Langston Hughes' Poem, Mother to Son

American poet Langston Hughes was one of the major writers of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s that brought about an upsurge in African American self-awareness and self-expression. Hughes' poetry focused on race-related issues of his era in language that was readily accessible to his readers. His poetry reflects a love of humanity together with race pride and bitterness over the treatment of African Americans. The poem "Mother to Son" contains all these elements. It is both a poem of racial protest and racial affirmation. Above all, the poet speaks for life and hope.

The poem is written in the first-person, and the narrator's voice is that of a mother passing onto her son both the knowledge and the lessons she has learned in life. Her motivation is to initiate her son in the realities of life, as well as her philosophy of life. Hughes uses the poetic device of the dramatic monologue that is a poem written as a speech made at some decisive moment in life. The mother/narrator's purpose is to instruct and to inspire. Her purpose is to teach her son to keep thin

Related Essays

Langston Hughes's poem "Mulatto" .... to The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, "If Hughes .... 3). Specifically, Barksdale refers to Hughes's adoption of .... matriarch's" voice in his poem "Mother to .... .... (2789 11 )

Racial Affirmation in Hughes' "Mother to " .... and "goin'." The total effect of the poem is that of a poignant yet dynamic lamentation, a story of true grit. Hughes, Langston. "Mother to ...." from Collected .... (695 3 )

Langston Hughes .... to The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes: If Hughes .... 3). Specifically, Barksdale refers to Hughes's adoption of .... matriarch's" voice in his poem "Mother to .... .... (2846 11 )

Langston Hughes' Autobiographical Poems .... The mother in this poem represents all black mothers, and she .... In his search for the truth, Hughes does not turn .... Langston Hughes: An Introduction to the Poetry. .... (757 3 )

Poetry of Langston Hughes The poetry of Langston Hughes is challenging .... The link Hughes makes with his past is carried forth into .... The mother in this poem represents all black mothers, and .... (1500 6 )

Category: Literature - L