfranchised, cheated, abused, or ignored because of race or class.” (51) Hughes’s stories speak of the downtrodden African-Americans neglected and overlooked by a prejudiced society. The recurring theme of powerlessness leads to violence is exemplified by the actions of Sargeant in “On the Road”, old man Oyster in “Gumption”, and the robber in “Why, You Reckon?”
Hughes’s “On the Road” explores what happens when a powerless individual takes action on behalf of his conditions. The short story illustrates the desperation and consequent violent actions of one man’s homeless plight on a snowy winter evening. “He stopped and stood on the sidewalk hunched over- hungry, sleepy, and cold- looking up and down.” (Hughes 90) Here, Sargeant is without the basic necessities of life- shelter and food. Sargeant, hopeless and starving, wanders the lonesome streets and happens upon a church. However, the reverend of the church denies Sargeant access. Mullen explains further- “And in “On the Road” an unemployed black man, given a quick brush-off by a high-toned preacher, breaks into a church” (81) When the Reverend refuses to house him, Sargeant’s desperation and powerlessness leads him to commit a rash action- tear down the church door to a street of on-lookers. Shortly after, Police come to take Sargeant away and put him behind bars, where he reminisces on his actions. Had Sargeant simply had the basic means of survival, food and shelter, he would not have had done out of desperation. In other words, Sageant’s lack of security- food, shelter, and warmth, lead him to take violent actions in attempt to obtain it.
The short story “Gumption” underlines the rash actions that can be taken by powerless individuals. When the Depression Era rolls around, most are...
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