Archetypal Perspective In The Explorer By Robert Hayden

When reading a poem, depending on the author and the genre, it becomes important to consider the social perspective of the poem along with the archetypal perspective. When reading from a social perspective, it is important to make connections to the events going on in correlation for when the poem was written or set. When reading from an archetypal perspective, it is critical to take note of the symbols which express universal human longings. In the poems The Explorer by Gwendolyn Brooks and Frederick Douglass by Robert Hayden, each express social perspective and archetypal perspective. Concerning social perspective, The Explorer by Gwendolyn Brooks greatly reflects the struggles of its time. Gwendolyn was inspired by the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. When she wrote the poem The Explorer, she made sure to link it to the struggles the African American race was facing during the civil rights movement. During this time period, African American’s were very limited …show more content…
When this poem is read from a social perspective, it is obvious that the African American race wishes to be equal with their white counterparts. However, when the poem is read by an archetypal perspective, many readers will notice that when Hayden is talking about the longing for freedom he says, “Needful to man as air, useable as earth; when it belongs at last to all, when it is truly instinct…” (Frederick Douglass). Robert Hayden uses the phrase “to all.” This gives the sense that he is not only talking about the African American, but of all human beings. It does make complete sense considering the fact that Robert Hayden believed that a single race shouldn’t define a poet, but that they should offer insights that transcend race and speak to all humans. Isn’t that what all people want? To all be except as a human being? Not treated like they are a part of an inferior race or class, but to be